THE MICROSOFT HOME OF THE FUTURE

More than thirteen years ago, in December 2000, TOM GILL PREDICTS (Volume 15, No. 29) wrote a story about an actual "Microsoft Home Of The Future."   Yes, one could argue that it was a spectacular prediction of what we now call "The Internet of Everything," but I'd say not much has changed, especially with Microsoft.
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 Top 10 Problems With the Microsoft Home of the Future (December 2000)
 
 Tucked away in New York's trendy Tribeca neighborhood, there's a 

 spectacular piece of PR called the "Microsoft Home of the Future."
 We're intrigued by the concept, but we imagine living in an
 all-Microsoft dwelling place might have its drawbacks, including
 the following:
 
  1. Unfriendly: Doormat says "Start" instead of "Welcome."
  2. Infectious Outlook: Everyone in your family keeps contracting
     nasty viruses. Oddly, the neighbors in the Linux house and the

     Mac house never seem to get sick.
  3. Burglar Magnet: Your home's architecture is riddled with
     hidden holes, back doors, and other security flaws.
  4. Overpriced: Whenever you visit a foreign country such as
     Russia or China, you see houses that look exactly like yours
     but find out people bought them on the black market for a
     fraction of what you paid.
  5. No doors, only Windows. 

     (Editor's note from 2014: and the Vista isn't too good either.)
  6. Network Neighborhood: You can't share your home with anyone
     else. Every member of your family must buy his or her own
     house and then connect it with yours.
  7. Dirty Dishes: Microsoft doesn't offer drivers for your new
     dishwasher.
  8. Fine Print: You must register your home with Microsoft within
     30 days of purchase, or else the house will lock you out and
     void your warranty.
  9. Slow and Unsteady: It takes forever to back up the drive, and
     then you crash.
 10. Mice everywhere. 

     (Editor's note from 2014: OK, maybe that has changed. Perhaps we would

      say there are no remote controls, you have to touch everything to start it?)