If I picked a favorite of the lot, it would be Minesweeper. It is a single game which employs strategy over luck. But I miss it at my office since none of the computers come installed with it. But in the current age of web 2.0 who searches the program menu any way? Its all out there open on the web. And if you think that games are blocked as well you are pretty right. But when the provider itself is Google, who can come as a barrier. It was a startling revelation when I found Google did have its own version of Minesweeper implemented with Ajax.  Google Minesweeper comes in a Google Homepage Gadget. In fact there are 5 games that you can choose from from here.

If you however don’t like the layout of the minesweeper game in your homepage you can turn your heads to the more animated version offered by telerik. It has been implemented Microsoft’s Silverlight. For playing  it, first install the Microsoft Silverlight plugin and enjoy!

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Microsoft paid $240 million price for 1.6% stake in Facebook. This clears the view , world’s largest software maker, crudely wanted to deepen its relationship with a startup that didn’t have $200 million in annual revenue

This deal was the only thing which made me to open an account with Facebook. The only other friendship community I am associated till now was Orkut which in my opinion definitely gives a far more friendly user experience than FaceBook, especially now after having registered with Facebook.

I did look around for the reason as to why users prefer FaceBook over Orkut and was surprised to see that Facebook users are more than the number of Orkut users.

The main reason’s for users liking Facebook from what I found were:

1. Simple and professional user interface
2. Explanation for being added as a friend
3. Unique groups or communities
4. Security of user’s profile and information
5. Many other fun applications

The reason’s why users don’t like Orkut were as follows:

1. Amateurish interface (as seen prior to the new one I suppose)
2. Open scraps and profiles owing to less security
3. No provision for providing reasons to “Add as friend”
4. Repetitive groups or communities

The only point where people seemed to love Orkut was it was easier to find old friends and colleagues as compared to Facebook. The only drawback of Facebook was that in the resistance of a beginner to join in for the first time.

I have loved Orkut ever since I joined it after having a bad experience in a yet another online community called Hi5. But Facebook still hasn’t impressed me to the point to digest the fact that Microsoft has ploughed in $240 million (maybe a bitter outcome of Vista has turned its gaze to the online business).

If Facebook’s popularity was the case, then the question arises as to why did Google opt for Orkut?

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The comment reads as follows where ZUP is slated as Microsoft’s iPhone clone called ZunePhone. If that did’t amuse you, the following comment will take your wits off.

I am anxiously waiting for a call from a family member or close friend when my ZUP rings, and I touch the “Answer” button…

1 – The call doesn’t connect, but I am shown a dialog box that says “Do you really want to answer the call?” I touch the ‘Yes’ button.

2 – A second dialog box is displayed that says “A Secrity Service Pack is available for your ZUP, do you want to install it before answering the call?” I touch the ‘No’ button…the phone is still ringing.

3 – The ZUPs screen turns bright blue and then displays the following text in 8 bit courier:
*** STOP: 0×0000008E (0xC00000005, 0×804EF844, 0xF89463FC,0×00000000)

4 – The ringing stops and I must hold down four keys, plus a secret hidden one that can only be accessed with a paper clip. The ZUP shuts down.

5 – After a seven minute boot up, I am prompted to remove the SIM card and call my carrier.

Now, that’s whom I call a Microsoft experienced consumer.

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