Monday, August 04, 2008

the naming of things

i used to be a real microsoft-hater. their products kinda sucked and they had those not-so-friendly predatory business practices. i've since softened in my disdain for them, especially now that bill gates, the former stone-faced evil master of the corporation now looks to be a pretty good guy. i don't necessarily agree with all his philanthropy campaigns -- anti-smoking, for one -- but he's not starting a new, even-more, right-wing, gay and abortion bashing, sect of the evangelical christian church either. i say win for bill.

which is why it gives me no pleasure to bash their products. really, it's not even their products, it's how they name them. windows 98, windows 2000, office 2003, office 2007. stop naming them after the year they were released. do you know how dated that makes your products look as soon as the calendar turns? i go to the store and see something that was made last year or even a couple years back and it certainly does not inspire me to spend my limited supply of cash. and it mildly irks me if something two years old doesn't carry some significant discount either.

it reminds me of going to a sporting events and seeing fans wearing jerseys of players who've already changed franchises twice since then. like c-web jerseys at warriors games or primetime jerseys at 49ers games. you just look stupid. all i can think about is, how long have you owned that thing and please retire it immediately. if you want to support your team, go ahead and pick someone who actually plays for them, not someone who visits a couple times a year and tries to put a mark in the l column for your beloved squad.

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