Microsoft Furniture
August 7, 1997 (Seattle) -- Microsoft announced today that it will
provide office furniture with its software. The next release of
windows, code named Naugahyde, will include the Microsoft Chair at no
extra charge. "This is a natural for us," a Microsoft spokesperson
said. "We've conquered the desktop, so we're looking at way of
expanding our installed base." The spokesperson denied accusations
that bundling constitutes an unfair competitive advantage. "We're just
listening to our customers. They've asked for more built in features,
and who doesn't use a chair when they're at their computer? Especially
when they're waiting for Windows to reboot."
Beta testers noted its
large footprint and found the chair to lack substantial features found
in most of the competition. But when asked if they dislike it enough
to purchase another vendor's furniture, most stated that they would
just take what Microsoft had to offer. Also in the works is a small
seat, dubbed the Microsoft Stool, soon to be bundled with laptops.
Beta testers were surprised to find the backless chair at their
doorsteps. "Then again, it's not the first time we've received a
shrink-wrapped stool sample from Microsoft," noted one breathless
customer.