Microsoft attempts to prevent legal licence transfers. by citizen

Certainly is a bunch of BS. Thankfully, I imagine someone will crack it at some point. And given Vista's security track record already, it might even be before release.

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 9:36 AM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.

Quote:
Originally posted by Eric:
At some point there needs to be a Linux revolution.

I know what you mean. Microsoft is pissy, and annoying, but Linux doesn't really have a whole lot going on... and my dad probably wouldn't use it, anyway.

---
"What the world needs now is love, sweet love - it's the only thing that there's just too little of. What the world needs now is love, sweet love. No, not just for some, but for everyone."

Trouble-Maker in the House!

http://richlabonte.net/tvvote

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 9:37 AM

Did you see that "illegal" copies will be horribly disabled? All well and good except I've seen two genuine copies of XP that (due to Spyware and its removal) decided they were illegal copies and threatened the user on each boot up (which didn't go down too well as you could imagine).

Now if those copies of XP had been limited to "leaving the user access only to the default Web browser", I couldn't have repaired the damage. I'd have had to extract all the data I could by removing the drive and then format, reinstall and start again.

Not to mention the fact that they haven't said what a new computer is. My main PC has had 6 different hard drives in it (not counting ones I've attached through USB), it's had different network cards, more RAM, different RAM, different graphics cards, a TV card plugin added and more. At what point would it count as a new PC? If my motherboard blows and I reinstall on a new PC and it blows again, do I need a new copy of Vista?

The simple is no because I don't need Vista. I call on all hackers to abandon attacking XP and instead concentrate their fire on falsely activating the anti-piracy features on legitimate copies of Vista. Imagine the furore if Microsoft wakes up one morning to 25,000,000 users unable to use their legitimately bought copies of Vista due to a) Microsoft's onerous protection policies and b) Microsoft's lamentable standard of security policies.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 10:33 AM

@SimonWho:

I understand your fustration w/ M$. I mostly moved to OpenBSD using windows only for watching movies, etc until I moved over to the Mac (haven't looked back since; things just work). I love my mini

But, getting "hackers" to target Vista in the way you are proposing is certainly NOT the answer. What would happen is that M$ would say that it's the hackers fault, which people would believe. And even IF (oh my is that a big if) people figured out that this was caused by M$ not doing security right, they would still blame the "hackers" b/c they inconvenienced so very many people. I mean, how much lost valuable data do you think that would cost? Some(one,people) would certainly be going to jail.

The best thing that hackers could do is to break this "feature" of Vista to allow users to do what they should be able to do under fair use.

I also think that it bears mentioning that most people are not like you (and me) with regards to constantly changing hardware. Most people buy a computer from wal-mart (or somewhere similar) and use it till it does work anymore. Then they'll take it in to get it fix, rise repeat until it breaks. Then they buy a new computer and the cycle continues.

This is the reason why M$ will probably not remove this "feature" of Vista. They only care about most users, NOT fringe groups. And since most users won't even realize what's going on, M$ will ignore the cries of what they see as a vast minority and carry on in there own evil way.

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 12:11 PM

Which is precisely why we need the hackers to target this particular feature. If they're just mindlessly hacking, that's one thing (and there haven't been any truly destructive viruses for a while, not like the good old days of Chenobyl) but if this specific part of Windows is targeted, Microsoft will be overwhelmed.

Yes, it's blackmail but it's blackmail against Microsoft, the lying, lawbreaking monopolistic sons of bitches. So that makes it all right.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 12:16 PM

All good points missing one thing.

This 'protection' could very well be illegal in it's own right, if as I suspect it does infringe on the consumers statuatory rights.

But they'll get away with it because laws are not something to be used against large corporations.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 12:24 PM

Well, the EU tried and the Clinton administration tried but Microsoft just played the long game, waited for someone else to come into power and blew softly into the President's ear and it all went away.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 12:26 PM

I'll say it again.

The Law is like the doors to an expensive hotel.

Open to everyone.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 1:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:

Which is precisely why we need the hackers to target this particular feature. If they're just mindlessly hacking, that's one thing (and there haven't been any truly destructive viruses for a while, not like the good old days of Chenobyl) but if this specific part of Windows is targeted, Microsoft will be overwhelmed.

Yes, it's blackmail but it's blackmail against Microsoft, the lying, lawbreaking monopolistic sons of bitches. So that makes it all right.

1) One does not "mindlessly" hack.

2) Distructive viruses/trojans/etc are only wanted by 16 yr olds angry at the world wanting to cause chaos. No good comes from them.

3) M$ will be overwhelmed until a patch is released. Then its business as usual.

