Okay, we know that there's plenty of controversy over whether or not Microsoft is trying to copy various aspects of Mac OS X with its upcoming Windows XP operating system. Many folks have looked askance at Microsoft's decision to break from its long-held protocol of naming its operating systems after the years in which they ship (or are supposed to ship) in favor of the "XP" moniker, right after Apple used an "X" in the name of its new operating system. Some people think that the existing XP screenshots reveal that Microsoft's new "Luna" interface with its larger icons, rounded corners, and soft gradients (and heck, even its name) is just a little too reminiscent of Aqua-- well, aside from being ugly as sin. And then of course there's The Duck-- which has since mysteriously vanished from Microsoft's site. 'Nuff said.

But even with all of those clues, many people still deny that Microsoft is actively trying to ride Mac OS X's coattails to greatness; "Mere coincidence," they say, and dismiss all charges with a careless wave of the hand. But we're here to make them eat those words with a side order of crow-- because if Bill's minions aren't trying to capitalize on Mac OS X's success, what's with the stealth attempts to get XP technology into the hands of Mac OS X customers? Yes, people, maybe he's panicking or something, we don't know-- but evidently Billy-boy's gone beyond simply copying nomenclature and interface: now he's copying packaging. Faithful viewer Abe J. pointed out a very telling item up for auction on eBay: a commercial boxed copy of Mac OS X that actually has the as-yet-unreleased Office XP installer on the CD-ROM. (Read more about it in the Macworld forums.)

No kidding! The CD-ROM looks just like any other Mac OS X CD-ROM, with the big silkscreened "X" and all, but instead of containing Apple's latest operating system, it's loaded up with Microsoft's as-yet-unreleased office productivity suite. "But AtAT," you say, "this is Office XP we're talking about, not Windows XP-- so what's your point?" (Shut up!) Okay, yeah, it's Office and not Windows, but even so, there's obviously something sinister going on. For all we know, Microsoft meant to press Windows XP on the disc, but pressed Office by accident-- with the fabled Redmond lack of attention to detail, we can't say we'd be surprised.

Is this Office-in-Aqua-clothing an internal Microsoft test-press that accidentally left the compound in a retail shipment? Or was it intended for release in extremely limited quantities, to "test the waters" as to how Mac users would react to the bait and switch? If it is, and the test goes well, is there any doubt that come October, the market will be flooded with counterfeit retail copies of Mac OS X that actually contain installers for Windows XP? Neither Apple nor Microsoft admits to knowing anything about this bizarre anomaly, but as far as we're concerned, Mr. Gates has just discovered a new way to expand his market share still further. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Hands up, who misses Clarus? Granted, the lovable dogcow isn't completely missing from Mac OS X (as we've noted in a previous episode), but a resource buried eighty levels deep and an obscure text-only "Moof" Easter egg don't exactly constitute prime time placement. Given the many years that Clarus has faithfully served the Mac community-- as the "z" in the Cairo font, the model in the Page Setup dialog box, and the cuddly mascot to legions of Mac developers-- surely she deserves some more air time, right? Well, certainly faithful viewer Mike Margolis thought so, because he was kind enough to write in about his own personal tribute to everyone's favorite moofer. Behold the glory of... the Dogcow iBook!

That's right, sports fans; Mike grabbed a screwdriver, popped the cover off his brand new iBook, slapped a printout of Clarus right over the Apple logo, and put everything back together. The result? Well, when the 'Book is off or sleeping, that crystal Apple logo looks pretty much the same as it used to-- but when the system is in use, Clarus Appears Magically As If From Nowhere™ to bathe happily in the soothing glow of Apple's logo. (Now if only we could find some way to get her tail a-waggin'...)

Of particular interest to us is Mike's note that he was using his moofBook while seated in the front row at the WWDC "fireside chat" last week-- and Steve Jobs saw his handiwork. Now, given the fact that Steve's obsession with preserving the sanctity of the Apple logo seems to border on the psychotic (the apocryphal tale of his hissy fit over some Apple watches is still a favorite bedtime story around the AtAT compound), we're mildly surprised that the man didn't fly into a paroxysm of blind fury, leap from the stage, and start throttling Mike right then and there while foaming at the mouth and speaking in tongues. Instead, though, Steve actually smiled. While we admit it's tough for a mere mortal to resist Clarus's charms, we're pleased to hear that even The Mighty Steve apparently has a soft spot in his heart for the dogcow. (It's possible that Steve was simply smiling as he contemplated how he would exact his terrible vengeance later on in a less public setting, but given that it's a week later and Mike's still alive enough to send email, we doubt it.)

We'd be remiss not to mention that pulling a stunt like Mike's and cracking open your iBook to mess with Apple's logo will cause your warranty to vanish with an audible popping sound, leaving behind nothing but a sad little puff of smoke; still, if you're willing to live warranty-free (and to risk Steve's wrath), the world can always use a few more dogcows. If we weren't such wussies about preserving warranties, we'd pry open our Pismo and slip a little label under its glowing Apple logo-- an arrow and some block text reading "THIS SIDE UP" to help counter the upside-down effect. Maybe once we make it past the one-year mark...

Wow, just when we thought that Apple's branding efforts were paying off big-time, something had to come along and spoil the party. Given that it's been almost four years since its controversial debut in 1997, we figured that your average guy on the street would be able to attribute the phrase "Think different" to our lovable Mac-makers in Cupertino. Evidently that's not the case-- at least, not if a MacNN story is any indication. Reportedly no less an authority than the New York Times referred to the phrase as "the Microsoft slogan" in an article about last night's Spurs-Lakers game. (The article has since been corrected; thank Steve for small mercies.)

The thing is, we're pretty sure this isn't the first time someone's made this exact mistake in a highly public situation. We here at AtAT aren't exactly fond of Regis's little millionaire show, but at some point someone told us that one contestant was asked which company used "Think different" as its slogan-- and he blew his cash by answering "Microsoft." We don't know what it is, but apparently its endemic to the human population: when they screw it up, people think that Apple's slogan belongs to Microsoft. Who knows? Maybe the public is just so used to Microsoft stealing everything else Apple does, they subconsciously attribute even Apple's ads to Bill Gates. It's a sad commentary on the human condition, to be sure (or at least on Microsoft's mind share).

Hopefully the public is a little clearer on which company owns Apple's logo, since it's the only identifying mark on Apple's new retail stores. Otherwise, there are going to be a whole lot of people bellying up to the Genius Bar and asking for copies of Windows XP. (Actually, on second thought, that might not be such a bad thing after all; "Sure, I'll get that for you in a minute-- but first, take this iBook for a test drive..." Market share, here we come!)