After reading Scott Hanselman's entry on MSN Messenger 5.0, I decided to go and install it too...However, the problem that Scott pointed out about having Windows Messenger 4.7 and MSN Messenger 5.0 fighting each other popped up on my machine too. Here's how to uninstall Windows Messenger 4.7 (via Google):

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%INFmsmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

If you're like me and running under a non-admin account - make sure you execute this from a command prompt with admin privileges ;) Enjoy!
[IUnknown.com: John Lam's Weblog on Software Development]

Good stuff from John...crap, I didn't think to even try digging into getting rid of Messenger 4.7...and I had just uninstalled MSN Messenger 5.0...ah well, time for some IM client soul searching...maybe I'll just use an Instant Messenging Aggregator like Trillian or Odigo...or, if I want to be loyal to the Web Services Cause, Jabber...

<WARNING FOLLOWUP="true"> - Steve points out that "you DONT want to remove Windows Messenger 4.7 on XP. If you do, you lose: Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing since MSN Messenger 5.0 doesnt support them."  Well, that settles it, I'm sticking with Windows Messenger 4.7 on XP, since I use Remote Assistance constantly.</WARNING>

Lots of email and comments on the Messenger thing...apparently in my ignorance, I assumed that a jump from 4.7 to 5.0 indicated a product upgrade.  When my Windows Messenger 4.7 told me there was a new version of Messenger available, it was really just asking "Do you want the MSN butterfly to appear in more places on your IM client?" 

Steve Makofsky told me: "The 5.0 version is of MSN Messenger, and the 4.7 version is Windows Messenger. "Windows" messager is what shipped with XP (and is still required for office integration, etc), and the MSN Messenger is for everyone else.. They just released the XP version, which is why it was upgraded. "

Well, I get it NOW, but what the heck to I do with this information? :)  I mean, what happens when they release MSN Word, or MSN Excel?  What's the point of me having two parallel competing (and each fighting to log in automatically) IM clients?  And apparently this one doesn't even integrate with Outlook?  I say again, the devil's in the details MSFT...you have to avoid confusing the customer.  I'm uninstalling MSN Messenger 5.0, but remember that I installed it because Windows Messenger 4.7 ASKED ME TO! 

Now, how do I explain this debacle to my mom, brother, and the 15 other computers that I maintain as neighborhood computer geek?

Logitech IO Personal Digital Pen...it was the best I could do in my zeal to get a Tablet PC.  I figured, hey, why not spend the $99 bucks (I had a 50% off coupon) and pretend? :)  I've got Wacom Tablets (in additional to Microsoft optical mice and trackballs - I believe STRONGLY in multiple input devices) at home and work that I use for signatures, and graphical detail work. 

Here's another fellow's review of the Logitech IO Digital Pen...I tend to agree with him.  It's a smidge spendy, a little bulky, but it is FANTASTICALLY accurate.  So much so, it's slightly creepy.  It uses a technology from Anoto (How does it work?) that is rockin' sweet.  One of those ideas I should have had.

Anyway, I'm using it to takes notes for Physics and I'm impressed to say the least.  It's clearly an early adopter technology, but with support from paper vendors (for the paper with the special printed dot pattern) like Cambridge and Mead, I wouldn't be surprise if this caught on in the next 2-5 years.  If only Microsoft and all these guys can decide on the XML format for Digital Ink. 

Comparing all the different ideas on how to track the pen, I'm surprised so many companies are trying to triangulate with infrared and such...changing the paper seems IMHO to be the obvious choice.