Troubles loom ahead for Microsoft

[sheep]

An enlightening article about Windows Vista as people uncover how Vista disables hardware and may make your brand new purchases unusable.

http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt

 

[Twisly]

very enlightening indeed. the only way to protect ourselves as consumers is to be sceptic.

 

[190E]

I think this is why I always wait until they get ready to come out with the next version before I upgrade to the previous version.

 

[FabFairy]

I think this is why I always wait until they get ready to come out with the next version before I upgrade to the previous version.

Nice Idea in theory but the truth is if you are using a version of XP that requires activation you may well find that you will not be able to use it. Operating systems that require activation have less to do with illegal copies and more to do with controlling the length of use that it will be available to anyone who has a copy.

Microsoft haven't shown any concerns about operating systems in the past unless you were selling them at the local market for $20 a piece then they would throw the book at you. They have felt that if you use their operating system then you will buy their software. I suppose it is a two edged sword.

Now when the new system is released it will be easier to elminate the bulk of older operating systems by refusing to activate them. Forcing everyone to purchase Vista. I believe that it will not take very long from the release before Microsoft will refuse to activate XP. I also think that the steps taken so far has more to do with Mircosoft completely controlling the computer industry.

And for anyone hoping to change to open source (Linux) then think again because Microsoft have been interfering with Linux, to try to bring it into line with the changes included in Vista tho I suppose it will be limited what they can achieve but still enough to be annoying. Open Source have one advantage in that you can use more than one piece of software to do most things.

I still think that we will end up with 2 different types of operating systems. One for Business that will protect everything and be very hard to crack. I have heard if for instance you use Word for Word Processing the new protection will mean that while you can get a copy of a document it will not be of any use because unless you have the new subscription software and it is paid up you will not be able to open it even if it is addressed to you.

The second will be much like it is now for private use and while there may be some areas that will require software upgrades it will not interfere much and only relate to certain functions like Audio or Video. And a third sub-area in this will be software crackers who will harrass Microsoft as usual.

 

[Matt1809]

I hate to break it to you but this article is FUD. It is saying nothing more then Microsoft has conformed to the HDDVD standard, which requires support of downgrading picture quality on "untrusted" output paths. Meaning it doesnt prevent ANYTHING from working, all it does is prevent any HDDVD/BluRay disk that has this "token" enabled (of which there are NONE) from being played at full resolution. This is something they HAD to do if they wanted to let users use HDDVD/BluRay drives on their computer. This technology doesnt effect ANYTHING else, just those two formats and only if they enable the feature, which movie studios have said they wont do for a while, if ever.

Also, this technology only runs if you insert copy protected media, otherwise it doesnt, so you wont see any decrease in system performance normally. Plus if you have a pc that is capable of playing 1080p video, you wont event notice it anyways.

This is not a Microsoft specific technology, and Apple will HAVE to include the same thing too, as they are a member of the BluRay forum, which requires the same protection.

Now when the new system is released it will be easier to elminate the bulk of older operating systems by refusing to activate them. Forcing everyone to purchase Vista. I believe that it will not take very long from the release before Microsoft will refuse to activate XP.

Bullshit. Microsoft wont do this, they may phase out support for old Operating Systems, but they wont prevent them from activating. Microsoft is not stupid and knows such a move would piss people off, and is probably illegal anyways.

Word for Word Processing the new protection will mean that while you can get a copy of a document it will not be of any use because unless you have the new subscription software and it is paid up you will not be able to open it even if it is addressed to you.

Er, only if you encrypt them. Microsoft distrbutes viewers and compatability packs so you can open files from newer versions of Office.

 

[sheep]

AHEM...Why has no-one said HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ME!!??

Oh, all right. Happy birthday. Now do you feel better?

 

[sheep]

That way, Apple can buy a generic $45 motherboard from Hong Kong and sell it to you for $1,450.

Or you could pay $1,099 for a new Mac laptop with the OS, software bundle etc. and be fully supported by Apple. No virii or registry problems either.

 

[mark1111]

And...AHEM...Why has no-one said HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ME!!??

I did on 28 December, in your amazing download thread!

Oops, guess I was ignored again.

 

[190E]

I upgrade my systems how many of the larger technology companies do it, for instance SNET in Connecticut, whom my brother in law works for, and is a network technician who works on thousands of trunks a day. I know it sounds crazy, but it's a way for all the kinks and viruses to be counteracted.

 

[sheep]

more reading

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2006/pulpit_20061229_001403.html

 

[cellular]

Personally, i dont like the way microsoft is headed. Just look at their internet explorer 7 and windows media player 11. They are horrible compared to their predescents. I hate the way the ui is not friendly anymore and im annoyed at the fact that i have to spend time to understand how everything works in these newer versions. So im sticking with the old for as long as possible. I will not be one of those ppl who rushes to the stores for vista.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

I have several friends running XP SP2 volume license edition on their home PCs with Automatic updates working just fine - genuine product? Activate Windows?

hum...that sounds familiar.... wonder who else is doing it?

My arse And...AHEM...Why has no-one said HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ME!!??

p.s. Thanks for the vid T-Rexx - I might give that a shot.