The “relationship” between Sony and Microsoft has always intrigued me. Bitter enemies in one field, yet intimate lovers in another.

What I’m talking about is computer development vs. videogame development.

A few weeks ago, I saw a magazine ad for the Sony Vaio, and right next to a picture of the machine was the words “Sony Recommends Windows XP.” I had to laugh. For years, Sony and Microsoft have been duking it out in the console wars, Sony with the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft with the X-Box and now X-Box 360. Of course in the laptop business, you’re either making Windows compatible laptops or you’re Apple and making iBooks.

And now, with Sony’s CD rootkit mess, Microsoft has jumped in to help alieviate the matter. Could this be concern on Microsoft’s part to make sure owners of its operating system are kept safe due to one company’s blunder? Or could it be nothing more than a ploy to get people to say “Hey, Microsoft cares for their customers, let’s go buy an X-Box!”?