Stop Microsoft
All Things Microsoft => Microsoft as a Company => Topic started by: mobrien_12 on 27 June 2006, 23:50
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http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=84
Seriously worth reading.
He (the Microsoft Support Rep) told me that "in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the 30 days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you might as well install WGA now."
I'm suspicious of any report that comes from a front-line tech support drone, so I sent a note to Microsoft asking for an official confirmation or, better yet, a denial. Instead, I got this terse response from a Microsoft spokesperson
As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program expands in the future, customers may be required to participate. [emphasis added] Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can best meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any changes to the program
Come on, you knew this was coming, didn't you?
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If you have d/l ed the network install of sp2, then this means you won't be able to get updates beyond that, unless you play M$'s way, right?
Just don't get updates, then. Or better yet, get Linux.
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Hahaha .... this is great stuff :D
I hope M$ keeps doing this ... maybe a few people will wake up a little
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Who did not see this coming? This is nothing more than the logical extension of everything Microsoft has ever done. The first time you ever clicked "accept" on an EULA, you basically asked Microsoft to do this one day. Nice work, fuckers. Played right into their hands.
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I hope M$ keeps doing this ... maybe a few people will wake up a little
What makesd you think that? Most MS users honestly beleive MS would never steer them wrong and every update is an improvement to make their computing lives easier. Most MS users will be as happy as anything at mandatory or we turn your computer off. The bottom line is there is not enough atttention for the alternatives to make the wrongs of proprietary and ...well, orgs like MS obvious to them. Hell proprietary isn't all that bad as long as it's free.
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no kidding who didnt see this coming 50,000,000 light years away?
The question I am asking is in the new version of winodows coming out soon is if the new version wants to play the old game of not wanting to be backwords compatible with older software.
Older versions of Windows can't be turned on/off with a killswitch now because they don't have enough enbedded features for it especially true for Windows 95/98 so I think that allot of people will just not purchase the new version of Windows.
So my theory is that with the newish licenseing requirements and if its not backwords compatible then the new version of Windows would be like a line in the sand.
I have used Linux in the past and I can tell you that it is in no way ready to handle extra demand even if the door opened wide open for it.
Who here thinks they can teach there Mom how to use Linux?
I can tell you that I would have a hard time teaching my Mom to type in mount //cdrom//something//something everytime she wanted to load up her camera pictures.
Not to mention that the driver database is terrible and almost all of my hardware in perticular my Modem doesnt work.
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no kidding who didnt see this coming 50,000,000 light years away?
The question I am asking is in the new version of winodows coming out soon is if the new version wants to play the old game of not wanting to be backwords compatible with older software.
Older versions of Windows can't be turned on/off with a killswitch now because they don't have enough enbedded features for it especially true for Windows 95/98 so I think that allot of people will just not purchase the new version of Windows.
So my theory is that with the newish licenseing requirements and if its not backwords compatible then the new version of Windows would be like a line in the sand.
I have used Linux in the past and I can tell you that it is in no way ready to handle extra demand even if the door opened wide open for it.
Who here thinks they can teach there Mom how to use Linux?
I can tell you that I would have a hard time teaching my Mom to type in mount //cdrom//something//something everytime she wanted to load up her camera pictures.
Not to mention that the driver database is terrible and almost all of my hardware in perticular my Modem doesnt work.
I wouldn't like to teach my mom Slackware, no.
My sister and other ppl in the house often use my computer, running Ubuntu 6.06, but all they do is look up the web so it's perfectly suitable.
I don't have a digital camera to test with, but I'm pretty sure that if I plugged a camera into my machine Ubuntu would automatically open gThumb or eye of gnome or whatever to manage the photos on it...
http://piratepenguin.is-a-geek.com/~declan/crap/camera.png
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let me see them try to pull this one off
on win98 :P
no weird Fs no weird users hit (one user)
no weird behind the scenes programs
good luck suckers !
serves y right for installing XP !
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I wouldn't like to teach my mom Slackware, no.
My sister and other ppl in the house often use my computer, running Ubuntu 6.06, but all they do is look up the web so it's perfectly suitable.
