IE7 does something no other piece of software has ever done in the history of computers.
It forces the user to verify the authenticity of a completely separate piece of software, the Operating System before it will install itself.
Now, this may seem logical from an anti piracy standpoint as a monopolist. But ask yourself, if you would agree to validate every piece of MS software when you installed it against every other piece of software you own including the OS.
Given the global legal punishment that was meted out on MS for insisting that IE “could not be separated from the OS” in its drive to kill off competition, this is quite a randy, flirtatious thumb to the courts of the world.
Im not sure it is even possible to prosecute against, nor defend oneself from dependencies among software licenses which make MS again very shrewd and also very stupid at the same time.
Add DRM to the picture and you see where MS is headed, use their tools to do anything and you will be quite the licensee indeed.
As the Vista license clearly states, you buy a license you dont own anything. I guess this is our future.
Its really a great indication of the direction of the industry when new products are really just stalking horses for more legal entanglement.
October 22, 2006 at 6:07 am
Why would anyone continue to use Windows, anyway? Why not just switch to a Mac?
October 22, 2006 at 6:27 am
because of the limitation of software compatibility for macs. there are software that are only for windows. so even if i had a mac or linux (currently running ubuntu), i will always need a back up windows computer.
October 22, 2006 at 7:42 am
DRM and authentication aside, as a network admin I’m stoked for the release of Vista– finally we’ll be able to restrict people to users-only without so much whining! It’s a much-needed successor to XP.
Personally, yeah, I’m looking into Linux. My advice is spend less time worrying about Microsoft and spend more time making Linux an easy, viable option for the majority of home and business users.
October 22, 2006 at 11:22 am
In response to the author’s private reply to my comment, yes Microsoft has failed to deliver in the past, and I assure you I’ll be very disappointed if security in Vista is broken because of whiny users and lazy programmers. I hate when apps need to run under admin context and look forward to a day when Windows follows in Linux and Mac footsteps in this regard.
In any case I don’t care so much about individual users as I do my own machine and the machines I manage. Let grandma be an admin for all I care, just as long as she’s not my grandma.
October 22, 2006 at 5:39 pm
Why is anyone still using IE, period?
October 22, 2006 at 6:01 pm
IE is old anyway, I use Mozila and it’s 10X better!
October 22, 2006 at 7:54 pm
I titally agree with you persom, firefox in my opinion, beats IE right out of the box. Im not even mentioning the possible addons.
October 22, 2006 at 7:57 pm
“IE7 does something no other piece of software has ever done in the history of computers.”
… I can think of plenty of other MS programs that have done this before IE7. Windows Media Player 11 Beta and Windows Defender both run the WGA check on the OS as well. In both of those programs, the check is very easy to get around.. I haven’t tried IE7 yet, though, and don’t plan to.
October 22, 2006 at 7:58 pm
Um… IE doesn’t have a monolopy. And IE for Windows only runs on Windows. I don’t get what the argument is.
Are you saying this is unfair competition with pirated versions of Windows?
October 22, 2006 at 7:59 pm
yeah…
whoelsebutdalieu: you are completely wrong. get a mac, and use parallels or bootcamp to do anything you need in windows. hell, just keep windows xp and use that instead of vista. besides, mac can indeed do anything windows can and better! seriously, being able to run the power and security of a mac, while being able to switch to windows breifly to get something accomplished, and switching back quickly, all for about $2k maybe even less!! you cant beat that…
October 22, 2006 at 8:24 pm
i think microsoft has the right to validate windows before it allows users to install IE…. After all, they have made a new version of their browser and they want only users who have actually paid for windows to use it! I don’t understand how is this related to the monopoly or competition!
defrostindoors:
have you even tried the new IE7? Honestly, even I used to use Firefox before IE7 came out.. But the IE7’s clean uncluttered interface and ease of use has just won me over… I don’t care how many damn security holes it has.. I just want something which is easy and user-friendly to use!
October 22, 2006 at 8:25 pm
what limited software for mac? they have both adobe and windows word processors, adobe and macromedia for mac is easier to use than for windows (based on personal experience!!), and the only thing I can’t think mac has support for is, um, games?!?
mac = cool
linux = geeky, geek chic
windows = loser, everyone else
October 22, 2006 at 8:30 pm
okay i agree with macman9.. maybe the best OS you can have right now is Mac with bootcamp to switch to windows xp when needed. I won’t completely switch to vista until all new software stop working in XP. As for linux, just forget about it! Its far too user-unfriendly for the normal home user.
October 22, 2006 at 8:33 pm
let me rephrase one part of that:
linux: freaky, only for guys who love it for no reason (or for those who hate everything else!)
You are right about mac though.. it has everything except support for games.. unfortunately i do like to play games once in a while so i need windows!
