Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Each year we are offered tricks and treats by tech companies.  Some products turn out better than we hope and some far worse than we ever imagined.  For this Halloween Who’s on Crack, let’s take a look at who has offered more treats than tricks.

As promised, I am not including Motorola in this list, though I think we all know they belong here.  With that, I give you my trick or treat list.

Microsoft

Treat: A look at the Official OS of Cloud City minus Lando Calrissian.  We are intrigued by Azure, are you sure you can live up to this meh hype? 
Treat: Keeping Windows XP around for Netbooks.  MS could have been real dickish here and pulled the plug or even gotten smart about it and repackaged XP into a new OS with all kinds of new opportunities and excitement.  But no, they saw easy money and just kept marching in the same line.  Whatever.
Tricks:  The temptation to just write “everything else” is strong.  But I’ll just start and end with Vista.  Discuss if you like.

AT&T

Treat: Free iPhone WiFi at coffee house Starbucks.  Finally.  On what, like the 18th try?
Trick: 1/2 price iPhones cost more than original in total costs?  Whatcha talking about Willis?

Android

Treat: Good software, growing App store, bringing fun to open source
Trick: G1 hardware is so 2006.  Show of hands who can’t wait for something better?

Netflix

Treat: Ubiquitous streaming at no extra charge on virtually anything: specialized boxes, Xbox, TiVo.  Can I get a big, “heck yeah!”?
Trick: There is little content you’ll want to stream.  Come on guys, the world is waiting.

Asus

Treat: Who doesn’t adore a Eee PC?
Trick: 17 different flavors?  Are you kidding me?  Tip, Apple’s got 3 choices in the laptop range.  I can choose between 3.  17?  Throw me a frickin bone here Asus!

These are the crack-induced tricks I could come up with.  Tell me what I missed in the comments below.