Download IE8 or children die of hunger
By Benny Har-Even in Editorial
Posted in Microsoft on
I have to say that I’m amazed and slightly appalled by the lengths Microsoft is going to get people to use Internet Explorer 8.
Firstly, it’s claiming that without it, woman are in danger of throwing up on their husbands, and secondly, that if you don’t download it, yes – children are going to starve!
Let’s start at the beginning. Microsoft has been running a campaign to promote Internet Explorer 8, which is fair enough. As part of that it’s been running a series of ‘amusing’ video ads, featuring Dean Caine, who found fame as Superman in the 90s TV show he did with Terri Hatcher. (just in case you were wondering).
One particular ad was intended to promote the private browsing feature and did this by showing a women inadvertently discovering something on her husband computer, (presumably porn) that makes her instantaneously projectile vomit – over said husband. Haha.
On the face of it, this is a bold move from Microsoft to do something a little bit more adventurous than its usual rather staid adverts, but it’s clearly lost its bottle. As CNET reports, it has removed the ad as some people had , “found it offensive”.
However all is not lost, as you can still see this mildly amusing clip on YouTube. Naturally.
However, in my research I was keen to discover what Microsoft had removed the ad from – and what I discovered was its horendous “browserforthebetter” web site. To my sheer amazement, on this site it says that for every download of Internet Explorer 8 Microsoft will “donate 8 meals to “Feeding America” to help accelerate an end to hunger in this country. And while it’s doing it, it even throws in the ‘word’ accelerate’ to further promote a browser feature. Nice.
Excuse me, is it just me, or is this a bit sick?
This comes across as desperate - that Microsoft is feeding (see what I did there?) on our emotions to make us download its software. And by the way, it will only donate those ‘8 meals’ if the download is from that exact site – so all those millions of downloads from Windows Update, won’t be feeding the hungry. How fair.
So reading the press release, Microsoft is helping children who have to rely on free or reduced price school meals in term time and don’t get access to them in the summer break. OK, it’s a good cause, but please Microsoft, do you have do it this way? Are those who prefer Firefox, or heck, just use Windows Update, complicit in starving children?
Come on. Naturally I downloaded it, so I didn’t leave the site feeling that I would burn in hell, and hey, it doesn’t say you have to even run the installer. And I’ve got it anyway – through Windows Update (ooh, how could you!).
Rated: 70% (2 votes)
Loading ...Comment by - July 3, 2009 on 1:43 pm
I think it’s a shame that some people still look at anything Microsoft does and speculate on criticize their motives. Sure, Microsoft wants people to download IE. But does every company out there have to worry about such slanted opinions every time they try and do some good? Can’t people simply appreciate an offer and opportunity to donate to a worthy cause?
Disclaimer: I do work for Microsoft. Just let me know when the Mozilla folks donate money to help end hunger for every download, and I will applaud them as well. Seriously.
Comment by Fernando Salas Riveras - July 3, 2009 on 2:16 pm
M$ has lots of money and besides, BILLY makes charity donations. So, it’s a stupid and lame try to promote IE8 this way…
Comment by Jorge - July 3, 2009 on 3:47 pm
It’s stupid, it’s lame, and enfuriating… If I want to use Mozilla, I want to be free to do so without feeling bad about it. If Microsoft has the cash to do such ‘generous’ donations, then by all means, do it in a way that doesn’t bring another sue for bad commercial practices on your head.
Comment by Kastelukannu - July 3, 2009 on 7:45 pm
Hey, it doesn’t really matter where you live or what you do. I know that there’s a relatively big bunch of people who do not want to use any Microsoft software even if someone would pay for it…
I’m one of those.
Pingback by - July 10, 2009 on 2:00 pm
[…] I have to. Last week I had occasion to have a pop at what I thought was a tasteless add campaign for IE8, and now I find it’s got a campaign for Office 2010 - and it’s kind of […]
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