October 22, 2006 at 8:39 pm
Personly, I am a uber-Linux user. Almost never touch windoze if i can help it…
October 22, 2006 at 9:18 pm
I don’t think it is wrong considering the fact that it has been pirated all over the world…
October 22, 2006 at 9:37 pm
ok wow… this started off as is IE7 Illegal and quickly turned into an advertizement for macs. if mac was so good do you think it would need all of it’s users spamming everywhere about it? that is one big reason i dont have a mac and never will. others are sure mac has adobe, MICROSOFT Office (think about that for a sec), macromedia…??? macromedia what??? now mac easier then windows… yes it is if you have grown up on it and visa-versa for windows. lets see what else doesnt mac have support for other then games… umm i’ll look at my programs list… well it has the adobe editing programs but not the sony editing programs… you are forced to use ichat insted of any other program (i use trillian) i’m not sure but guitar pro a very useful program for musican’s isnt on the mac, how about emulating virtual drives?? can it do that? how about free webserver programs?? (mac uses linux (redhat) servers for there websites) as far as security of a mac?? there is none it’s just no one spends the time to write viruses for it becuase no one uses it. one last thing about the so called power of a mac for 2k… THERE IS NONE it doesnt beat out the power of a pc for the same price assuming you know where to get the pc. you cant built a mac becuase well it’s all intergrated. i can build a computer that can out beat any 2k mac for less then 1k and i can buy it for about 1.5k oh and all boot camp does it prove that windows it better and the same thing about the intel prosessers apple cant compete with it competers so it needs to use there stuff. also beucase of all the so called “security” of a mac you cant customize it. as far as linux… it’s truly the way to go but it has even less suport then mac otherwise i would only be using it.
Linux = people who know what they are doing.
windows = 95% of the world that use computers and has support for everything
mac = nothing without taking it from someone else first
pc = good, cheap and costomizeable
apple = nothing without uses PC equpiment which is why prices are higher and not costomizeable
as far as IE7… there is no reason to get it when firefox (which is free and works across all the OSs) is better anyways and problems only arise when people like apple or microsoft try making security that comes with the OS.
Firefox = smart people
IE = people who dont know better
Safari= umm i dont think anyone really inless they are stuck with a really old mac that cant handle anything else.
October 22, 2006 at 9:41 pm
The point is well made. Just because Microsoft sells an OS does not mean that when they GIVE away IE they have the legal position to snoop around your computer. What if I want to use IE with Wine on Linux? Am I not allowed to use it because I run a different OS? This policy on Microsoft’s part would be against Anti-Trust laws.
If IE requires Windows only; that is fine but they need to make it clear that IE is not free – it requires a license. What they really want is to continue to make it appear that IE is free and separate to avoid their previous legal problems. They are playing a game with the law – “FREE but it requires a license that you paid for.”
There have been many technologies which violate your privacy – but we are too stupid to object. WE WANT COMSUMER CHOICE AT THE COST OF OUR PERSONAL FREEDOM. Spend the time to get the facts about his kind of intrusive policy here – http://www.privacyrights.org.
October 22, 2006 at 10:03 pm
It seems the integrity of Microsoft’s operating systems and of the computers that host them is very important to the national security of the United States. In fact, I haven’t assumed that Microsoft is acting entirely on its own initiative in any of the measures they’ve undertaken to protect the integrity of their software.
Nor do I consider it a small matter that, formerly, entire nations could run their businesses, governments, military, or whatever they wished, on software written by U.S. companies and Western companies generally, without paying the companies of people who wrote the software. I’m not going to spell out the security issues involved in my position.
I cautiously approve measures intended to decrease or destroy the operability of Windows instances that have been altered in ways Microsoft considers material. And I remind you that Microsoft may consider some changes material because they have been _told_ they are material.
October 22, 2006 at 10:31 pm
IE is the number one browser out there currently, but this action might give other browsers a chance to get back into the race. I might be willing to forgo IE7 as a matter of principle.
October 22, 2006 at 10:42 pm
This will not get people to switch to other browsers, simply for the reason that IE is what they use at work, windows is what they use at work and vice versa. Windows is what people use at work and at home so they stick w/ it. Grandpa and Grandma are not switching toe tiehr linux or macs.
October 22, 2006 at 10:50 pm
Firefox = smart people
IE = people who dont know better
Maxthon over IE = people who know better
October 22, 2006 at 10:50 pm
Like munim mentioned – “won’t completely switch to vista until all new software stop(s) working in XP”; but unfortunately Windows users will be forced to upgrade to Vista (by corporate monopolies among many reasons) as many won’t have a choice – recent example: Sony Sound Forge 8 requires .Net framework 1.1 .. result: good bye SF, hello WaveLab (fortunate in this example, but most probably a rare example where something else better is readily available).
Without getting passionate about how “bad” Micro$oft is (believe..), we are very lucky to live in times where getting and using “cracked” software is (still) possible.
Personally, I think it good practice to pay for useful (or actually frequently and business-used) programs; Supporting developers producing software with the end-user in mind, not company profits (under pretense of progress, market-leading – insert other-capitalist-invented(manipulated)-terms).
