Lies, damned lies and MS sex kitten press releases

Microsoft's masters and mistresses of spin have been caught red-handed twisting the truth.

The software Satan's PR bunnies issued a press release citing exciting new research that examined the differences in lifestyle between PC and Mac users.

Entitled PC users are more amorous than their Mac cousins, it set about massaging the egos of PC users by saying they were three times more likely than Mac users to go out for a romantic meal, more likely to choose romantic films and were cooler dressers.

Basically the message was: Mac users are uncool and unsexy - you're not, so thank your lucky stars.

But luckily for us, eagle-eyed hacks at Linux Format were on top form and didn't swallow the spin. They spotted that the exact same PR agency had sent out another press release, based on the same 'survey', to sister magazine Mac Format.

But here's what this one said: "It's official. Mac users are not only more cultured than PC users, but they make better lovers too. Who's making these claims? Apple? Actually, it's PC software giant Microsoft."

Of course it was.

The PR agency must surely have got its warrens' wires crossed? In this release it claimed Mac users were best in the sack, and were more likely to be in a relationship and be more attentive to their lover. Basically, they came out on top.

Funny that. The Linux Format hack seemed to sum the situation up pretty well from something they'd heard from a colleague: "All PR stuff is made up from lies, sawdust and wood shavings mixed in warm water, dried in a spin drier and gently toasted in a waffle iron. Eaten, digested and recreated in full in the lavatory pan, before being pressed flat, folded and popped in the post to us merry journalists..." ®