I don't have a digital camera to test with, but I'm pretty sure that if I plugged a camera into my machine Ubuntu would automatically open gThumb or eye of gnome or whatever to manage the photos on it...
http://piratepenguin.is-a-geek.com/~declan/crap/camera.png (http://piratepenguin.is-a-geek.com/%7Edeclan/crap/camera.png)
I'd have to agree about slackware ... and gentoo, and arch, and several others are kinda hard to fix up right yourself, much less teach your mom. But Ubuntu, definitely, and Mandriva, and Fedora, and MEPIS, and several others are really easy ...
konrad, which distro did you use ... was it slackware ... well then I'd agree, you can't teach your mom slackware (unless you both have superhuman patience)
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They're not easy if you need to install something like a non-standard driver though.
I might've seen this comming, there again I don't think it'll be long before it's hacked, perhaps Windows XP might even stop working when MS decide to no longer support it.
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Compared to OpenBSD, Slackware is simple.
It considers X11 optional.
It has fvwm (with no sound, as the sound module is GPL) as the default window manager, with wm2 and mwm as alternatives in the full install. Emacs is optional. The default text editor is ed (vi (not vim) is choice #2).
OpenOffice has to be run via Linux emulation (which fails often) (being worked on, a native port is planned for 4.0).
Auto-mounting CDs requires editing config files and rc.local.
You could probably fit a FULL install in 10 megs. I used to run it DUAL BOOT on a 6g hd.
Ypu can't beat it's security, though. Compared to it, Linux looks like Micro$hit made it. Never been hit once. My laptop only goes down when the battery does.
Surprisingly, recompiling the kernel is not recomended except for adding a patch or adding RAID support. Linux considers you brain-dead until you do. Of course, they have a gui menu for kernel options...
And I thought MS had always pulled that trick. I think I saw something in their license about that...
* Installation and Use. Except as otherwise expressly
provided in this EULA, you may install, use, access, display
and run only one (1) copy of the SOFTWARE on the COMPUTER.
The SOFTWARE may not be used by more than one (1) processor
at any one time on the COMPUTER,
Not it...
You may permit
a maximum of five (5) ("Connection Maximum") computers or
other electronic devices (each a "Device") to connect to the
COMPUTER to utilize one or more of the following services of
the SOFTWARE: File services, Print services, Internet
Information services, and remote access (including connection
sharing and telephony services).
Still not it...
This ten connection
maximum does not apply to any other uses of the Product.
I think that's a typo...
THIS
LICENSE MAY NOT BE SHARED, TRANSFERRED TO OR
USED CONCURRENTLY ON DIFFERENT COMPUTERS.
The SOFTWARE is licensed with the COMPUTER as a single
integrated product and may only be used with the COMPUTER.
WTF???
If
the SOFTWARE is not accompanied by HARDWARE, you may not use
the SOFTWARE.
HFS...
The license rights granted under this EULA
are limited to the first thirty (30) days after you first run
the SOFTWARE unless you supply information required to
activate your licensed copy in the manner described during the
setup sequence
Not it...
If the DRM Software's security has been compromised, owners of
Secure Content ("Secure Content Owners") may request that
Microsoft Licensing, Inc. ("MS"), Microsoft Corporation or
their subsidiaries revoke the DRM Software's right to copy,
display and/or play Secure Content. Revocation does not alter
the DRM Software's ability to play unprotected content.
The RIAA must be happy...
Manufacturer may have
elected to provide you with a one-time selection of two or
more language versions of the SOFTWARE as part of the SOFTWARE
setup process. In such event, you are licensed to use only
one (1) of the language versions provided. Once you have used
a language version, you are not licensed to use any of the
other language versions that Manufacturer may have included
with the COMPUTER.
Kej estas?
* Operating System Selection. Manufacturer may have elected
to provide you with a selection of Microsoft operating system
software for the COMPUTER. As part of the setup process for
the SOFTWARE you may be given a one-time option to select one
(1) Microsoft operating system.
Still not it...
Manufacturer, MS, Microsoft Corporation and their
subsidiaries reserves the right to discontinue any
Microsoft Internet-based services provided to you or made
available to you through the use of the SOFTWARE.
Like I'd want it...
You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or
disassemble the SOFTWARE, except and only to the extent that
such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law
notwithstanding this limitation.
