Vista spyware may give filip to Linux and OS X

iTWire ^ | 08OCT06 | Stan Beer

[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.

[rawcatslyentist]

>"Are you really as dumb as you sound or are you doing that just for effect?"

Well maybe a bit of both.

What was the definition of insanity again?

Reboots on a clean reg, with minimal autostart options actually take very little time. Mine is up from power off, in about 60 seconds.

[Gorzaloon]

I still don't know what ME really was. A dressed down NT? A poorly updated 98?

A desperate repackaging of Windows 98, when there was no really new product to sell. It incorporated the improvements from 98SE and added ermine mudflaps and a GT Racing Stripe.

In short, vaporware.

I do think it may have had a forerunner of the RESTORE function, and if I had all afternoon to wait for the fossil "Byte Me" laptop to boot, I would look for you..hahaha.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

My corporate laptop requires closer to 5 mins to boot - If I save 9 x 5 mins on 9 successive reboots and crash on the 10th I'm still ahead of the game. "Instant boot" hybrid drives are coming - it's been a holy grail for the industry for a very long time - I'd welcome it that's for sure.

[hoosierham]

Yes,ME does have the system restore and it has saved me when a new update or software crashes the machine.

As a home user it has served well enough for FR,ebay,downloading reference books,etc.

By the way I also have an NT laptop I forgot the password for and still trying to remember so not to lose whatever is on it.

Have a ME laptop somewhere too.
And XP home and Pro,also some 95 and 98 for running a machine controller that doesn't need any complications.

[Doohickey]

Damn it, they should quit making ignition keys for cars too. I should be able to steal anything I want any time I want.

[CellPhoneSurfer]

My corporate laptop requires closer to 5 mins to boot - If I save 9 x 5 mins on 9 successive reboots and crash on the 10th I'm still ahead of the game. "Instant boot" hybrid drives are coming - it's been a holy grail for the industry for a very long time - I'd welcome it that's for sure.

Maybe you could convince your company to buy you one of these if boot times are such a big concern:

Sony VGN-UX90SP  - $2499–(+$85 Shipping to North America $85 to Europe) - The SP features a 16GB High Speed Flash Drive. This means the UX90SP has instantaneous start up and applications launch 3-6 times faster! This amazing computer comes with a 1.2GHz Pentium Core Solo CPU (2MB L2 Cache), 802.11 a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, 4.5” Clear Black XGA (1024x600) LCD, 512MB RAM on board, Windows XP Pro English, and an ENGLISH KEYBOARD!

http://www.kurnspatrick.com/sony.html