Just my 2c .. hope you get my meaning
Thanks WordPress.com btw., regards to the Author.
ps. Thanks for stating the obvious jegsar; about costs & pricing ..
pps. What’s IE7? ;P That software is long dead, overrun (like Sound Forge) by better browsing software including Mozilla (Firefox) & Opera (Now also free).
October 22, 2006 at 10:56 pm
how much cost IE7 ?????
It’s a gift, you dont have do download it !
October 22, 2006 at 10:59 pm
After many years of being a default Windows user, I acquired an iBook last year, and turned my desktop into a dual-boot PCLinuxOS and Windows unit.
Since then, I have had occasion to open my Windows partition maybe once a month, and only to keep the anti-virus updated. Last October 13, after backing up all my files, I wiped XP off my hard drive and went completely PCLOS. Were there glitches in the changeover? Yes, of course! But compared to what I went through setting up XP with its eternal reboots, re-installing PCLOS was a matter of clicking an icon, answering a few simple questions, and rebooting but ONCE. This is a wonderful thing, especially as when I first tried out Red Hat, I couldn’t make heads or tails out of the interface.
Now, as a home user, this works perfectly for me. Moreover, the pricing of legal Microsoft products is prohibitive where I live (and let’s not get started on how long one has to save up to buy even an iBook!) – I’d rather use the money to upgrade existing equipment and rely on my free PCLinuxOS. Linux has come a long way from the calvary it used to be, and all the better for the world, I say.
Businesses, of course, have far more stringent requirements, and if Windows works for them, then go for it, I say. After all, the whole point is to have a choice, and not have one product dominate to the exclusion of all else, isn’t it?
October 22, 2006 at 11:15 pm
people pay for IE7 ?
It comes free without a click !
October 23, 2006 at 12:15 am
I used to run Linux when I was a poor student: it was stable (unlike other operating systems at the time–OS X was in an earlier version that was significantly more unstable than the distro of Linux I was running) and there was and is a wide, wide variety of free, useful open-source software. I wasn’t freakishly in love with Linux, nor did I hate other OSes. Of course, I don’t run it anymore for a variety of reasons, but I’m thinking of installing it again (on my Mac, heh).
As far as IE goes, it is a bit bizarre, but I can’t see how it’s illegal, nor do I understand why people still prefer IE over equally-free, more-frequently upgraded, less-buggy, had-tabbed-browsing-LONG-ago, actually web standards-compliant Firefox. I AM freakishly in love with Firefox.
October 23, 2006 at 12:20 am
Some people don’t use IE as such but they need to test how their sites work with IE because the majority of users still use IE.
October 23, 2006 at 1:03 am
Use LINUX in whichever distro you prefer. Everything I ever needed windows to do, I can now do in Linux! Free Office compatible suite, Video editing, multimedia, iPod compatibility, PocketPC, even Windows Compatibility for that rare instance. And it is all FREE! Just take the time to download the ISO and its yours.
October 23, 2006 at 1:06 am
OK So , lots of comments about how its not illegal.
Fine, but when Microsoft, flooded the market with IE when netscape was charging 10 bucks a pop for its product, it was the a classic anti competitive move of a monopolist.
It is IN FACT ILLEGAL in the United States to dump 50 metric tons of steel or grade A beef on the marketplace FOR FREE.
But, when a software company feels threatened they can dump a “free” product that cost them millions to develop to effectively destroy the market for such a product and surely the competition.
Interestingly, that SAME company now wants to create a lockbox of software licensing multiple “products” which it insisted in the first place COULDNT be separated. But somehow I downloaded IE7 and installed it on Windows XP only to find that IE was a trojan stalking horse for WGA.
MS is punishing its admittedly dim fans of low-tech to defend itself from the mere accusation of being a monopolist. Vertical distribution has been illegal for a long time. Dont you wonder why McAfee and Semantec are suing MS right now over Vista?
MS wants its user base to pay for what it perceives is “unfairness” by the govt with higher prices and stifling “security” tools which will put the blame on someone else once they turn these things off.
Clever, and stupid
October 23, 2006 at 1:11 am
My 2 cents is :
Firefox/ Mozilla is the best !! Why should I bother with IE?
October 23, 2006 at 1:22 am
to Dave (at the top)
Apple can’t run the software I need, sorry. Simple as that.
http://goldcoaster.wordpress.com
October 23, 2006 at 1:34 am
It’s really funny to see how everybody fights blindly for what they use. IE7 verifying the OS only really bugs people with hacked copies. Get a real copy if you want to use IE7.
Firefox is better than IE, yes, but it’s far from perfect. Security aside, firefox crashes quite often.
Sitting in front of a computer with XP and Vista on it, and a separate Mac, I have to say Mac OS X is better. It, like firefox, is far from perfect, but I prefer it over Windows a lot of the time. Bottom line though, people are going to stick with what they are familiar with until they have a chance to see the grass on the other side. Eventually Apple will have a larger share of the market…hell, my mother is even saying she wants one and she’s barely even played with one…
October 23, 2006 at 1:44 am
[...] So I ran across this blog whose author is convinced that IE7 could be illegal because of it’s anti-Piracy tactics. I quote. IE7 does something no other piece of software has ever done in the history of computers. [...]
