After running what can only be considered a very technology dependent campaign, it looks like the Obama White House is running into some problems. According to the Washington Post (via MSNBC), the technology at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is all hopelessly out of date or heavily restricted for security reasons. Staff members were greeted by six-year-old Microsoft programs and weren't allowed to use Facebook or outside email addresses. According to one aide, transitioning from the campaign into the White House has been "kind of like going from an Xbox to an Atari."
We have a humble suggestion and solution to this problem: Get Obama an Xbox and an Xbox Live account. He could communicate with important officials from around the world and reduce some of that presidential stress. After all, it's not like the president has time to deal with friend codes.
[Thanks, Mark T. Original image: jurvetson]
Reader Comments (46)
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 12:15PM (Unverified) said
Facebook? Lame. Give them a nintendo virtual boy instead. They wouldn't deserve an Atari
Reply
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 1:57PM andsoitgoes said
They can have an Atari all right.
An Atari Lynx!
BURN.
Reply
An Atari Lynx!
BURN.
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 2:18PM (Unverified) said
What are you talking about, hey let's all trade friend codes!
Here's mine:
773217235897123985712893759812375981237598127359871239857129387598123759812735987123589712983579812375
See you online!
Reply
Here's mine:
773217235897123985712893759812375981237598127359871239857129387598123759812735987123589712983579812375
See you online!
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 12:26PM (Unverified) said
Wouldn't giving him an Xbox Live account add to the already too high national debt? Give him a PS3. He could use Playstation Home to hold true virtual meetings and it wouldn't cost him a cent.
Reply
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 12:54PM (Unverified) said
Yeah and random dudes could come up and grind on him!
Reply
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 1:38PM (Unverified) said
I don't get people like you. Why waste time reading the article then making such a stupid comment no one cares about? Scroll down and don't fucking read the article then. So many complainers. Sheesh!
Reply
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 12:27PM (Unverified) said
"six year old Microsoft programs"?
So? Office 2003 is still the best version in my eyes, much less of a UI car-crash than 2k7.
Reply
So? Office 2003 is still the best version in my eyes, much less of a UI car-crash than 2k7.
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 12:55PM (Unverified) said
I had good times with my Atari. It shouldn't be a problem.
Reply
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 12:53PM (Unverified) said
If McCain had won, the transition would have been more like going to an Atari from rolling down a hill inside a tire.
Reply
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 1:07PM vidguy said
"weren't allowed to use Facebook or outside email addresses"
Thank god. Judging by the general ineptitude of government officials and their lack of technology expertise, I'd think the White House would already be under foreign surveillance by Chinese hackers if they had been allowed to access their precious facebook.
Reply
Thank god. Judging by the general ineptitude of government officials and their lack of technology expertise, I'd think the White House would already be under foreign surveillance by Chinese hackers if they had been allowed to access their precious facebook.
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 1:08PM (Unverified) said
Hmmm... Maybe, just MAYBE, people that are busy working in the White House shouldn't be worried about accessing their FaceBook accounts.
And, I use Word 2000 all the time, it is still a word processor, and I am sure Microsoft would cut some kind of deal with selling multiple Office licenses to the White House. Or, ya know, they could FORCE Microsoft to just give up copies of Office, since that's the inevitable.
Reply
And, I use Word 2000 all the time, it is still a word processor, and I am sure Microsoft would cut some kind of deal with selling multiple Office licenses to the White House. Or, ya know, they could FORCE Microsoft to just give up copies of Office, since that's the inevitable.
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 2:09PM (Unverified) said
Come on PS3 fanboys...he was just MAKING AN ANALOGY! If he would of said PS to Atari. I would have still laughed.
Reply
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 2:38PM Deck said
That's too bad.. I would guess that he probably hasn't gotten to keep his blackberry either.
I recognize that there is security involved here... but I don't understand how the most powerful man in the world, can be expected to operate in today's day and age without the wonderful technological advances of our time. Its rather ridiculous if you ask me.
Reply
I recognize that there is security involved here... but I don't understand how the most powerful man in the world, can be expected to operate in today's day and age without the wonderful technological advances of our time. Its rather ridiculous if you ask me.
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 2:43PM (Unverified) said
They have evidently never worked in the gov. before. What they say that they hate about the Whitehouse is what a lot of agencies are still doing. Mine does. Sounds like some inexperienced people thinking that they should walk in and be able to do everything that they want to do.
Reply
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 2:57PM TheWeaponeer said
The photoshop with the controller is nice, but you really should have photoshopped a PIPBOY on his arm. And maybe put a Rock Band microphone in his other hand too.
Just saying.
XBox 360 - Obama has gamerscore?
Reply
Just saying.
XBox 360 - Obama has gamerscore?
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 3:44PM (Unverified) said
that picture is gold! XD
imagine if he DID get an XBL account:
gears 2....
*HEADSHOT*
OMG you killed the president!
Reply
imagine if he DID get an XBL account:
gears 2....
*HEADSHOT*
OMG you killed the president!
Posted: Jan 22nd 2009 6:57PM ch3burashka said
Maybe I'm just stupid, but why is it from an Xbox to an Atari? If it's out of date, shouldn't it be an Atari to an Xbox? Or is it from secure to more lenient (does that work?)?
Please someone explain to me.
Reply
Please someone explain to me.
Posted: Jan 23rd 2009 4:20AM (Unverified) said
Yeah I wouldn't mind kicking his ass on Gears 2 over XBL then taping & put it on Youtube, omg that would be epic win.
Reply
Posted: Jan 23rd 2009 4:15PM The Fuzz 53 said
6 y/o MS technology? So they're using Windows XP and Office 2003 like the rest of the world is I see...
Reply
Posted: Jan 25th 2009 7:37PM (Unverified) said
ziI found real hot Britney Spears Nude video :) Enjoy..
..
http://sexy-tube-world.net/view.php?Britney_Spears_Nude
..
..
Reply
..
http://sexy-tube-world.net/view.php?Britney_Spears_Nude
..
..
Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.
Featured Stories
The most popular posts
in the last 7 days
- Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 221 comments
- Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 161 comments
- Blizzard taking Valve to court over 'DOTA' trademark 117 comments
- David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 107 comments
- Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments











