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I'm a PC and I'm 4-1/2
theodp writes "Microsoft's new Windows ad made its debut during the Grammy Awards on Sunday. It stars a 4-year-old cutie named Kylie (Silverlight required) showing how easy it is to use Windows Live Photo Gallery to edit and share photos. And while it's impressive that little Kylie is able to transfer a snapshot of her pet fish from her camera to a PC, color-correct it, and e-mail it to her family, what's truly amazing is that the toddler was also apparently able to read, understand, and accept Windows Live's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. (But minors can't legally execute contracts, can they?)"
You know, it's possible a 4 1/2 year old has parents... you know, the ones that have the laptop and the camera she's using to demo this?
Of course, if she was using any given version of Linux, she wouldn't be able to do anything without going through an insane amount of dialogs trying to get her digital camera recognized, her pic(s) 'fixed', and finally email them to her family/friends/whatever.
Could it be that *gasp* Windows is actually easy to use than ? Say it ain't so!
what's truly amazing is that the toddler was also apparently able to read, understand, and accept Windows Live's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. (But minors can't legally execute contracts, can they?)
What's with this? Seriously, who the hell takes the time to read these things every time they're presented with one? What an unnecessarily snarky summary
.. does not mean monkey understand.
This doesn't show it is easy to use, it merely demonstrates the ability of a 4 1/2 year old to follow a set of instructions.
The disappearing pencil trick. Let me show you it.
I doubt kdawson has actually ever read a complete EULA either -- he simply needed something to bitch about..
You are aware that one usually needs to download a flash player to view videos on Youtube, no? This is just a competing format. The main problem with Silverlight from where I sit is that it adds to the bloat, not that I need to download it, or that it comes from Microsoft.
I guess I find article about this ad on Sunday a day or so old, though I won't blame kdawson for that. I guess maybe I feel he is just always lucky to get his name linked to unneeded topics. who knows.
Personally I am glad that Microsoft (might) get their photo camera integration/editing down for once, as it was always third party apps and utilities given to you, which you would have to punch a screen over. I never had issues with OS X or Linux at all, and I'm speaking about the 2.4 kernel days. gPhoto was what I loved using way more than the shit Olympus or whatever other brand name would give you for software. This was of course serial db9, not today's USB. Oh well, this is my little experience with this type of software, and it's nice hearing Microsoft will take care of things from now on. (I won't lie though, if I am ever in a situation where I need to use Windows AND manage a photo camera, I'll stay with a usb card reader and Google Picasa)
Really? Out of all the things you could have criticized Microsoft for, you chose the one thing that Microsoft has in common with every other software company (an insane EULA/TOS)?
That would be like me saying "And while it's impressive that little Kylie is able to transfer a snapshot of her pet fish from her camera to a PC, color-correct it, and e-mail it to her family, what's truly amazing is that someone with an @aol.com email address was able to figure out how to submit a story to /."
See what I mean? Saying something like that weakens your whole argument... Oops!
-William Brendel
Companies need exposure more than they need kind words - so long as those words aren't too damning. The article doesn't really criticise the software, just vaguely hints at the bad politics of the EULA. I am sure that Microsoft would rather a million people see this than nobody.
That's how advertising works. Get the subject into the punter's thoughts so that when they are in a purchasing mood, the product will be given consideration, and maybe even purchased.
By posting such an article on Slashdot exactly the right people are being targeted.
... and I don't think having a girl in an ad is "child abuse" even though she may not act natural, I doubt she feel abused from doing the ad but may even think it was funny to star in a commercial. So the reason I made the joke was to tear down some of the serious edginess of "omg it's a child in a video! porn! abuse!"
We don't hate Microsoft because of just any old reason, we have really good and strong arguments for hating Microsoft. I would go over the many arguments, but if you don't know them now it is only because of your own ignorance, or you are a fanboy.
We won't suddenly stop hating Microsoft because they paid some cute kid to advertise their products. We will mistrust them because they deserve out mistrust. We will come up with conspiracy theories because we know and admit to how Microsoft works (Halloween documents anyone? DrDos? etc...).
So go peddle your pro-Microsoft bullshit somewhere else.
she has not yet entered into public education.
duh!
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
Even in my travels in the real world doing work for Microsoft Shops I haven't seen to many people really that Gung-Ho about Windows (any more). Most of them really don't care what OS they use just as long as they know how to use it, or even know what Windows is as an OS really is or where the OS Starts and the computer ends.
Most people take it, it is something I need to get what I want done and thats it. I guess there could be a radical subculture that are real huge Windows fans just as they are Linux Zealots on Slashdot and Mac Fanboys. I think most of them were from the Apple vs. IBM days of the 80's Who just couldn't give up their old arguments, as an Mac Owner who back in the 80's and early 90's use to be on the IBM camp, I had to break a promise to myself to never get a Mac, as I needed to realize the Ideals I have fought for have been loss. (Speed of DOS, Shipped with development tools...). Also I think a lot of my Fear of switching went away when I went with Linux back in 1994, where I learned how I could get by without MS. Then with the Mac with OS X with a Unix prompt the last thing I was hating Macs for were gone (or at least a hopeless battle)
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
"People think it's all about misery and desperation and death and all that shite, which is not to be ignored, but what they forget is the pleasure of it. Otherwise we wouldn't do it. After all, we're not fucking stupid. At least, we're not that fucking stupid."
Mark Renton from Trainspotting on why we bash microsoft.
"linux is just DOS with a UNIX like syntax" -- Galactic Dominator (944134)
Why did you uninstall it after the Olympics?
Just curious, was it running in the background? Using too many resources while you were waiting for your latte to cool?
You are welcome on my lawn.
You can't violate the GPL unless you are modifying and distributing. You can violate an EULA by looking sideways and sneezing.
I have developed a truly marvelous proof of this comment, which this signature is too narrow to contain.
Because Silverlight is just Microsoft's attempt to take over the web with more proprietary garbage. There's already too much Flash on the web, and I reluctantly have to have that installed. I don't want to see Silverlight become anywhere near as popular. Besides, so far, the only sites I've come across using it are either owned by or affiliated with Microsoft, which makes having it largely unnecessary.
By reading this signature, you hereby agree with the content of the above comment.
If this had been done on a Mac it could have been made well before Kylie was born. iPhoto was released in 2002.