You should use a Helmet when chatting...

Maximilianop

Before U read this, please pardon my english, it´s not my native language.

I received this e-mail from hotmail staff and went completely WTF!! I will post it as I received it (In spanish) and I will TRY to translate it to english.

Subject:
¡Sea uno de los primeros a usar el nuevo MSN Messenger!

Body:
Windows Live Messenger es la nueva
generación del MSN Messenger!

Ahora

tu puedes ser uno de los primeros a probar el Windows Live Messenger beta, que
es la nueva versión de tu MSN Messenger, con todo que te gusta y también nuevos
recursos increíbles:

Envío de mensajes aún cuando tu contacto esté offline.

Puedes charlar por texto, video y voz con tus contactos*.

{Stripped text}

*Aviso: Ambas partes deben disponer de micrófonos, altavoces y cámaras Web compatibles. Se recomiendan una conexión a Internet de alta velocidad y el uso de cascos.

Translated below

Subject:
Be one of the first people to try the new MSN Messenger

Body
Windows Live Messenger is the new generation of MSN Messenger!
Now you can be one of the first people to try the new Windows Live Messenger beta, wich is the new version of MSN Messenger, with everything you like and new incredible resources:

Sending messages even when you contact is offline.

You can do text, video and voice chat with your contacts*.
{Stripped text}

*Warning: Both parts must have compatible Microphone, Speakers and Web cams. Hi Speed Internet connection and {THE USE OF HELMETS} recommended...

So...
"Unless you use a Helmet while participating in a videoconference you may not experiencie the full power of Windows Messenger Live!"

My doubt is: Must it be a safety helmet or any driving helmet suffices?

Maximilianop

If anyone received this e-mail in english... I really wish to see it.

marvin_rabbit

@Maximilianop said:

If anyone received this e-mail in english... I really wish to see it.

I'm guessing that 'cascos' was an imprecise translation from 'headsets'. What would be a good spanish equivilent to that?

Since I am completely incapable of translating, I ran 'headsets' through Google translate, and it spat back "receptores de cabeza". Would that have been a better alternative?

Just curious for enlightenment, thanks...

Maximilianop

Almost, since a "receptor" is a receiver ("receptores" receivers; "cabeza" head)

The most addecuate translation from English to Spanish of Headsets is "HeadSets", because there is not an spanish word for "earphones holding a microphone".

Here in Argentina, some call it "Auriculares" which is Earphones, because we tend to call things as what they came from rather than what they are (excamples: Calling CD a DVD; Disc a CD; Television aTV set, and so on...)

My WTF was seeing how much little effort Microsoft staff put in localization of mails, news, etc... Other thing like that was in WindowsUpdate site where they translated Welcome as "Bienvenida" which is both the action of welcoming and telling a woman welcome. Now it´s changed to "Bienvenidos" wich is a plural and genre-less word for welcome.

rbriem

I'm thinking this is just cutesy marketing - as in "wow, high-speed Internet connection - better use your helmet".

Which, considering how lame and dated that bit is, still qualifies this as a WTF ...

Maximilianop

I´ve just noticed, they said "cascos" which is not no Helmet, but Helmets...

So my previous idea of using a driving helmetwill not suffice; I will have to use a couple of them.

rbrim: Just bad translation... why would they care of your high speed internet provider??

dhromed

@Maximilianop said:

Now it´s changed to "Bienvenidos" wich is a plural and genre-less word for welcome.

WELCOMEZ!

wocky

Not a WTF really...

Though "Cascos" is not the usual word in Argentina for "Headsets", it is in many other spanish-speaking countries. The text above was surely not written by an Argentinian... but hey, had it been, who knows if people in Chile or Peru would have understood "Auriculares".

Maximilianop

"Auriculares" is the Real Spain Academy accepted word for the earphones. They should understand it, otherwise they are just lame excuses of seudo-spanish speaking asses.

Anyway, "Auriculares" isn´t either the correct word, it´s earphones and not headset.. Maybe if the said "Juego de auriculares con micrófono" it would be the best, since it means: Microphone and earphone set.

But hey... what do they care, right? People doesn´t even know a "any key" is, anyway...

pinguis

@Maximilianop said:

Almost, since a "receptor" is a receiver ("receptores" receivers; "cabeza" head)

The
most addecuate translation from English to Spanish of Headsets is
"HeadSets", because there is not an spanish word for "earphones holding
a microphone".

Here in Argentina, some call it "Auriculares"
which is Earphones, because we tend to call things as what they came
from rather than what they are (excamples: Calling CD a DVD; Disc a CD;
Television aTV set, and so on...)

My WTF was seeing how much
little effort Microsoft staff put in localization of mails, news,
etc... Other thing like that was in WindowsUpdate site where they
translated Welcome as "Bienvenida" which is both the action of
welcoming and telling a woman welcome. Now it´s changed to
"Bienvenidos" wich is a plural and genre-less word for welcome.

It reminds me of the "macho/hembra" affair.

When asked for your gender in some spanish version of Windows these
were the options suplied. The problem is that these are the biological
defenitions, never to be used on humans, except in slang were they mean
roughly Stud/Bitch.