[SATLUG] [Fwd: Fw: Gates vs GM]

[Nathan Oxhandler]

    /*/_Gates vs. GM_/*/

    For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the
    way computers have enhanced our lives, read on.

    At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared
    the computer industry with the auto industry and stated,

    "If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has,
    we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the
    gallon."

    In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press
    release stating:

    If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be
    driving cars with the following characteristics:

    1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash...
    Twice a day.

    2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have
    to buy a new car.

    3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You
    would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the
    windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before
    you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.

    4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would
    cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you
    would have to reinstall the engine.

    5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was
    reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would
    run on only five percent of the roads.

    6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would
    all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal
    Operation" warning light.

    7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.

    8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you
    out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the
    door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

    9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to
    learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would
    operate in the same manner as the old car.

    10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.