In 1998, Cox received media attention for buying ad space on the video displays in Bay Area Rapid Transit train stations to use as a forum for his anti-capitalism messages. In the same font used to announce train destinations, the phrase "Capitalism stops at nothing" popped up to the surprise of hundreds of commuters.

Lately, Cox has been commenting more on the relentless capitalism of the computer and Internet industries.

In May, he placed blinking display boards, usually used for traffic warnings, near San Francisco's South Park, home of many multimedia and software companies.

In a piece called May Day, the boards flashed messages such as "Danger, digital divide ahead."

Perhaps it makes sense that Cox is now working with the Web and the concept of the operating system, since both can be conceived of as everyday spaces.

Some critics think ACOS is refreshing, even if it isn't Cox's strongest statement against capitalism.

"We take our operating systems for granted now, just as most of us take capitalism and its consequences as a given. It's good to have that pointed out every so often," said Robbin Murphy, who teaches a class on information systems for the visual arts at New York University's Department of Art and Art Professions.

"No, it might not be his most successful piece," continued Murphy, also a founder of artnetweb.com, a network for artists that explores the use of new media in art. "But it does point out those references we may not be paying attention to and that any software comes with a (usually corporate) agenda coded into it."

Although ACOS allows you to erase any corporate agenda from your desktop, you'll find your system taken over with promotional materials for Cox and his work.

Hit the "Help" icon when you've got ACOS running and you'll link to Cox's mission statement. Click on the "Documents" icon and you'll find a series of press clippings on Cox's Together We Can Defeat Capitalism.

So isn't Cox just as guilty of brand-building as Microsoft or Apple?

"Yes," Cox says. "I've thought about stopping it, but people seem to like it.

"Who knows, maybe an IPO?" he says. "One of the sign sequences for the May Day project was: 'Investor Alert -- Initial Public Offer -- Free Shares in Socialism.'"