[Archive note: The Fooler wrote: "I sent the following to selected users (ones with MS Word 1.0) on our campus. One person actually believed it!!!" ] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 31 Mar 1994 19:44:11 -0800 (PST) From: Keiko Pitter To: .... Subject: Surprise Announcement from Bill Gates (fwd) You might be in for a big money... Keiko ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 31 Mar 1994 14:24:58 -0800 From: Gleason Sackman To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Surprise Announcement from Bill Gates (fwd) Forwarded by Gleason Sackman - InterNIC net-happenings moderator ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ---------- Text of forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 31 Mar 1994 17:09:32 -0500 (EST) From: Lisa Soshi Subject: Surprise Announcement from Bill Gates (SEATTLE, March 30, 1994) -- Bill Gates today announced a surpise he had packaged into Microsoft Word Version 1.0 released in 1990. The software is programmed with a special message that will be displayed during the startup process on April 1 of 1994. Bill Gates, chief executive officer of Microsoft, said, "This is a non-intrusive, very respectful way to gather information about our customers. This is a fun way to find out if people hang on to old software (without upgrading)" Just to add additional "excitement," the message gives instructions to receive $500 rebate from Microsoft, along with the current version of Microsoft Word. The biggest surprise is the following: those people with unopened package of Microsoft Word Version 1.0 can receive a new computer system along with the newest version of Microsoft Office (a package composed of Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint) Any employee of Microsoft or distributors of its products are excluded from the offer. contact: Paul Pizia email: info@ms.com phone: 206-464-8686