[Mb-civic] FW: Computers vs. Auto Industry

[Michael Butler]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Gerald Gerald <dekuyper at sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2005 14:32:22 -0800 (PST)
To: Gerald Cooper <dekuyper at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Computers vs Auto Industry

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 (and I just
love this part): 

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.

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