Bottom line:
The move has the potential to boost revenue for Microsoft, but it could push some people toward Linux and it adds some security risk for legitimate users.
Posted on 02/06/2005 9:32:57 AM PST by Happy2BMe
Bottom line:The move has the potential to boost revenue for Microsoft, but it could push some people toward Linux and it adds some security risk for legitimate users.
Anybody up for a quick Halo CTF?
ping
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
The headaches I have after upgrading from Win98 to WinXP drives me nuts. Each machine I replace (old box is win98, new box is XP) opens up another box of problems. I only make the change because the hardware starts to go.
The changes they've forced upon all of us in the name of Security is bs.
Use freep mail if you want to know more.
I hate microcrap.
What's to stop someone from setting up a 'virgin' machine for no purpose other than to keep-current on the updates, and then distribute drive-image copies to their 'outlaw' (by microsoft's standards) friends?
They ought to be able to set up their 'hosts' file so that their machine never talks back to a microsoft IP number...
It will make them billion$ in just a few short months and practcally eliminate the piracy problem (in the developed countries, at least - can't speak for China, Russia, and all of the Middle East - there is no way they will buy the software).
SOLUTION: Drop the price of the Windows Operating System to $49 and addon standard support for $5/hour.
Case closed.
(U R WELCOME, BILL GATES)
"We think that the best foundation for the most secure system is genuine software,"
Quote from the article and originally from Microshaft.
Pleeeease. Even licensed, genuine software is full of holes and security issues.
MS already 'checks' version status when using the auto update feature.
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As for MS's complaint, how did Gates ever think of Windows anywah? Answer: He didn't. He 'borrowed' the idea.
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Gates once commented in a computer conference in the early 1990s: Good ideas are meant to be borrowed; great ideas are meant to be stolen.
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Planned obsolescence? Can you say "Intel?"
This may mean that MS will do like the music industry and start going after, and shutting down, sites such as The Software Patch.
Wonder how many FReepers would be turning off their machines?
You are absolutely right. They charge too much now because they have a virtual monopoly (yeah, yeah, I know Linux rules, blah, blah, blah)for most consumers.
In their own way, MS has done what Apple tried (and failed) to do--make the most dollars out of marketing their system.
However, they did it in a more creative way by cornering the market with a cheaper system and which became the most viable standard.
I think Mr. Gates views the operating system as the engine that drives the computer, and therefore it is worth a considerable amount of money. This is a fair and valid assessment, but IMO somewhat skewed. If the OS were viewed more as a vessel to contain other products, as the linux community views their OS, then MS's revenue from other products, and liscensing of their OS code to new and existing vendors would probably increase. What I mean is this. The OS could become low cost by three mechanisms. First, take out much of the bloat of the Windows OS. Make these built in components extra software that can be downloaded or puchased seperately. Second, and as a result of the first, lower the cost of the OS dramatically. Sell it for under $50, and Windows would tromp Linux like a bug. Presently, with their high cost, and OS bloat, they are setting themselves up for piracy. Finally, OpenSource the code. This would expedite security patching and increase the market for MS Windows related services and software, thus concreting MS's hold on the market.
Of course, if I had 30 billion dollars in the bank, I would probably scoff at the above points. So, I can only say that the future of the PC OS will continue to be a struggle of the OpenSource, Linux, GNU community to gain a foothold in the market. I don't see the fringe development of the PC to really take hold for another couple of years. IF MS does not put some pretty enticing finishing touches on Longhorn, it could benefit Linux/OpenSource dramatically.
Your first problem is upgrading from 98 to XP. If 98 is running well, don't upgrade. Only get XP on new machines designed for it. Proper drivers just don't exist for many older machines. XP is a great product. Stable, compatible and versatile.
Go ahead... flame me. I love Microsoft and most of its products. Most problems are self-inflicted.
You can do this with earlier versions of Windows, but when XP boots up it checks to see if it has been moved to another motherboard. I saw this happen recently when I replaced a defective motherboard. It was no problem, becaus I had a legal copy of Windows, but I had to reactivate it.
Notice how Micro$oft conveniently created an ENTIRE NEW OPERATING SYSTEM when they jumped from Windows 98 to WindowsXP?
They did this to FORCE people into buying more software. They could have continued to support Windows 98 and just renamed it 'Windows'
Their whole marketing scheme appears ready to implode.
The initial self-inflicted problem is using a Microsoft OS in the first place.
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