October 23, 2006 at 1:46 am
Yet another reason to use a mac!
October 23, 2006 at 1:57 am
Spoken like a guy who doesn’t own a business. Software piracy is huge, and if Microsoft could recover a few million more for development, I don’t see the problem. Just shutup and go download your linux distro and let the rest of us who are more concerned with getting something done than whine about how wrong it is to prove you actually paid for something legally get back to work. You Apple babies should convince your savior Steve Jobs to open his OS to any hardware platform and see if Mac is a better platform. IE 7 blows the pants off Firefox with its RSS implementation, and it renders more corporate websites correctly than Firefox, so apparently corporate America (please complain about America not being the only–even though were the biggest–player in the WWW) has spoken. Standards are lovely, but lets not forget economics.
October 23, 2006 at 2:03 am
I guess I figure that IE is made for Windows. It isn’t advertised for any other OS, so I’m not sure that using it to verify a Windows license is stoppable. I don’t like it, but I’m not sure it can be stopped.
As far as OS’s go, I use all three on a regular basis. Macs make up the vast majority of my computer usage. Linux on boxes for Folding@Home because it’s free (definitely not for it’s ease of use), and Windows, specifically because of IE. My organization uses an IE based software and there isn’t an alternative software on the market that’s compatible with any other browser. My Windows box at work uses OpenOffice and Thunderbird, as well as Firefox for all browsing other than that one piece of software. There are advantages to all three OS’s, and their use will vary depending on the user and the situation.
October 23, 2006 at 3:15 am
thank you jegsar, well said. there are “more” security issues for windows because programmers aren’t dumbasses. why spend time to write something for mac that only affects like 10% of the world? if mac was the most popular OS, you bet you will be hearing more security flaws in mac. you also have to think why apple moved their cpu architecture over to intel instead of the risc powerpc processors… faster my ass.
macman9 why am i “completely wrong?” just because you don’t use software that are not supported by mac doesn’t mean everyone else does too. i like to play a pc game (fear), sorry i don’t see a mac version. ever hear of xilinx, i don’t see mac support either. i don’t even want to start naming all the software for work that isn’t mac supported either. then i state that i will always have a backup computer running windows, and you tell me to use bootcamp… ah… why the hell should i do that? my computer is *already* running windows fine with all my software on it, why the hell should i spend money and time to move it over to a mac? sounds stupid to me.
i will move over to free linux (currently testing out fedora and ubuntu on one of my laptops) before i move over to mac anyday. i have been thinking about getting a mini mac, but after hearing all these mac fanboys… i’m turned off.
October 23, 2006 at 5:44 am
What about Opera?
October 23, 2006 at 6:16 am
Hey up… IE 7 is designed to be a sandbox… separate from OS?
October 23, 2006 at 6:32 am
Firefox is the best….what a shame it doesn’t work with every website out there.
Mac is also the best….what a shame.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m a heavy gamer (and I’m not talking Solitare folks), am constantly switching my hardware (I have video cards that will make an Xbox360 feel like a goped) and am online nearly 4+hrs a day (school, bills, work, etc)
I have no choice but to use Micro$oft software. But I’m happy to report my web server uses Linux =)
The day the Mac OS, Linux, and Firefox can support EVERYTHING will be the day I can finally tell Billy to shove it.
Of course, if you are an average computer user, like probably 90% of you are, then heck…go with Firefox and/or a Mac!!
October 23, 2006 at 6:37 am
@Opera,
I’m not entirely clear on what the benefits of Opera are over Firefox? I like my plugins, etc…what extra does Opera offer?
@whoelse, I use a mac over linux (though I like the idea) and windows because I don’t want to spend hours fiddling with settings and installers and unexplained errors as I have in the past. I just want to get to work and ignore the machine I’m working on. I am in the very lucky position of not needing any software that runs on Win only, but I know others aren’t so lucky at work in particular.
However, what I’ve REALLY been switching to is online web apps. Screw the OS wars. I’ve got EditGrid for Excel, Backpackit for my files and planner, Gmail for email, Netvibes, etc…what I’m running it on doesn’t matter. I can work on any computer with an internet connection, hop into anyone’s cubicle and work away. These apps just don’t work quite as well on IE, though… ;P
October 23, 2006 at 9:52 am
i suppose that if there’re will be too much legal pressure from microsoft then users will switch to alternate platforms (like mac or unix).
i think that linux has grown alot last years and now it’s almost ready to use home platform without any licence stuff.
it just lucks of software and promotion. but this will not be a problem as soon as M$ will continue to obey their strategy.
October 23, 2006 at 10:19 am
ha ha… IE7 would suck one way or another… Just so happens that even experiencing that has become a hassle. Anyways, there are many better browers out there to use.. I guess a switch for those who are still with IE beckons..
