I was reading Raymond Chen’s “The Old New Thing” on my way home in the NY subway yesterday. I met Raymond once @ MSFT, and he probably doesn’t remember me, but over the last few years I came to realize that I really enjoy his blog. Most of his posts are related to some old or new technology but put in a more humanly digestible context. Hence, You can use Coke as your password, but not a Pepsi one.
So, in a classic tribute I have my own little story. All names are fictional.
- Them: My Microsoft is not working. It says my license is expired.
- Me: When you right click on the little icon on the bottom right of the screen, and choose Help -> About, what do you see?
- Them: I see “Power Options” and “Show System Icons”, I don’t see Help -> About.
- Me: Try again, when you right click on the little icon that looks like a little face on the bottom right of the screen, what do you see?
- Them: Oh now I see Help -> About!
- Me: What does it say?
- Them: It says that my license has expired.
- Me: Buy a new license.
- Them: Thank you, you’re so helpful.
This thread is infuriating. I mostly hate when people call software by the company name that produces it. I think it’s the fault of the auto industry after all, everybody calls their Toyota a Toyota.