Well, you don't know the half of it, when it comes
to XP and Microsoft. Let me explain something to you.
In the little page you clicked past, where it
says on the bottom that "I agree"? That page includes some funny stuff.
For one thing, you don't own Windows XP. Not at
all. You have rented it for an indefinite term. MS can revoke that rental
any time they want. And they don't
have to refund a cent if you "misuse" the software, and they get to define
misuse.
Downloaded all the updates? Got that new media
player? Guess what - that thing now shills for Hollywood and Nashville!
And especially Disney! If it decides you don't
"own" a DVD or an MP3 or a music CD, well, tough titty. It won't play them
any more, and you have NO LEGAL RECOURSE whatsoever.
None. You accepted the agreement, so you are out of luck. Nobody is responsible
if that new CD won't play.
For that matter, take a look at a new music "CD".
A CD must follow a standard, set down by the IEEE, called the Red Book
standard. Copy protection is not part of the Red Book. Look at that new
"CD" closely. You will not find that little CD logo anywhere. They aren't
allowed to use it. These things are not CD's. And our fearless leaders
say they are not liable for
damages due to malfunctioning copy protection.
(Really, any CD that can't be copied, can't be played. What do these
people think the input hole on the sound card
is for? Granny in Seattle may well DOWNLOAD MP3's, but the guy who
puts them up is most likely an audiophile who
understands EXACTLY how to manipulate sound on his machine.
All they've accomplished is annoy the hell out
of honest customers who copy the CD's they own to their MP3 players.)
Another thing, you also agreed to allow Bill to
install any software of his choice,
through your internet connection, as he sees
fit. Its in that new media player agreement.
BTW, if you downloaded the MS .NET Framework,
you also agreed not to run or publish any benchmarks
or comparisons against it and any of its competition.
Yeah, that rental agreement again.
And, oh yeah, if you are using MS FrontPage 2002,
you better read that agreement really carefully. Seems that if you are
creating this web page with FrontPage 2002, you are not allowed to say
anything negative about Microsoft or Mr. Bill,
in a page created with that software.
Apparently, MS lawyers figure the first amendment isn't worth the parchment it was written on.
And, if you were wondering, the conservative side
that's aware of these issues is just as dismayed as the liberal side.
It isn't a liberal vs conservative issue - its
more like rape as an issue. NOBODY likes this.
And we get nothing from Washington - except the
dismissal of the state's suit against Microsoft.
And if you do a check on pollingreport, you'll
find that MS has now decided to become a major player in DC.
Isn't that wonderful? Of course, they are
big on donations to Republicans.
Sigh, I could go on for hours. If people
were paying attention, they'd all shift to linux,
because it has no license agreements. Of
course, MS keeps busy attacking linux.
Here are some links to bolster the above.
http://www.win2000mag.net/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=26215
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/op/xml/01/09/17/010917opfoster.xml?0920tham
http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/news/0104/napster-proof_cd.shtml
http://www.southern-storm.com.au/doc/pm_faq.html
(read number 7)
Linux, BTW, is coming on strong. Anyone
who doubts that should try to explain away the graph on page 20.
Mitre is not some tiny organization, they are
very much major players.
For all intents and purposes, they invented the
modem.
http://www.mitre.org/support/papers/tech_papers_01/kenwood_software/
Now, these are not any kind of anti-Microsoft,
wild hacker publications.
One is a benchmark publisher, two are trade publications,
one is a magazine devoted expressly to Microsoft software.
If THEY don't like what's been coming down from
MS and the entertainment industry, then who does? (well, the
benchmark guy isn't happy with MS, but just who
is?) And the linux paper is by one of the most respected IT
companies that does business with the US govt.
Now, in all honesty, as an IT professional, I
cannot advise you NOT to apply whatever patches MS sends you.
There are literally thousands of vulnerabilities
in the software, and nearly all MS patches involve security in
one way or another. A search on the MS
support site for 'security patch' will result in a lot of hits.
Formerly, MS intended to dominate the market by
making software that was easy to install and use.
Apparently, they have shifted focus, and now
intend to dominate as a matter of law.
Good luck. We'll need it.
MadSatyrist