October 23, 2006 at 10:22 am
When it comes to PC vs. Mac, it plain doesn’t matter. Don’t get offended, just use the software that gets YOUR job done; many problems come from attacking other’s points of view, and very few solutions. And if you’re using pirated software, don’t use IE7
October 23, 2006 at 1:34 pm
I like the last line 13×13forever: “…don’t use IE7″
Once I switched to Firefox I was kicking myself for not using it sooner. I love Firefox and for any Windows user is is a powerful and easy to use alternative.
As far as the legalities of asking you to varify your copy of Windows, I don’t have a problem with it. They own the software and I guess that if you have done nothing wrong why worry about it? Clearly MS are trying to gain ground with the huge problem of pirate software that plagues the OS. I would rather see them fix the issues with WGA than worry about the legalities of additional software IMHO.
October 23, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Well. I have a Tablet PC provided by my employer, which I expect to be running Vista on next year. I don’t mind, since I’m not paying for it (we get Volume licenses) and it’s something I want to keep up with, professionally. For home use, however, it’s a 4-year-old laptop running Xubuntu Linux – like clockwork. Vista would puke on that hardware spec anyway…
October 23, 2006 at 2:24 pm
Well, thankfully I don’t plan to adopt Vista nor do I use IE so M$ can go screw themselves. I also like how Mac users take this as an opportunity to chime in. To be quite honest, the future of the computing industry rests in the hand of open source and indie developers because they try to focus on the customers than brought them there, rather than strong-arm tactics, selling hype, or using other gimmicks.
Vista can go suck on a metaphorical egg! I’m glad I no longer have an MSDN subscription. I don’t even want to play with M$ software as they seem to be experts in finding new ways to screw over their customers and break things that didn’t need fixing in the first place. =oO
BTW, for those that are not sold on Firefox, which I happen to use and love, Opera is another solid choice to consider. Not all hope is lost! Trust me, once everyone starts throwing their support behind Apple, they’ll only start to do the same things (monopoly, anyone?). The trick to it is not to support any one platform; especially one that has no real alternative. Go the route of the Mac and you are forced to do business with Apple. My experience with Apple has not been all it’s hyped up to be, either…
Just some food for thought.
October 23, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Woops.. Few typos.. Don’t type in a rush, kids! Replace “hand” with “hands” and “than brought” with “that brought”. I’ve been hanging out with the Engrish too much. o_O
October 23, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Inspite of using an illegal copy of XP, it is very easily possible to download IE7. Webdesigners need IE7 to see how the sites will be rendered.
Firefox is extensible (the best part). If too many extensions (more than 10) are not used, it’ll probably never crash.
Desktop GNU-Linux is getting easier to use with every passing week. Mac is way too expensive and I dont like their hardware compatibility issues.
When Microsoft Excel, Frontpage, Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver have a linux version (or clones at par) with no handicaps AND gaming will also be possible on GNU-Linux, it’ll will be invincible.
Already KDE and GNOME both are better than Explorer in most aspects. Its a shame for people who brag about Windows eyecandy without every trying out KDE.
Guitar Pro clone does work smoothly and satisfactorily on GNU-Linux.
An online RSS Reader like Google or Netvibes makes more sense over an installed option anyday.
Bottom-line: Use Firefox if you want control over your browser. Use IE if you want to spend only 2 hours on the internet once every 15 days in a cyber-cafe. Use Opera as a back-up browser just in case FF or IE crashes.
I personally don’t like paying for any software. I either try to see if a Free (as in freedom as well as beer) option is available or arrange for a copy/keygen through p2p (torrents, limewire, etc).
October 23, 2006 at 4:11 pm
pranav
October 23, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Well said. I haven’t thought of it like that before, but it’s exactly what it is.
You see, all MS is doing is rewarding it’s customers (the people who BUY their products) with new software and features.
Just use you Ubuntu instead, and quit whining about how much you hate Microsoft.
For those of us who are not too cheap to fork over a bit of cash for some pretty cool software, we will have fun with it. For everyone else, just use Ubuntu, and stop your complaining.
Seriously, I don’t get it. Why take the time to complain about what you hate to use? Isn’t it a waste of time?
October 23, 2006 at 8:55 pm
I am hating both Mac and Windows at the moment.
Mac’s security update toasted my Power Book (a coworker had similar experience).
IE7 bombed my PC. Anyone else got the bug?
October 23, 2006 at 9:53 pm
A big point is being missed here: the software you paid / that is pre-installed is broken at the point of sale. It is not fit for the purpose. The get-around is that you sign an EULA agree to it and accept patches and fixes issued over time.
That might seem alright, if in the end you get a working product — a finished bit of software. However, that never happens.
Instead, just when it’s all beginning to work and there are loads of hardware peripherals (cameras, mp3 players, scanners etc) all tuned in — then they pull the plug and stop supporting the product in favour of a new product.
