Technical glitches mar Gates' promotion of "digital lifestyle"

DenverPost.com ^ | Thursday, January 06, 2005 | Denver Post news services

[mental]

Las Vegas - Despite technical glitches that prompted jokes and guffaws, Bill Gates promised Wednesday that Microsoft Corp. would help millions of consumers stay seamlessly plugged into a world of digital music, movies, video games and television shows.

In his keynote speech at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Microsoft's chairman said broadband Internet access and the falling price of data storage are compelling people to put music, photos, movies and other aspects of their life into a digital format.

But while promoting a "digital lifestyle," Gates showed how vulnerable consumers are to hardware and software bugs.

The address was made in a talk-show format with NBC's Conan O'Brien, who observed that a Microsoft presenter experienced the infamous "blue screen of death."

"Who's in charge of Microsoft?" O'Brien sarcastically asked, then stared at Gates and said, "Oh."

During a demonstration of digital photography with a soon-to-be-released Nikon camera, a Windows PC froze and wouldn't respond to Gates' remote control.

Gates also announced several partnerships with telecommunication companies and television networks.

[mental]

[Tax-chick]

would help millions of consumers stay seamlessly plugged into a world of digital music, movies, video games and television shows.

Ne Zot! That ought to be one of the definition choices for "Hell"!

[martin_fierro]

[razorback-bert]

soon-to-be-released Nikon camera

Why o' why did my checkbook just jump up on the desk.

On my way to Nikon USA!

[NCSteve]

Glitches? No glitches here. Just normal Winderz behavior.

Windows users have become so accustomed to poor performance, bug-dodging has just become part of the cost of use.

[mental]

How to install Windows XP in 5 hours or less

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I used Win2k Pro from 98 to 2004. I think I had 3 BSOD that whole time, and they were my fault; incorrectly installed hardware.

Been using XP Pro since mid last year. Never a problem.

Windows computers are only as smart as the person using it, it seems.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Odd article. First time I put mine in it was under an hour.

[DK Zimmerman]

That's not a bug...

It's an undocumented feature!

[newzjunkey]

I'm not sure even Hell is that cruel. ;)

[mental]

Windows computers are only as smart as the person using it, it seems.

So spyware on my pc is MY fault.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

What kind of spyware? As the result of a program you installed? If so, did you read the user license agreement? Usually they inform you of "information gathering software" built in.
Does spyware not run on other operating systems like MAC OSX?

[mental]

What kind of spyware?

I've had at least one of these, before I switched to firefox.

Top 10 "Most Unwanted" Spyware Named

Does spyware not run on other operating systems like MAC OSX?

Maybe one of the mac users will stop laughing long enough to answer that one.

[Podkayne]

What about that looming EMP thing?

[antiRepublicrat]

Bush, wasn't it you who was saying the BSOD is a thing of the past? Whoops! Just like Gates' Windows 98 BSOD presentation.

Still, I feel sorry for the guy. Technical problems during a presentation aren't fun.

[reagandemo]

"Windows computers are only as smart as the person using it, it seems." Nice to know that you think Bill Gates is an idiot.

[TXnMA]

Heh! Heh! Heh! -- sorry...

[NCSteve]

*Sigh*

If you check into it, you will find that Internet Explorer happily installs all sort of nasty little gremlins on your computer for you, and all you have to do is visit some website. It doesn't even bother your placid existence by asking you if it can do this for you. Windows is the computer equivalent of nanny government: it knows what you need more than you do. And, like nanny government, in most cases it is dead wrong.

Most people think they have no problems with Windows because they don't even know what problems might be lurking, just out of sight behind Bill's happy facade. If I told you what hackers are probably doing with your PC right at this moment, it would probably freeze you where you stand (or sit).

And no, my friend, the malware that plagues almost every single Windows system running today will not run on Apple, Linux, or BSD systems. There is indeed malware designed to run on those systems, but it is comically ineffectual and usually lasts on the system about 15 minutes. The mechanisms used by Windows malware are intrinsic to the system itself. Their ability to exploit your computer are a result of a fundamentally flawed design that cannot be corrected, only eliminated.

[Connie Cardullo]

If I told you what hackers are probably doing with your PC right at this moment, it would probably freeze you where you stand (or sit).

Please, continue.

I downloaded 3 Linux install CDs recently, but I haven't been able to install it yet - they're not bootable, or some other glitch.

I have a feeling what you could tell me would give me the extra incentive I need.

I'm braced.

[steve-b]

Golden quote from his CNet interview, presented without comment because words fail me:

Well, no one invests more in security of their browser than what we do on IE. The key message we have for people is they should turn on auto update because if you turn on auto update, without you having to think about it and go through a bunch of user interface or know about this or that or the other thing, you can know that there are hundreds of very smart people who are constantly improving your browser and making sure that you're safe. And so with auto update and IE, you're getting the top security team and the quickest response team that there is anywhere.