Why don't political blogs show computer-generated dream politicians who are honest, intelligent, don't care about power or money and will ignore powerful interests and look out for the people. (Oh, wait. That pretty much how every political blog presents their favorite candidates.)

Here's an idea. Let's make the effort to separate fantasy from reality, and inject the same measure of skepticism and realism in consumer technology that we do in other areas of life.

I'll start by telling the truth about Microsoft "Courier": To the best of our knowledge, "Courier" doesn't exist. What does exist is a rumor started by a single blog post written by an anonymous writer and based on an unspecified "source." We have seen neither photographs nor video showing even a prototype. Instead, we have seen only computer-generated, make-believe images. We have seen only a vague idea that may not even be Microsoft's.

OK, media. Your turn.

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