Dave Caolo

FT.com:

Google is phasing out the internal use of Microsoft’s ubiquitous Windows operating system because of security concerns, according to several Google employees…New hires are now given the option of using Apple’s Mac computers or PCs running the Linux operating system.

For perspective: this is from a company whose CEO has no love lost for Steve Jobs, and vice versa. Yet they still encourage employees to use OS X. That’s how little faith they have in Windows security.

You’ll remember the television special that Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane made with Microsoft to promote Windows 7, which Microsoft killed before it aired. Here are several clips from the show that could have been. Three more follow.

[Via Your Tech Weblog]

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Microsoft and Seth Seth MacFarlane have made an hour-long TV show to promote Windows 7. It will air on Fox without ads on November 8th and feature characters from “Family Guy.”

“Microsoft and Fox are joining forces to showcase how the power and simplicity of Windows 7 can enhance the content Fox viewers enjoy most, whether it’s comedy, drama, sports, or reality programming on TV or on the Web.

Microsoft and Fox also plan to put on a 12-week college tour allowing students to try Windows 7 and tying in outdoor-movie nights hosted by the Stewie and Brian characters of ‘Family Guy.’”

It’s not that this is a bad idea, it isn’t. It’s that Microsoft’s marketing has been all over the place during the past 2 years: Jerry and Bill, I’m a PC, Laptop Hunters and now an hour-long, prime time cartoon. It’s symptomatic of the company’s larger problem: They try to be everything to everyone. Enterprise, middle class 50-somethings in the suburbs, small businesses, college kids … not to mention all the hardware manufacturers that run Windows.

I just hope we get a parody of this.

Originally intended to be off of shelves by January 30, 2009, Windows XP will be available until May 30, 2009. Microsoft needs to wipe the whole place clean and just start again.

[Via Lifehacker]

Would you want to stare at that all day? First look at Ars.

How to make Vista less annoying