Microsoft & RoadTrip America?

[Mark Sedenquist]

In Microsoft's 1999 Annual Report, issued near the end of last year, Bill Gates used the phrase "...any time, any place and on any device..." to express his vision for the mission of Microsoft's products and services. This sounds similar to the "Road Wirer's Mission", we defined a year earlier. In mid-1996, Microsoft launched a website that featured a cartoon family enjoying a cross-country trip that was VERY similar to RTA's own on-the-road experiences. We hope Bill's new slogan fairs better than the 1996 cartoon family -- the website was pulled within a few months of launch!

[Doc Jones]

Mark,
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then perhaps semi-plagiarism means that Bill really likes you. He has a real history of such antics. I refer the group to a film that aired recently on TNT (I think it that was it) entitled "Pirates of the Silicon Valley." It should be required reading for anyone in this game. BTW to the group if anyone knows of a book by the same or similar title, please let me know via e-mail. Now let's hope this little missive doesn't make it to Renton and black helicopters don't land in front of the house.

Doc Jones

[Mark Sedenquist]

Doc, when it first happened in 1996, we thought it amusing that folks thought RTA was a Microsoft-created website. I just hope that the current Microsoft folks have an equally good sense of humor!