a strip so offensive i will delete all my links to it, but may even stop reading user friendly just for linking to it.

Well well, a bit single sided... truth be told Windows 7 is pretty secure and reliable. It's the Windows version that's 'finally getting there'.
I don't have to justify using Windows, it's my informed decision. I second the fact that this strip insults readers rather than the operating system, eventhough that I'm inclined to agree with the fundamental points it contains.

It's a sign of weakness to bash something, anything at all, rather than annotate the proper selling points of the product you represent. It tells me that you haven't any. And you don't need that; I can stand sarcasm, but you're really stretching the limits towards a direction that harms your otherwise fabulous comic and the O'Reilly community that supports it.

I always feel a little uncomfortable "defending" my work, but in this case, I wanted to point out that I have no problem with Windows users (it would be an interesting type of self loathing, since I run several copies between work and home.) What I was attacking was the ad campaign, which is bogus on several fronts.

1) It makes the assumption that price should be the only deciding factor in purchasing a computer.

2) As has already been demonstrated, the "shoppers" weren't off the street types, they were recruited and in one case a professional actress.

3) If you look hard enough, you can always find examples to support your premise, in this case the premise that people can do better with their money buying Windows PCs. But the ad tries to extrapolate from the specific to the general, which requires more than just anecdotal evidence.

4) What I find *really* interesting is that the ads at no time make the argument that Windows is a better OS than Mac OS, and in fact tacitly imply that if money was no option, an Apple is a better choice.

So, the subtext of the ad campaign is essentially: You may be losing your job at any time, so settle for a Windows PC because you might need the money. It preys on people's financial insecurities to get them to "settle".

By logical extension of that argument, we should all go out and buy Linux PCs. Which is a fine OS indeed, but probably wouldn't make most end users happy at this point. Sometimes it's a case of penny wise, pound foolish.

James

Or scrap a used PC from Ebay and install Linux yourself, as it takes less system resources :)

I haven't seen the Microsoft ad campaign. I doubt many people in Europe have. Anyway when the day comes that I have to choose between Windows 7 and a Macbook, both of them are making a pretty good run for their (or my) money.

If you haven't seen the ad, you won't have any idea what the comic is parodying. Here, enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIS6G-HvnkU

James

Yeah, but what's really being overlooked here is that this strip is the sixth one in a row to feature Gwen, so let's give James some props. And given yoshida's past admiration of her, I even dressed her in a belly shirt just for him; that's gotta count for something! Mac-shmac, parody-shmarody, gimme more Gwen!

Haha only now I'm reading this! More Gwen is always good ;) (nah don't over-indulge me or I wouldn't get any work done)

And yes I realise Gwen is a reallife person; so I'll try and keep the fanboy factor down :p

Actually, Gwen is totally fictitious. Sorry to disappoint yer dreams ;-) O'Reilly does have some very attractive women working there, but I wouldn't dare do to them (even in a comic) the things that Gwen gets into.

We have had one Official Cameo by an O'Reilly geekette, Laurel Ruma appears at Foo Camp waaaaaayyyy back here.