You cannot drop out and continue working with what you have paid for, ignoring the new stuff, because every day your stuff becomes less supported and less compatible with everything else.
You have had no choice.
Until now.
Vista makes a demand on hardware — you cannot run it on old machines. there needs to be a good graphics card etc. It’s heavy on resources.
But it also makes a demand on the user — the fuss and bother of havi9ng to start again to learn software that they were using productively every day without issue.
Microsoft will stop supporting XP and what then?
Already councils here and many governments abroad are directing their IT departments to get away from Microsoft Products. It is too costly to retrain, to expensive to ramp up their hardware — and all to merely continue to do what they already are!
Open Office has an interface that is more like Word, Excel and PowerPoint than the latest Microsoft versions of the same products.
Apple and Macs are not a consideration; it is economics. Businesses have invested a lot already in computers and networks. We have all reached a comfortable level with the software. It works well, so we no longer need change. We need something reliable instead.
On the domestic front, people know that the future is about merging different technologies together — MP3 players on cell phones etc. A TV is 100% technology, a washing machine is 100% technology. Although computers have improved, they are not yet at 100%. If you merge a 100% technology with an 80% technology, you get a result that is an 80% technology — which the consumer perceives as taking something that was good and turning it something not-as-good.
So before people will accept a merger of computers with any other technology, the reliability needs to be solid first — no patches and fixes, no crashes hangs and downtime.
The time has come for software and hardware to become 100% technologies, to become reliable.
The LAST THING WE NEED RIGHT NOW IS AN EVER-CHANGING OPERATING SYSTEM AND OFFICE SUITE.
Microsoft think that people will continue to pay for their broken products because they have no alternative if they want to interact and get things done.
Linux distros are free and turning up in schools and colleges as a result. Sure they are just as broken as Microsoft’s, but they are stable, free and you are not compelled to change — you can work away and be
October 23, 2006 at 11:32 pm
Oh, no, they make you verify that you have a legally licensed copy before they give you something for free. How horrible. Microsoft is so evil.
October 24, 2006 at 1:38 am
“A big point is being missed here: the software you paid / that is pre-installed is broken at the point of sale. It is not fit for the purpose. The get-around is that you sign an EULA agree to it and accept patches and fixes issued over time.
That might seem alright, if in the end you get a working product — a finished bit of software. However, that never happens.”
Dave has a little bit of a point there, but only a very little one. I have used linux,mac,and windows. Personally I prefer Windows. I do like mac but there’s still not enough support from it in the mainstream gaming software and hardware department. If you want to talk about broken out of the box, talk about ubuntu. I used it for a month and out of the box it did not support ANY media formats with the exception of CD’s and non copy-protected dvd’s. to get it to work I had to download tons of applications and drivers. Then it didn’t work with my mp3 player, or my usb headset. It didn’t even support my external hard drive ( which is understandable since it was in NTFS format ). Also, I can guarantee you that if Mac or Linux had 89% market share then they would be the one being hacked left and right and constantly getting viruses and spyware (and the only reason you get those is from doing something stupid or not educating yourself in how to keep protected from them in the first place.
And talk about updates. Both Mac AND Linux need updates installed periodically to keep it safe as they find loopholes, and to support new software/hardware/protocols.
Basically what I am saying is if you are a linux/mac/Windows fan, feel free to support your operating system but quit crying like a big baby about the other operating systems. Shut up and go on with your life. If the operating system we use is doing something wrong or different, let US worry about it!!!
October 24, 2006 at 1:40 am
WOW, they need a spell/grammar checker for this. Now that I have ranted I am starting to see my typos and whatnot.
October 24, 2006 at 3:15 am
Hello!
Let me write in spanish please, because i came from Chile, and i want to write my “point of view”, about this topic.
Bueno creo que internet explorer 7, IE7, es un fiasco, al igual que las otras versiones anteriores de IE. Esto es debido a su pésima creación desde su núcleo y cómo fue desarrollado. Además es una mala copia de Firefox; hasta tiene la misma funcionalidad de las pestañas.. que pena por microsoft.
El tema de este blog, es “[It forces the user to verify the authenticity of a completely separate piece of software, the Operating System before it will install itself]“. Nadie puede realizar esto, ni obligar a la gente a forzar a realizar cosas.. esto no es posible..!.
Otra cosa, esto hay que verificarlo bien, para no estar dandole vueltas a un tema.. y sin fin.
Windows XP, es una versión de SO u OS, que es bastante mejor que ses versiones antecesoras. Yo uso bastante XP, y me tiene bien contento. Lo que dicen más adelante bloggers; tienen mucha razón, esto es debido a que muchas aplicaiones o softwares y Hardware no corren o no funcionan o son simplemente incompatibles a la hora de un tema de “usabilidad”.
Por lo tanto, al momento de elegir un OS, hay que tener muy claro el “know-how”, de su utilización. Por lo tanto es de principal requisito saber y entender, para así evitarse tiempo perdido, en bajar sofwares que no se podran usar o y no lo va a entender.
