ZDNet Blogs – Ed Bott – June 27, 2006:
Last week, a correspondent on Dave Farber’s Interesting People list posted some comments about his experiences with Windows OneCare Live. In the middle of the post, he added this tidbit:
“I like to review updates before they are installed. The only update that I have not installed is the latest WGA because of the security issues related to it.
I called Microsoft support to see if there is a hidden option to say, “yep, I’ve got updates turned to manual… it’s okay.” The rep said, “No and why wouldn’t you want to get the latest updates to Windows.”
He 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.’“
That can’t be true, can it? I’m always 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. 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.”
That’s it. That’s the entire response.
I’m not trying to be a lame *NIX advocate but this kind of thing can help one switch sides. Then again I bet MS will do it in a way that can be bypassed to keep people running Windows.
This is exactly why I switched last year. Linux only for me now.
June 27, 2006
Anyway. I think this has already been addressed by people who know more than me, are smarter, and better looking. But I wish they WOULD do that. Turn ‘em off. Turn ‘em all off. Find every illegal or unregistered copy of windows everwhere in the universe and disable them. Just give me a few days notice so I can buy as much Apple and Red Hat stock as I can afford.
I suspect MS has to milk every dollar out of VISTA release. Not only because of the delay, but the lack of interest in upgrading due to the parred down OS. Upgrade marketing is a good piece of change. They don’t have to sacrifice volume discounts to OEM’s and corporate customers. I don’t care about flash and splash graphics, so I feel no need to pay more as long as XP is supported.
That’s why I kept on using w2k and did not got into xp with the other sheeps. I knew this was MS end goal.
Stupidity is such a great thing. I remember all the sheeps saying “no, I don’t mind the activation” and “why such a fuzz”. I bet there will be a lot of people rationalizing their decision of buying into vista as well. “well, it’s a drag but vista is so much better for gaming”
Yet another reason to use Linux. Mircosoft just doesn’t get it.
Kill switch?
More like Kevorkian machine for MS.
#7 That’s how I felt about xp. Look at how many people bought into it
well M$ does get it. The educated user knows the world isnt flat and there are other OS’s then M$. But common user (80% of the people) are sheep and while they use a computer they think its to hard for them. When this happens “user” then will be happy to turn the thinking over to who ever wants to take it aka M$. Only the educated user will say anything but the educated user is in the minority.
Whats funny is im preaching to the choir here.
I work at a computer repair shop, and WGA is becoming a nightmare. It’s targeting LEGAL computers as well, that have NOT had Windows reinstalled. Usually older machines, I’ve seen mostly HP’s, but a few Dells as well that will not boot thanks to a ‘counterfiet’ version of windows. People are NOT happy. I always mention Apples that never require activation and aren’t prone to malware that they always seem to have as well. Of course, I only tell that to the GOOD customers.
I’ve got to keep a job, and as long as there is a Microsoft, I’ve got job security! Heheheh!
Since many people do not have WGA on their system, how can WGA kill your PC when you’re not using it? Is there OTHER SPYWARE on our PCs that we aren’t aware of that will do this to us?
Thing is a lot of these stories that sound really scary from microsoft is all hype, and never EVER come to pass. Calm down ppl!
I had to deal with product activation like this before with Office 2000. The activation didn’t work and I had to place a call. Apparently the legal copy I had bought through the university had the same serial number as many other student copies. So they required activation and then gave a lot of people the same serial number. It wasn’t a hassel to call and get it activated, but it was really stupid. Worse yet it made me leary of ugrading or reinstalling the OS which one needs to do with Windows every so often. That computer is now running linux. I’d rather try to debug something from a command line then have to deal with insecure and crappy copyright protection software. Ubuntu and OpenSuSE are both to the point that average users can use them. At this point I almost don’t care what Microsoft does (or Apple for that matter).
That’s product activation, totally diffrent issue.
I enjoy people arguing that a company doesn’t have the right to enforce its copyright, and that they should switch to a poorly supported product with a sharp learning curve.
Attention Linux Nerds: OSX is a better OS. Period. Get over it.
OSX is great if all you want is what Steve Jobs gives you. *nix is for those that enjoy the freedom to make the OS do what THEY want.
80% of people use Windows only because it comes pre-installed on the computer. If computers went back to the days where you had to buy the OS seperatly, then hardly anyone would use Windoze.
#13 activation IS part of MS scheme to control their user base. It was the predecessor of windows genuine advantage. They complement each other.
This whole thing is just stupid. Your system drive crashes (goes bad) and you need to get a new one. Don’t waste your time salvaging data from it. If MS activation doesn’t bite you in the arse (and it will), all other programs that need activation will. Unless, of course, you change the HD’s serial number to that of the one that crashed on you.
Linux just isn’t ready for the desktop in any way. It’s prettier, but thats about it. So please… stop with the Linux pushing… its sad, pathetic, and makes anyone who does it who isn’t recomending it just for programmers look stupid.
OSX is based on Unix, but is actually stable and usable, that comment about “what Jobs wants” is laughable.
I’ve never any problems with XP, and the problem here isn’t really about XP or about them enforcing a way to make sure infringing software won’t run… it’s that WGA is notoriously unreliable. It is going to stop legitimate licences and installations.
That’s the only issue.
They are out of SOYLENT GREEN?!
Why use software form a company that can’t get it’s own product out the door.
I have been using osX 10.2.8 for about five years now,(hardware will not support an upgrade- 333Mhz iMac) While they my be somethings I can’t do, for music and movies it works just fine. Show me any PC that can do what my mac does with so little resource.
GA, is already being USED, but not on win 2000 or before.
NO software should NEED a Licence after it is 5+ years old.
After 5 years of inception, It should be dumped to the freeware, and decode realms to be LEARNED from.