Posted on 10/09/2006 2:30:37 AM PDT by familyop
Until a couple of days ago, like many others, I was looking forward to the long awaited release of Windows Vista. Then the news broke about Microsoft's intention to crack down on software piracy by putting what amounts to spyware on users' computers. Now I'm thinking twice about whether I really need or want this new operating system.
Microsoft's so-called Software Protection Program (SPP) has been presented to intending users as a fait accompli just a month ahead of Vista's scheduled release. It will mean that those who use Vista and other Microsoft products will have to put up with their systems constantly being checked online to make sure they're not using any products deemed to be pirated software.
I say deemed to be pirated software because as sure as night follows day there will be many cases in which the SPP will make mistakes and label legitimately acquired software as pirated.
In such cases, users will have to convince Microsoft that they bought their software legitimately and, if they don't succeed, they will have to hand over extra money or their system will be disabled.
In some cases, users who have activated a legitimate copy of Vista may need to do a number of reinstalls because they have suffered a hardware failure or their system isn't running well. Hopefully, Microsoft will be able to differentiate between that and users installing a single copy of Vista on multiple computers.
Perhaps we should be grateful to Microsoft for letting its intentions be known in advance of the Vista release. It gives us a chance to evaluate the alternatives.
There is of course Linux, an operating system that enterprises are considering with increasing frequency. Relatively few have made the jump to the Linux desktop but they now have a clear choice between moving to Vista with its tight validation controls and Linux distributions without such controls from Vendors such as Red Hat and Novell, as well as freely available distributions such as Ubuntu.
While they're formulating a strategy about what path they should take, enterprises may as well stick with Windows XP.
As far as consumers are concerned, unfortunately no Linux distribution has shown itself to be ready for prime time. Perhaps for them, the best option is to upgrade to an Apple Mac. Then they can run their Windows XP stuff in a virtual window using Parallels or in dual boot mode using Boot Camp, while also taking advantage of all the cool Mac applications that come with their system.
If consumers don't like the thought of being tied to a Mac for the rest of their life, then they could use Parallels or VMware, when it's available for a Mac, to run a Linux desktop distro like Ubuntu in a third virtual window. They could then gradually migrate applications to Linux that they don't want to be tied to any particular hardware.
It's a pity that I feel compelled to write an article like this. However, the thought of being forced to pay through the nose to upgrade to a highly configured PC running Vista, only to face the prospect of constant check-ups from some server in Redmond about the validity of my software has me a little spooked not to mention outraged.
No doubt there are plenty who disagree and believe that SPP is necessary to stamp out software piracy. To them and Microsoft, I say don't try to fool yourselves. The vast majority of software pirates are in second and third world countries. Many will find a way around SPP and those that can't will probably turn to Linux.
In fact, Microsoft's decision to try to nab Vista software pirates using spyware may be the best thing that ever happened to Linux and Mac OS X.
Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 (SLED 10).
It is really a tight and well thought-out distro. I have it on several machines now and I am ecstatic with it.
I am constantly having to tweak and prod my Windows XP machines to keep them going and on task--particularly with security updates and related patches. But I never realized how much babysitting my Windows XP machines require until I installed SLED 10 on some machines.
Unlike the Windows XP machines, the SLED 10 machines are rock solid and completely self-sufficient. They never complain, never make demands. They just do perfectly and efficiently exactly what they've been asked to do, first time, every time, around the clock.
Ok, I'm a full on Linux convert, and wouldn't consider putting MS software back on my machine precisely because of their registration and DRM shenanigans (oh, and hello? Sony root kit?) but this part right here is pure FUD. The registration relies upon a hash that is produced from the PC's particular hardware. And its tolerances allows a certain amount of upgrading, ie. the video card, while major upgrades such as the mother board do indeed require a call to MS to beg permission again. But a simple re-install of the OS, even multiple times, is a non-event. XP's exhibited this behavior for years and I haven't read anything indicating that Vista will be more stringent on re-installs that don't involve hardware changes.
As far as consumers are concerned, unfortunately no Linux distribution has shown itself to be ready for prime time. Perhaps for them, the best option is to upgrade to an Apple Mac. Then they can run their Windows XP stuff in a virtual window using Parallels or in dual boot mode using Boot Camp, while also taking advantage of all the cool Mac applications that come with their system.
If the user is capable and willing to run vitualization software, then they are more than capable of successfully running Linux. The writer needs to revisit a modern Linux desktop distro if he doesn't think Linux and Linux applications are "ready for prime time"
BUMP to yer tag line!
It appears to address some -minor- annoyances I had with Red Hat. I do run a business and have limited time for tweaking kernal updates, etc.
I must comment that because I have rules about what I allow to run, I have never, never had a crash with WinXP, but the "Genuine Advantage" and other surveillance "improvements" alienate me to the extent that I am ready to toss it. I run...lessee, three laptops and six desk boxes here. Change a drive, add RAM, etc, and then have to call Redmond and BEG to use a product I bought and paid for? Ha.
I am old-fashioned and do not like the doctrine that when I BUY something it is not my property, as implied in shrink-wrap contracts.
"Appleganda" - -
LOL
Dude, it's not XP, it's YOU.
XP crashed maybe half a dozen times on me in the past 5 years. Do you have adequate spyware protection, do you have a regularly scheduled AV & AS scan programed. It might be hardware related. Cerially, it's not that bad of an OS.
Now VISTA OTOH, sounds like a 3lb sack, holding 5lbs!
I've played with Windows Me and it was terrible with way too much stability problems. Windows 2000 Professional was VASTLY better with far more stable memory management and almost as good support for PC hardware.
This thread shows alot of pre 911 mentality in our attitudes toward MSFT.
What legal problems?
I'm waiting for more of these commercial licenses to get thrown out in court. It happened to Network Associates, which in its license prohibited even product reviews without permission.
Uh, lots of apps are already developed for Linux. Not so much games, but then, my computer is not a toy.
I've found XP to be about perfect. What's in it for me to upgrade to Vista except aggravation?
"Agreed on that. I might have XP hang on me once a year. If someone's getting regular crashes from XP, it has little to nothing to do with some inherent OS problem."
It's almost certainly a hardware or other non OS problem. I've been running two Dells for three years now and I could count the number of crashes on one hand and have two or three fingers left over. It is nearly bulletproof.
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