Sincerelly,
::Wajner::
October 24, 2006 at 10:59 am
[...] If you have Windoows XP of course you can enjoy the new IE7 but that has some interesting issues. [...]
October 24, 2006 at 11:34 pm
If most of people can’t use Ie it’s just better for other optionnal browser like Firefox… keep this in mind….
Microsoft kil itself is own client !
October 26, 2006 at 6:39 pm
Jr said, “Spoken like a guy who doesn’t own a business.”
@ Jr
I run a business on mac just fine. Who needs pc? Not me!
My competitors do though… that just one reason why I am beating them!
MUAHAHAHAHA!
I
October 28, 2006 at 12:06 am
I run businesses and use computers and networks and the only time I will come across macs is in desktop publishing (probably because an inch on a mac’s screen is an inch and 1.3 inches if using a PC) or where musicians are involved.
Dave says: “Already councils here and many governments abroad are directing their IT departments to get away from Microsoft Products. It is too costly to retrain, to expensive to ramp up their hardware — and all to merely continue to do what they already are!”
Yes, I had heard about this. There is a move toward Linux (or away from Microsoft but still using your PC).
Dave also says: “The time has come for software and hardware to become 100% technologies, to become reliable.”
This is true, but can it be said that Linux offers something more reliable?
Ninja_in_Pyjamas said (of the ubuntu distro): “I used it for a month and out of the box it did not support ANY media formats with the exception of CD’s and non copy-protected dvd’s. to get it to work I had to download tons of applications and drivers. Then it didn’t work with my mp3 player, or my usb headset. It didn’t even support my external hard drive ( which is understandable since it was in NTFS format ).”
This would actually SUIT BUSINESS really well; a lot of our work is to take off-the-shelf PCs with a Windows OS and Office suite and then mess about with them on behalf of our clients — remove sound cards, hide root drives, stop CD, USB and Floppy access and so forth.
In my experience, businesses want people to WORK, not copy CDs or download stuff. Access to certain websites is often denied if there is internet access at all.
Most businesses we see don’t really use the software they already have, lety alone the hardware! Outlook Express is commonly used, but equally common is Outlook (because it comes as part of a suite) — but only the email is used — and a few know and use PST addressbook files. So all that is needed here is an email program to replace Outlook/ Outlook Express.
Standard Office software is Acrobat Reader first, Word second, then Excel, lastly it would be PowerPoint. FrontPage/Access etc. are rarely used.
After that, it would be proprietary or inhouse software packages — where the main work is done, stuff such as Sage, Hevacomp, or a CAD package.
As long as the Linux distro can be networked, work with printers and plotters and run the proprietary or inhouse packages, THEN BUSINESSES IN THE UK WILL SWITCH OVER.
The alternative would be to invest huge amounts on retraining and equipment upgrades to Vista.
It sounds like Writer, Calc and Impress would require NO TRAINING, workers would see how closely these packages resemble Word, Excel and PowerPoint and MicroSoft HAVE TO SUPPORT OPEN OFFICE NOW. (http://tinyurl.com/t33zb). Without retraining, Linux scores over Vista.
It would be an equivalent / less cost to any business to install Linux as install Vista. — so that cancells out.
Businesses may see that the upgrades and re-issues of Linux are as much trouble as the equivalent for Vista — that cancells out too.
Finally, as there has been no capital expenditure on upgrading hardware for Vista or to change to Macs, then Linux scores again.
With two cancell-outs and two two scores, Linux actually wins, and it is clear that Vista will be the end of the line for radical operating system changes. It will cost Microsoft dearly.
When the governments change to Linux, then watchout — development will become worthwhile in getting Linux to get peripherals to work “out of the box” because people like to use at home what they have at work, but with MP3s, scanners and cameras added in.
Mark my words, this is a watershed in the history of computing. Microsoft have shot themsleves in the foot and are flailing about trying to catch illegal users and so forth — the actions of a core business in decline (they know it’s over). Microsoft can only hope their xbox and Multi-media businesses take off.
October 28, 2006 at 12:26 am
My Point (again) is that we are all fed up with changes.
It affects my productivity and my happiness levels.
I used to love IE6 with the AVANT plug-in — this gave me tabs like Opera and Firefox (only better and more user friendly — and free).
DAMMIT I DO NOT WANT IE7! I liked everything the way it was!
Why can’t they just fix the security problems and stop tinkering with the GUI all the time? Is it beyond them to offer IE7 as an option, as a different browser — would it kill Microsoft to offer TWO browsers?
I get a system that is broken out of the box, and it downloads patches and fixes and in the meantime I get it set up and working great the way I like it, then I AM FORCED TO LEARN IT ALL AGAIN.
I loved PaintShop Pro5, and it took me years to get used to PaintShop Pro7, now it’s Corel instead of JASC and it looks more like Adobe PhotoShop, which I hated.
