Microsoft’s $5 Easter Egg?

Proof positive that Microsoft has a sense of humor. How else to explain this report from cNet detailing the $5 offer from Microsoft to users who experience problems with their Antispyware program deleting files it shouldn’t have. I feel a lot safer knowing that if Microsoft accidentally erases my mp3 or photo collection I’m $5 better off for the hassle. Sounds like a programmer decided to drop in an easter egg.

Now I’d really be rolling in the dough if Real or Winzip offered me $5 every time their products decided to litter my start menu, desktop, quick start menu, system tray, bookmarks, or context menu with references to their pushy products. Come to think of it, I want 5 bucks from every software company that changes my system without my permission. I want $10 from every company that can’t write a working uninstaller for their program. And I’d really like an apology from Valve for the horrific installation process for Half Life 2 brought on by their implementation of Steam. I’m still angry for having to authenticate my version of Windows Pro last week when I installed a new network card. Is there another industry that abuses its customers more than the software industry? I guess the record and movie industry are in the same boat.