Microsoft Diversifies, Launches Clothing Range Called Softwear

Software giant Microsoft has launched a new range of clothing aimed at reconnecting with the geeks and recapturing the spirit of the 1980's when pastel colours were cool and DOS meant something.

Aptly named Softwear, one of the T-shirt features a mug shot of Bill Gates with seven other designs, embellished by "retro logos, classic photos and geek-chic iconography".

The range of T-shirts (no hoodies for now) will be on sale in selected stores in time for Christmas for about $15 and is described by Microsoft as "a clothing line that taps the nostalgia of when PCs were just starting to change our lives".

Softwear hass been produced with the help of popular celbrity rapper Common and appears to be part of a plan to make Microsoft "cool again" (ed: the "I am a pc" campaign is not helping, especially when the clip ends with a stern "you've got a problem with that".)

Ad agency Crispin Porter & Bogusky is said to be backing the move after the previous Seinfeld/Bill Gates ad failed to ignite the audience's imagination.

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Expect the Mac and Linux community to retaliate with their own "guerilla marketing" T-shirts with Slogans such as "I went to Vista and all I got was a lousy BSOD".