WINE must be illegal then...
The SOFTWARE is licensed as a
single product. Its component parts may not be separated for
use on more than one COMPUTER.
So is XPlite, then...
Without prejudice to any other rights,
Manufacturer or MS may cancel this EULA if you do not abide by
the terms and conditions contained herein. In such event, you
must destroy all copies of the SOFTWARE and all of its
component parts.
They'll probably do that after reading this post, then...
SOFTWARE labeled
as an upgrade replaces and/or supplements (and may
disable, if upgrading a Microsoft software product) the
Eligible Product which came with the HARDWARE.
So upgrades could break your system on purpose???
Man, their license has so much bloat I can't find the part I needed.
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might've seen this comming, there again I don't think it'll be long before it's hacked, perhaps Windows XP might even stop working when MS decide to no longer support it.
If the new version of Windows is programmed properly there wont be any getting out of it regardless of what kind of "hack" you can make.
Windows XP and previous versions however can't be stopped by Microsoft regardless of what they do.
The "kill switch" has already been activated on the computer I am using right now but all it does is reletivlely minor annoyances such as stoping me from using any Microsoft downloads including DirectX and Windows Updates.
Of course it can't turn my OS off outright because they did not know they were going to be doing this later on and did not add the appropriate code to the kernel, however now they know what they are doing and will no doubt make the new version of Windows impossible to hack using some magic file like you can with WinXP.
I am having a vision of turning on my TV and watching on the news "Store robbed for its copies of Windows, gunfight ensued"
Nobody would ever steal copies of Linux.
konrad, which distro did you use ... was it slackware ... well then I'd agree, you can't teach your mom slackware (unless you both have superhuman patience)
slackware? I guess my Linux vocabulary needs some brushing up on.
I have purchased or downloaded Linux several times in my existance namely Redhat and Mandrake with each brand of Linux had the same problems in that everything wasnt as easily accessable as Microsofts Operating Systems I mean even in the old days of DOS 4.11 you could access the floppy instantly just by throwing it in and typing A: but with Linux its a bit more complicated, I wont tell all the horror stories of that allone but I think you get the idea.
And running files I can never run files on my own!
I always read the instructions which says something to the extent of "find the directory, compile file, whatever and type run *file.ext*" and it never works on any version of Linux.
Internet connections was also funny like I remember not being able to use any Modem I had because they were all WinModems but I found a way around it by using Win98 on one machine and using internet connection sharing and connecting the two machines via a network cable.
I guess for me reading a post like this is making me realize that the dream of being able to copy Windows at will is coming to an end.
this doesnt mean ALL my copies of Windows are pirated Its just that booting up all of my machines with Windows (assuming I did it the way Micorosoft wants me to do it) would cost just way to much cash.
my four computers at $100.00 a piece would cost me $400.00 thats like a months wage for me right now whats worse is that Windows isnt even worth $100.00. maybe more like $20.00.
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Rip;violate;sell;destroy !
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modern distros like Ubuntu are very user-friendly and have a well-configured hardware abstraction layer which allows drives to be mounted as they become available and a file manager/photo viewer/video editor/whatever opened automatically.
Slackware (http://slackware.com/) is a gnu/linux distro that doesn't really try very hard to be user-friendly, it's good for "power-users".
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Maybe Mr. Bill wants to start a maintenance subscription service, like Norton. That would keep a steady flow of money coming in. Pay, and you get updates.
Kill code in the kernel would be a threat to national security and probably be considered an "Act of War" by other nations. The ability to destroy the net and commerce by releasing code would jsutify a preemtive strike.
Ubuntu is the way to go. My father saw the live version and liked it so much, he did the full install and online updates on a P3 I gave him.
This is a excellent opportunity for Google and other web-based software providers. If you have live Linux, regardless of the flavor, and dsl, you don't need Windows. Store backups of your work on the hd, but not boot from it.
I'm really suprised AOL hasn't tried online computing. They need something to stop the loss of customers.
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Not to mention that the driver database is terrible and almost all of my hardware in perticular my Modem doesnt work.
