How 8 Pixels Cost Microsoft Millions

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

How 8 Pixels Cost Microsoft Millions

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Monday August 23, 2004 @05:43AM from the debug-twice-distribute-once dept.

NubKnacker writes "Economic Times, one of India's biggest business daily's is carrying a story about how a small colouring mistake forced Microsoft to recall 200,000 copies of Windows 95. This wouldn't be the first time that has happened to Microsoft. From the article, "Microsoft has also managed to upset women and entire countries. A Spanish-language version of Windows XP, destined for Latin American markets, asked users to select their gender between "not specified," "male" or "bitch," because of an unfortunate error in translation." Ouch!"

7 of 734 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

I don't see the problem with Bitch by linzeal · 2004-08-23 05:46 · Score: 0, Flamebait

So long as they have the male option called 'Asshole', it is sort of like when you are at a theme restaurant and they have dude/cowgirl, actor/actress or similiar on the doors of their bathrooms. I believe in some places by law they have to put a picture as well, by some older ordinances that were there to protect the dignity of the illiterate farmers who were coming into urban areas for the first time and seeing a public restroom. I could be wrong.

--
An Education is the Font of All Liberty
Re:Dupe by Shard013 · 2004-08-23 05:46 · Score: 0, Flamebait

Can't you just let those who haven't read it yet, read in peace? I know its hard to read every single story so if the good ones are duped sometimes it is for the best. And if you don't like dupes don't read them.
Re:Dupe... by TedTschopp · 2004-08-23 05:52 · Score: 0, Flamebait

IT's Anti-Microsoft, so expect to see it again around say, Thursday or Friday.

Ted

--
Fantasy remains a human right; we make in our measure and in our derivative mode... -- JRR Tolkien
Re:Not all small coloring mistakes were recalled by rarose · 2004-08-23 05:56 · Score: 1, Flamebait

Do you have nukes and an itchy trigger finger?

--
--Rob
Re:Dispute solved? by pclminion · 2004-08-23 06:57 · Score: 0, Flamebait

Er, if the region is disputed by both India and Pakistant, how is coloring them differently than undisputed India and Pakistan a wrong thing to do?
Because on the rest of the map, differences in color are used to indicate distinct political regions, i.e., nations. I think you're just digging for a way to weasel out of this, here.
The appropriate thing to do if they wanted to appear unbiased would have been to omit India, Pakistan, and the disputed territory from the map entirely. The message: "If you want to appear on a map of world powers, don't act like silly bitches."
Re:Not the first time... by essreenim · 2004-08-23 07:15 · Score: 0, Flamebait

"not specified," "male" or "bitch," because of an unfortunate error in translation." Ouch!"
Sounds ok to me, bitch!
not a mistake by Aristotelis · 2004-08-23 07:19 · Score: 0, Flamebait

"The software giant managed to further offend the Saudis by creating another game in which Muslim warriors turned churches into mosques."
The Muslims do turn churches into mosques. You can't blame MS for that.