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.
If Mr. Softee The Cash Cow decides to use spyware, you can bet there will be trial lawyers lined up around the block to sue the company six ways to Sunday. It will make the Vioxx/Bextra drug class action bonanza or the tobacco litigation look like peanuts in comparison.
What is going to happen is Mr. Softee is going to fully disclose the piracy monitoring in its OS licensing agreements...and the user has to accept as a condition of using the software. As long as there is full disclosure, the company will get away with it. If your typical Democrat can't understand the lingo, expect class action lawsuits to a lesser extent.
Of course, there is the perennial antitrust concerns. To what extent will the DOJ and the EU allow Mr. Softee to impose conditions and restrictions given its share of the marketplace.
Epic Footbullet.
Do you think the apps and games will start to be developed for Linux? If so when?
Most Windows games run quite well under Transgaming's Cedega.
that program has been trying to d/l on me for weeks now
I long ago check off from having automatic updates on XP installed for this very reason
I remember how loudly Microsoft touted Windows ME. I had it. It sucked. I think I'll wait and putt along on XP for a while. It's not perfect, but it ain't bad.
"Filip" is apparently a figure of speech. In English ("fillip"--two _L_s), it's a finger snap or finger flip. It probably means something like "a prompting toward," "notice" or "attention."
I've heard it(or a derivative) spoken in reference to horses... but other than that...
Or a periodic call to some M$ tollfree number. M$ will of course disclaim any liability if their system causes your confidential data to get broadcasted onto the internet.
We need to ID some hackers, and draw and quarter them on Pay-Per-View. Do this, say, quarterly. Make sure we nab some international ones from, say, Russia and Bulgaria and China, every now and then.
I predict the incidence of hacking goes *way* down.
Well, I have Red Hat on two systems now, so it looks like it's time to really get to know it better.
What other flavors of Linux do people suggest?
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