I don’t know what to laugh at more, the writer’s inability to read the fineprint, or Microsoft’s inability to communicate right. In the recent campaign by Microsoft to feed 8 people for every download of its IE8 browser, here’s what Microsoft says:

“Only complete downloads of Windows® Internet Explorer® 8 through browserforthebetter.com from June 8, 2009 through August 8, 2009 qualify for the charitable donation to Feeding America. Microsoft is donating $1.15 per download to Feeding America® up to a maximum of $1,000,000. Meals are used for illustrative purposes only. Meal conversion is effective until June 30th, 2010.”

Now on naked eye, it appears that Microsoft will be donating $1.15 per download, which in my math, doesn’t really translate to 8 meals anywhere on this planet. So Maybe Microsoft’s communication here could lead to some serious bashing up of its own goodwill. But if you try and take a closer look, Feeding America does indicate that “every $1 you donate, Feeding America helps provide 10 pounds of food and grocery products to men, women and children facing hunger in our country.”

So Microsoft may just be right in its calculations. That apart IE8 did actually get good reviews, so it may not really be much of a problem considering it would also help eradicate hunger. Get a life journo.

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