That's not a modem. A modem is a piece of hardware that modulates and demodulates analog data streams. Winmodems are by definition not modems, since they are only RJ-22 adapters, accomplishing the mod/demod stuff via software. Makes them cheaper.
You gotta remember that 'cheaper' part. Code takes a long time to write, but then you can sell it thousands or millions of times at almost zero marginal cost. Hardware, on the other hand, costs money for every single unit. And we all know that computer technology is purposefully undervalued in the US, right? The producers are almost forced to use little tricks like this to stay competitive in a low-profit industry.
By the way, I think Linux's hardware support is phenomenal. Considering that almost no company is writing drivers - they're all produced by some guy who just wanted his device to work. Be honest - if you had to write your own drivers, how much hardware could you support? Also, since chip design and circuitry is easy to reverse engineer, many developers use proprietary crap to discourage driver writers. Many devices don't have Linux drivers because the original manufacturers went out of their way to make driver construction impossible. The fact that so many have succeeded in a task designed to fail is awesome, and I salute the world of independent driver writers.
And a big "fuck you" to companies who impede Linux developers at every step of the way. An extra large "fuck you" to Microtek - my Microtek scanner is the only piece of hardware I own that is completely unsupported in Linux.
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All my hardware works just fine ... in fact most Linux drivers are better than the Window$ drivers, they don't crash.
I think maybe long ago Linux was not as user friendly as it has recently become ... maybe konrad is misled by what he saw long ago ... try an ubuntu live cd (http://www.ubuntu.com/download) ... it might help you figure out how far it has come ... user-friendly wise
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Actually, Back to the "your mom" arguement.
I put SuSE on her computer, left a list of common commands and step by step instructions for what I knew she needed. It was a bout a 10 page little flyer type booklet. She dual booted and worked it fine, and mentioned she enjoyed how she was never being bothered by reboot requests, update requests, error messages or mystery shut offs. She admitted it was a bit to complicated for her liking, but for the overall performance she was quite impresses. Try it sometime, my mom is mostly just like everyone elses...It's all in your sales pitch.
IMHO
It doesn't matter what ms does. It will continue to be the major OS distributed until one of the others makes a break through which makes them as dummy proof and as seemingly easy to operate as windows. People are lazy, in general they don't want command line, or to learn it, they don't want to know what a compile is, let alone do it. They don't want manual installs, typed code, terminals, script editors or even a kewl reputation as a rebel because you use one of "those" OS's. Most people want the Starship Enterprises computer. They want to talk to it, point at it and it just work. If it crashes a few times, well that's ok, as long as it's that easy. I hate to say it, but that is the reality of it. Part of that reality is MS will continue to get away with it for many years to come.
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IMHO
It doesn't matter what ms does. It will continue to be the major OS distributed until one of the others makes a break through which makes them as dummy proof and as seemingly easy to operate as windows. People are lazy, in general they don't want command line, or to learn it, they don't want to know what a compile is, let alone do it. They don't want manual installs, typed code, terminals, script editors or even a kewl reputation as a rebel because you use one of "those" OS's. Most people want the Starship Enterprises computer. They want to talk to it, point at it and it just work. If it crashes a few times, well that's ok, as long as it's that easy. I hate to say it, but that is the reality of it. Part of that reality is MS will continue to get away with it for many years to come.
I'm sure you're probably right. And I really don't care what OS my mom uses - it's not my goddamm computer, so it ain't my problem. I think there are people out there who should be using Windows. A perfect world would be 20 OSes, 20 filesystems, 20 architectures, and 20 choices for every piece of software. As long as the I/O standards were open, it wouldn't be a problem.
That being said, there is something bigger at stake here than what OS you like. Microsoft's dominance in the OS market has had strong influences over the hardware market, the software market, the decryption standards, DRM, and hundreds of other niches. It has even attempted to dictate how someone can or cannot use their computer. And that's not cool. I can imagine a future in which even processors and video cards are under Microsoft's thumb. That's what we have to fight against. Fuck morons who actually like Windows. I don't even want to destroy Microsoft. I only wish to contain them. Strongly.
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this is why I don't do updates....no wga for me
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See it from the bright side. At least we won't have all those zombies without updates roaming the net anymore. Those who really need Windows and the updates will know how to bypass this problem.