Bloatware: the Windows 7 Whopper

Windows 7 is Microsoft's biggest product launch of the year. Unsurprisingly for a multi billion dollar multinational company, Microsoft is pushing the latest version of Windows with a varied and well-funded marketing campaign. More surprising are some of the embarrassingly cringe inducing marketing events, such as encouraging ordinary people to host their own Windows 7 launch parties.

Another bizarre promotion is the Windows 7 Burger King Whopper, a version of the famous hamburger consisting of seven beef patties. Yes, seven.

This huge burger will only be available in Japan. We can't read Japanese, so we're not sure what the text on the official Japanese website says, but photos of the actual burger on Flickr look far less appetising than the official promotional picture.

We're not against the occasional meat guzzling indulgence, but this towering monstrosity of processed dead cow seems obscene to us. Microsoft should be ashamed of itself for promoting the over consumption of a highly calorific fast food product when governments in developed countries are trying to encourage healthier lifestyles to reduce the spiraling costs of coronary heart disease and obesity on public health budgets.

The promotion is especially egregious when considered in the context of the current food crisis. Increased demand for meat in China and India has helped push up prices for other staple foods to the point where poor people in other developing countries can no longer afford them and run the risk of malnutrition as a result. Ironically, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, headed by Microsoft's co-founder, is working to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in developing nations by promoting and funding more sustainable and productive agricultural methods.

Admittedly, no-one will die of starvation in Africa if an overeager Windows fan or two in Japan buys a Windows 7 Whopper. Still, it's a very poorly thought out marketing promotion given the very serious problems the world faces in food consumption and production.

Shame on you Microsoft. Shame.

Alan Lu