WinXP

[russotto]

Originally posted by mbpark
If it wasn't "spyware", it'd be a heck of an OS.

The new GUI can be switched off (yay!). It's a really good OS. Other than the following characteristics:


1. There is a Microsoft Support account in there with LocalSystem privs. This means that Microsoft already has access. No, it cannot be disabled.

And aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln...

<B>People are just pissed off because they have to pay for software now. </B>

Microsoft is doing EXACTLY what many other software companies have been doing and have not been crucified for. Just because it's Microsoft, people are going nuts. If this is so bad, why didn't they hold congressional hearings for CA, Autodesk, Rational, and Alias/Wavefront as well? Why not drag SCO/Caldera, QNX, or Verisign up as well?

All the license schemes I know of which require contacting the manufacturer are for high-dollar items purchased mainly by corporations who have people to take care of such things. Putting even uglier security on a consumer product (note that corporate licensees don't have to deal with this activation crap) is ridiculous.

I especially like how the "privacy advocates" wrap everything up as an invasion of privacy. "Internet Privacy" doesn't mean "get free stuff". Unfortunately, most of the Slashdot-heads mistake "privacy" for "way to hide getting stuff for free".

Aha, it's the old "if you have nothing to hide you don't need privacy" argument. Privacy includes "way to hide getting stuff for free" as a side effect. If Microsoft can't see what's on my computer, they can't see all the pirated copies of Microsoft BOB I have there. There isn't any way they can be assured I don't have pirated software without violating my privacy.

Unfortunately in the US, when you buy anything with any amount of IP in it, be it music, software, or movies, you're buying a single-user single-copy license. Read the EULA for any piece of media you buy. The US is run by lawyers who collect lots of money for violations of your EULA.

The EULA for shrink-wrapped software is pretty much unenforcable; it would take UCITA to give it strength and only Maryland and Virginia have passed that law. The courts have ruled that the sale of software, EULA or not, is a sale for the purposes of the "first sale" doctrine under copyright law.