I installed Acrobat Reader 4 because I only use it to open PDF attachments. Have you seen the size of Acrobat7? It’s like 1000% bigger than Acrobat4 and I still only need it to open PDFs!!! It wants to manage my photos and MP3s. But so does everything else!
I liked WinRAR, but now Windows XP wants to take care of that for me. Why? I liked ACDSee for my slideshows, now XP wants to do it — so does my Scanner software, my camera software my DVD burning software etc.
I liked WinAmp, and loads more…. but it’s all change.
Me and millions others are being forced into buying new software we do not want and then either to learn it from scratch or else figure ways to TURN OFF ALL THE NEW GUI FEATURES to get it to behave and look like it used to!!!
… and the new stuff we have is less secure and less stabel that what we had!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 3, 2006 at 4:31 pm
[...] Not forgetting that IE7 just doesn’t install on your system without authenticating your operating system first. The company will lobby that its a comprehensive policy to curb anti-piracy, well it maybe. Reactions to this, as expected, are ambiguous; just like browsers and their vulnerabilities. (Read more about the view on this policy here) [...]
November 21, 2006 at 5:50 pm
hello all, first of all, I’m a linux user, who only really touches windows at college. I just wanted to get that out of the way before I get accused of siding with windows. I just want to say that the only people who need to worry about validation checks are those who are using a pirated copy of windows anyway. If someone has paid the windows liscence what does it matter that the ie7 installer tries to validate their OS?
November 28, 2006 at 12:42 am
I agree that Macos is a superior piece of software, They were the first to make user friendly operating systems, At every step windows has copies them in some form, but mac has also copied windows. The only disadvantage is that mac stuff is so expensive, I recently got an acer laptop becuase i couldnt afford a mac, i run xp and linux.
Linux is not nerdy and the new versions are pretty user friendly. Also compatabillity between platforms is no londer a major problem with new software being deisgned to emulate windows software on macs and mac software on pcs. All depends on what u need, The standard family doesnt need a 2 k mac to check emails lol and they wouldnt have a clue how to use linux so windows is a gd choice. all circumstance
December 14, 2006 at 7:42 am
OK, I must first say that I am a “mac fanboy.” But I also know my way around Windows pretty well. In fact, I used to hate macs, but then saw the light when I began to use them more frequently. I don’t personally have any expirience with Linux, so I can’t say anything about that. But, in my expirience with MS, it is just so unstable compared to mac software. Sure, everyone has their opinions, but I can’t understand how people can’t see how superior macs are. Yes, I know macs aren’t the cheapest, but the bang for your buck is amazing. How many other computers come with so much on the entry-level computers… I have a new intel-based macbook, that comes with a remote, built in camera, don’t forget iLife, bluetooth, wi-fi, and so much more… that in comparison with leading pc companys, all of those things added to their entry-level laptops (MS equivalent of iLife) will cost considerably more than that of the entry level macbook. Oh, and its been proven that g4 processor is faster than that of its pentium III competition. But anyway, I just wanted to say that MS is years behind, in terms of technology, and if people were willing to open their eyes and step out of their comfort zone, they would see how true my statement is. Because people have become so connected with windows that anything that looks different looks harder to use because they are so used to their own ways and don’t want to have to learn a new way. This scares them and the react by rejecting the new standard of operation. Yet, (I’m speaking of the general public) they do this everytime they get the newer version of windows, but don’t realize it. Every operating system and software will get the job done, that is true. But, I think one should make things easier on themselves by working with the one that is the most efficient. And, IE7 is really just a rip-off of all the different web-browsers that have already accomplished everything that they added to IE7. I don’t know about the illegal part, but I think that MS is taking the anti-piracy war too far. I know it’s a problem, but by screwing the rest of us law abiding citizens to further themselves, is childish, and poor business operation. It creates angry people, and ultimately either pushes people to stop using their products, or, even worse… possibly convince people to stop paying for software that isn’t worth buying, and hence forth adding to the piracy problem. I in no way believe my post to be absolute truth, it’s just my opinion. I hope I didn’t offend anybody, if I did, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.
December 18, 2006 at 11:27 am
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January 18, 2007 at 9:10 pm
A few questions from a blog idiot
How do you keep the spammers from eating you alive? i\’ve seen blogs with nothing but spam postings.
How do you keep some left wing extremist from posting racist or defamatory rhetoric? and if you cant stop them, what are you legally liabel when they do?
can viruses be posted to blogs?
January 18, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Use WordPress; if your site isn’t hosted on WP, install Akismet. Hold all comments for moderation; not sure what your liability is.
Spam blogs = splogs. Report them if you can; ignore them if you can’t. It’d be nice if Technorati and Google Blogs didn’t index them.
If the blog page launches ActiveX or something like that, then it may inject something into the unsuspecting browser’s machine, but I’m not sure.
February 13, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Mac and Linux aside…we can all agree that windows will always have problems…until they REALLY rewite the OS to take security into account.
I am a linux user…I am neither geeky or nerdy…I am smart (something the usual windows fanboy is not)
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