"I'm a PC, and I'm capable of making mistakes!"

Think getting laid off or dumped by your employer is the ultimate indignity? Guess again. It seems that Microsoft, home of the "You're Fired!" mass email, is at it again.

TechCrunch has reported that the big M has apparently miscalculated some of the severance checks mailed out to its unemployees -- and wants its money back! The Internet-focused blog site got a hold of the actual letters sent out (they're posted on the site), and was able to confirm that this wasn't an isolated incident (and some people may have been undercompensated as well). For what it's worth, Microsoft "sincerely apologize(s) for any inconvenience."

Although the company certainty has a right to the money -- think of it as "bank error not in your favor" -- it may have been better off eating the extra expense; the whole episode is undoubtedly potential PR dynamite. Even more so since the lucky letter recipients weren't even treated to an accounting of just what went wrong, just told to "please" mail the "check or money order within fourteen (14) days..."

Will these latest incidents cause some consumers to reevaluate their lives and become born-again members of the Apple corps? Stay tuned. . .

--Posted by Todd Obolsky, Vault News & Commentary