> > Microsoft Announces Improved BSOD
> >
> > In a surprise announcement today, Microsoft President Steve Ballmer
> > revealed that the Redmond based company will allow computer resellers
> > and end-users to customize the appearance of the Blue Screen of Death
> > (abbreviated BSOD), the screen that displays when the Windows operating
> > system crashes.
> >
> > The move comes as the result of numerous focus groups and customer
surveys
> > done by Microsoft. Thousands of Microsoft customers were asked, "What do
> > you spend the most time doing on your computer?" A surprising number of
> > respondents said, "Staring at a Blue Screen of Death". At 54 percent, it
> > was the top answer, beating the second place answer "Downloading
> > Pornography" by an easy 12 points.
> >
> > "We immediately recognized this as a great opportunity for ourselves,
our
> > channel partners, and especially our customers." explained the excited
> > Ballmer to a room full of reporters.
> >
> > Immense video displays were used to show images of the new customizable
> > BSOD screen side-by-side with the older static version. Users can select
> > from a collection of "BSOD Themes", allowing them to instead have a
Mauve
> > Screen of Death or even a Paisley Screen of Death. Graphics and
multimedia
> > content can now be incorporated into the screen, making the BSOD the
> > perfect conduit for delivering product information and entertainment to
> > Windows users.
> >
> > The Blue Screen of Death is by far the most recognized feature of the
> > Windows (tm) operating system, and as a result, Microsoft has
historically
> > insisted on total control over its look-and-feel. This recent departure
> > from that policy reflects Microsoft's recognition of the Windows desktop
> > itself as the "ultimate information portal." By default, the new BSOD
will
> > be configured to show a random selection of Microsoft product
> > information
> > whenever the system crashes. Microsoft channel partners can negotiate
with
> > Microsoft for the right to customize the BSOD on systems they ship.
> >
> > Major computer resellers such as Compaq, Gateway, and Dell are already
> > lining up for premier placement on the new and improved BSOD.
> >
> > Balmer concluded by getting a dig in against the Open Source community.
> > "This just goes to show that Microsoft continues to innovate at a much
> > faster pace than open source. I have yet to see any evidence that Linux
> > or OpenBSD even have a BSOD, let alone a customizable one."
================================================
To subscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with subscribe in subject header
To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with unsubscribe in subject header
Archives are available at http://www.mail-archive.com/ilugd%40wpaa.org
=================================================
