Microsoft's Wired Portable Potty
In early May 2003, the news broke: Microsoft's portable toilet iLoo (using the more elegant British term) was in the works, complete with internal wireless keyboard, plasma screen and external MSN "Hotmail station" (for those waiting in line). According to urban legend site Snopes.com, several news outlets including the Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal ran with the story. It turned out it was all a PR gimmick, emanating from Microsoft's British offices.
Saddam Hussein Purchases 4,000 PlayStation 2s for Military Use
WorldNetDaily.com blasted this gem on Dec. 19, 2000: "Why Iraq's buying up Sony PlayStation 2s: Intelligence experts fear games bundled for military applications." Anonymous military sources cited the 128-bit CPU power and graphics capabilities of the PS2, and said that Iraqis could build a "crude super-computer." Bundling 12 to 15 PlayStations could enable an unmanned aerial attack vehicle, the report suggested.
At the time, United Nations sanctions against Iraq did not cover PS2s. But Saddam's alleged massive purchase supposedly led to a PS2 Christmas shortage.
In 2004, PC World learned the Defense Intelligence Agency had looked into the matter, but the agency wouldn't release any specifics.
Thomas Watson's Poor Prediction
In 1943, IBM patriarch Thomas Watson was supposed to have quipped: "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." As a salesman, Watson's prowess was legendary. As a visionary, he was less adept, so the story goes. A 1997 CIO article, in addition to dozens of websites: thinkexist.com, amusingquotes.com, perpetuated his prognostication.
However, no one has ever been able to definitively link the infamous quote to Watson. It stands as one of the biggest misquotes in IT history.
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