News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

August 29, 2007

internet

Microsoft may not know art, but it knows what it likes

Posted Aug. 29, ’07, 12:00 PM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Internet

Art of OfficeMicrosoft would like to remind you that it’s not just about boring spreadsheets and TPS reports. Every once in a while, even your office drone has to cast off the shackles of cubicledom and create something. Make art. And Microsoft can be there to help with its brilliant suite of creative tools: Microsoft Office.

Wait—say whaaaaa?

The Mac Business Unit has launched a new virtual commons site called the Art of Office, dedicated to showing what Mac users can create in the confines of the productivity suite. And, we’re certain, it has nothing whatsoever to do with a software package whose name rhymes with myQuirk.

Featured artists on the site include the likes of Devo founder Mark Mothersbaugh and MAKE magazine senior editor Phillip Torrone, as well as plenty of users just like you and me (well, maybe not you). You can upload your own creations or remix and reuse what others have submitted. Yes, amazing. Welcome to the Internet, Microsoft.

At the end of the day, though, this smells a lot like Microsoft trying desperately to buy itself some street cred. And the fact that it’s that obvious likely also means that it’s doomed to failure. Remember: when you try too hard to be cool, all you end up doing is looking like a doof.

[via Macworld]


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