4) It's only blackmail if and only if there isn't an easier, cheaper way out of it. That easier cheaper way is the patch, which makes this needless distruction of personal propery have no gain.

5) Blackmail is NEVER all right.

6) Grow up.

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 1:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:

All good points missing one thing.

This 'protection' could very well be illegal in it's own right, if as I suspect it does infringe on the consumers statuatory rights.

But they'll get away with it because laws are not something to be used against large corporations.

Very true on all counts.

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 1:37 PM

It's not business as usual if there's billions of dollars worth of data loss/made public. Then its lawsuit time.

Why are you so eager to protect Microsoft? No hack of any significance can take place without a flaw within their software and yet will they admit liability for this under their new extended 1 year warranty? Doubtful.

They're an ugly, bullying, deceitful company, as has been revealed many times over in the uncovering of internal documents in court cases against their practices. When the law is unable or unwilling to defend citizens against an aggressive force, sometimes people have to take matters into their own hands.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 1:40 PM

MISBEHAVEN

Quote:
Originally posted by SigmaNunki:

I understand your fustration w/ M$. . . . etc until I moved over to the Mac (haven't looked back since; things just work). I love my mini

I'm in complete agreement. I'd take a Mac over a M$ system every time.

Sometimes you just have to pee in the sink.
-Charles Bukowski

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, October 14, 2006 5:35 PM

FREMDFIRMA

You know what, the law itself concerning such things is plainly ludicrous.

I don't see how the hell anyone was ever stupid enough to allow the law to be manipulated so that you wind not even actually owning an item you paid for.

Once you have purchased a product, and brought it onto your property, imop, it belongs to YOU, and what you do with it is entirely your discretion, and if the product is boobytrapped or rigged to prevent you from using it in a manner that pleases you, so long as it harms no one, you've got every damned right to circumvent or disable such things.

What are we, slaves ? this is plainly asinine.

Property ownership is one of the primary basic differences between slaves and free people, and we're slowly losing that distinction, rented property, leased cars, end-user-rights instead of ownership ?

Selling our soul cheap, aren't we ?

If I paid good money for it, and it's on MY land, I OWN it, and so long as it harms no one, will do what the hell I please with it, period.

Companies have manipulated the law for their own advantage here, and if we just meekly accept this bullshit, it will continue.

-Frem

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, October 15, 2006 1:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
Once you have purchased a product, and brought it onto your property, imop, it belongs to YOU, and what you do with it is entirely your discretion, and if the product is boobytrapped or rigged to prevent you from using it in a manner that pleases you, so long as it harms no one, you've got every damned right to circumvent or disable such things.

Actually I'm waiting for the test case over here for something similar.

UK law expressly permits the customer to make a copy of CD's and DVD's for backup purposes. That's a legally protected right. So when a company puts copy protection on their trying to prevent you exercising you're legal rights.

Fortunately we could circumnavigate this copy protection. Unfortunately recently the UK Government made breaking copy protection illegal, which ironically technically means putting copy protection on a CD is illegal because doing so forces the customer to break the law in order to exercise their legal right to create a backup.

I'm waiting for the test case where someone acting perfectly legally is shafted by a corporation acting illegal. I suspect rights will be trampled in favour of Corporate profits, but I live in hope that for a change justice will prevail in law.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, October 16, 2006 1:47 PM

MISSTRESSAHARA

Blue Sun here we come.

If I'm a bitch, then life just got interesting

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, October 16, 2006 2:33 PM

WHIMSICALNBRAINPAN

And why exactly is anyone surprised that Microsoft is doing this?

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." http://whimsicalnbrainpan.blogspot.com/

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, October 16, 2006 4:13 PM

DREAMTROVE

Windows will eventually be replaced. People seldom seem to recall that OS's used to become extinct all the time. After several evolutions of a particular OS, some other OS was revolutionarily better, and eclipsed it. Think of how DOS was replaced by windows, and why things like the GEM desktop and the original LISA OS don't crop up these days. It's not about "better" on a holistic level, since nothing is wrong with the GEM desktop, in fact, it's in many ways superior, but it can't do everything windows can, and that's the deciding factor, the make or break of natural selection.

The next OS will be one which does certain things very very well:
1. Starts quickly, hopefully instantly.
2. Doesn't forget when you turn it off.
3. Surfs the web quickly.
4. Handles text, graphics, video, very well.
5. Never crashes.

And how well such an OS does these:

6. runs existing stand alone software
7. handles complex rendering capability
8. has great interactive multiuser controls

Might be relegated to the world of game consol.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, October 16, 2006 4:16 PM

KANEMAN

I get everything for free off of a torrent..Well, it's true.....

