Posted on 09/09/2002 8:10:21 PM PDT by rs79bm
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O) released a software update for its flagship computer operating system on Monday to make Windows XP more secure, reliable and open to modification.
Service Pack 1, Microsoft's first major update to Windows XP since the launch of its "trustworthy computing" initiative and consent decree with the U.S. Justice Department, is now available on the software giant's Web site or on a CD that can be ordered for $9.95.
Users who signed up for automatic updates to their Windows XP operating system, which went on sale nearly a year ago, will be able to download the 32-megabyte chunk of software starting on Monday afternoon.
One the most striking changes will be the ability to remove Microsoft's default programs, such as Internet Explorer or Windows Media Player, from the desktop altogether.
Those changes, enabled by the software update, are part of Microsoft's steps to comply with the antitrust settlement signed with the U.S. Justice Department last year, said Jim Cullinan, lead product manager for Windows XP.
The settlement must still be approved by a federal judge and is still opposed by nine states seeking stiffer sanctions.
The other major feature of Service Pack 1 is a range of features meant to enhance security, which has become a crucial effort for Microsoft.
One security feature is better management of cookies, or little snippets of information that Web site servers store on PCs, that gives users greater control of their information and privacy.
Shaken by break-ins to its own system and vulnerabilities in its software, Chairman Bill Gates sent a widely-publicized memo earlier this year stressing the need for Microsoft to boost security and make its software more trustworthy.
Many corporations have been slow to adopt Windows XP, partly because it is still new and requires a substantial investment during cash-strapped times and also because of security concerns.
"We hope the Service Pack will be a catalyst for IT managers to look at Windows XP again," Cullinan said.
MORE FEATURES, MORE CONCERNS?
While previous versions of Windows XP -- some 46 million were sold by the end of June -- will require Service Pack 1, the update will be bundled into future products from about mid-October, Microsoft said.
This is also the first Service Pack for consumers -- previous updates were mainly for corporate Windows operating systems.
In addition to the major security and program updates, the software update will pack in some new features as well.
Java Virtual Machine, for which downloads on demand were previously not available, will be included in the update. But, because of a settlement reached with Sun Microsystems Inc. (SUNW.O), which developed and markets Java, the programming language will no longer be included in Windows after 2004.
On the hardware side, the Service Pack adds support for USB 2.0, a new standard for universal serial bus peripherals that offers data transfer speeds up to 40 times faster.
Also, the Service Pack will add functionality to the Windows XP operating system for Windows XP Media Center, which PC hardware makers will use to introduce PC-based TV, music and video entertainment systems this fall.
Some users have raised complaints about the language in the Service Pack's end-user license agreement, or EULA, which they claim gives Microsoft some rights to check product versions and block some programs. Microsoft said that the Service Packs' EULA clarifies Microsoft's ability to check product information in order to provide accurate updates and that no personal information is taken or kept.
Computer Technology is moving to maturity. When Technology moves from a constant stream of new inovations to few if any innovations there are two clear indictations of that fact. Used items go on sale. That is now true. A chain of computer superstores names Microcenter has been selling used computers. If what you want to do is surf the web, write documents and do spreadsheats, then a 1998 model with windows 98 SE will serve you as well as XP and a 2 gig pentium.
Maturity is evidenced when marketing turns from new features and performance to style and colors. When TVs matured after growing from 12 inch to 24 inch in size, and from Black and white to color you cold tell it. They started to sell TV's on style. Look at what both Apple and Gateway are doing. They are selling looks and style. Microsoft with XP is now selling pretty blue instead of functional gray. There are few if any new features. They are building cars that go 120 miles an hour. But all they typical user needs is one that will do 75 on the freeway.
To avoid what happened to RCA, Zenith, Sylvania, and Motorola and their TV sales, Microsoft is trying to move to a fee per year lease.
As long as you had reasons to buy the new upgrades, they had no need to be able to turn your computer off if you didn't renew the lease. With technology maturing they must find a way into your wallet on an annual basis. They will need a way to turn your computer off if you don't pay.
They are also lying about sending information to Microsoft in the same way Clinton lied about sex. They say they send no information about your computer back to Microsoft. But if their update software requsests an upgrade to MS Office, they know you have MS Office on your machine. If they sen and upgrade to Windows XP they know you have XP on the machine. They can tell a log by what you download as updates. If they send an updated driver for an HP printer, they know what printer you have.
If you don't get the upgrade driver for the something guess what they know you don't have.
Microsoft likes to think you and I are stupid. That is not the case. Balmer is not the brightest light on the block. He thinks we are not either.
Microsoft has stopped thinking about what is good for its customers and is concentrating on what is good for Microsoft. They are going to be very surprised when their former customers do what is best for the former customers.
LOL.
In some cases, better. We had to buy a SONY Vaio with Windows XP to run certain educational software. As XP comes from the factory, it looks like the programmers had dropped Acid. That interface was annoying!
But, the overall computer {Celeron 1.7 GHz, 256Meg 266 DDR memory) performance was comparable to my Gateway P II 450 with 128 Meg 100MHz memory.
Finally, I could stand the curved edges on Windows and elliptical Start buttons no longer...and specified Classic style throughout!
Performance at least Doubled, if not more. Seems that in order to use the curved boxes and buttons, tremendous amounts of Floating Point operations are required. What a waste.
My next project is to turn off MS Instant Messinger, and a number of dot NET "features". They scan in the background, and if you don't use them, you are slowing your system down noticably!!
Good Luck!!
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