The Mojave Experiment has received a fair bit of attention in the last week or so. Some think it’s great, others deceptive. One comment I found interesting was Mary-Jo’s thought that if Apple had done this type of marketing they’d be getting applauded. Maybe. (As an aside, Adrian has a nice little discussion of whether the Mojave results are even valid.)

Having pondered it a bit over the last few days, here’s my thoughts:

• Perception IS reality – no matter what the truth really is, people will always believe what they think the truth is. So, from that point of view the experiment is a useful reminder
• Deception sucks – but some background… as a child (about 8 or 9 I think) I had a really humiliating experience where I was duped by some ‘friends’. It was a joke sure, and I can see the funny side now, but it has stuck with me. That’s one of the reasons I don’t like practical jokes – they have an awful childhood association to them. So, when I first heard about the Mojave Experiment (at SBTUG actually – yet another reason to attend user groups) I thought ‘cool, nicely done’. But by later that night, after reading further, I was thinking ‘nup, I don’t like it’.

This particular marketing ploy may work well for Microsoft, but for me it is a sign they are changing their approach – and I’m not comfortable with it.

(btw I’m assuming it is pronounced: mo-har-vee (as in the Mojave Desert) and not: moe-jave as I’ve heard some refer to it)