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, October 16, 2006 4:34 PM

DREAMTROVE

I read through these posts, and there's suprising little counterpoint. We all agree on something - the suckage of microsoft. And they don't even suck that badly. Microsoft does a lot of things very well. They're sometimes pigheaded, and sure, they're evil in the way they kill competitors and small fries, but in the bigger picture: If your god is 100 and satan 0 theis 100 and satan 0, then microsoft is at least a 'goo'

Consider these basic criteria:

Good: Saves lives, provides services useful to people, ups productivity, creates jobs, protects the enironment, cures the sick, etc., builds culture, etc.

Evil: Destroys lives, and life, creates poverty and dispair and death, destroys the environment, destroys everything.

Microsoft, while a vicious competitor, and sometimes unethical, is still "goo"

Whereas the leaders we attack and defend here such as Bush, Clinton, Blair, Olmert, or whoever, almost all fall on the other end of the scale.

We get caught arguing in favor of one over the other, because one is only

"Evil son of a bitch who rots"

and the other is in our opinion

"Evil son of a bitch who rots in hell"

So, Bill Gates for President, damn it.

That said, I have another counterpoint on Vista,

This rule isn't just bad, it's dumb. No one, other than Microsoft itself, or people who it bribes, is ever going to produce Vista-specific software "why would they?" There's almost no XP-specific software out there, and XP-specific devices, '98 ME, NT or 2000 versions and drivers are usually to be found, for that matter, linux and mac versions and drivers are usually available. So no one would buy Vista. People will just go on using XP.

I mean, consider you get your choice of a copy of firefly on dvd with digitally enhanced sound, but that will erase itself after one viewing, or a regular copy of firefly, and you could only ever buy one, which would you buy? It's real unlikely that anything in Vista is going to be so killer that it's worth the self-restriction.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 2:14 AM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

YinYang- We've used nothing but Linux for years. It does everything MS does... we have a wonderful web browser (Firefox) and emailer that works better than IE, and I have several office suite programs (currently using OpenOffice) with word processing, spreadsheets, simple CAD, and powerpoint-type applications. This suite also "reads" MS files.

The problem is getting Linux loaded in the first place. Since most PCs come pre-loaded with MS and MS doesn't play nicely with other operating systems you have to go through some machinations to reformat your boot sector. That part is beyond me. I have to have a major geek do that. Loading Linux - especially Debian- is waaaay easy: just insert the disk, and let it run on default mode (it looks at your system and usually does a good job of figuring out what drivers it needs for your hardware).

---------------------------------
Try it, you'll like it.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 2:20 AM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Oh, by the way... the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) which gives MS its unusual powers.... we can thank Clinton for that. That was yet another reason why I didn't vote for him.

---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 9:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
The next OS will be one which does certain things very very well:
1. Starts quickly, hopefully instantly.
2. Doesn't forget when you turn it off.
3. Surfs the web quickly.
4. Handles text, graphics, video, very well.
5. Never crashes.

1. -> Not really an OS issue. DOS started quickly because it had virtually no setup to go through, where as a modern OS's have to setup the CPU in P-Mode and partition main memory, startup hundreds of drivers, map interrupts, setup the page file load hundreds of megabytes of data etc DOS had to load one .com file. Hard Disk drives and memory throughput aren't infinite and are a big bottle neck, machines spend most of their time waiting for these peripheral resources to be ready.

OS's can make some impact, only loading things when needed (where as XP loads pretty much everything), but instantaneous loading is pretty much impossible.

2. -> Not an OS issue either, XP can actually do this, it's called hibernation, XP copies all running memory on to the Hard disk when shutting down and back again when starting up. The trade-off is long shut-down and start-up times, that's a lot of data you are moving around (up to 4Gb on a 32bit system).

3. -> Get a faster modem?

4. -> Yeah the Windows GDI sucks the big one. It's nice and easy to use from an API perspective, but slow as hell.

5. -> Literally impossible. OS's are pretty large and complex so it's litterally impossible to keep bugs out (DOS v1 had one for every three lines of code). Add to that dodgy third party drivers and apps. What an OS can do is improve it's recovery, Windows 2000 was a step in the right direction, maybe Vista will get to the point where it is as good as OS2 Warp...

Quote:
And how well such an OS does these:

6. runs existing stand alone software
7. handles complex rendering capability
8. has great interactive multiuser controls

Might be relegated to the world of game console.

6. -> Why?
7. -> Vista is integrating DirectX 10(which won't be available for earlier versions), removing complex rendering capability from an OS would be stupid, there's a lot of PC gamers, and consoles are incapable of satisfactorily running many types of games. An RTS can't be intuitivly controlled through a hand hold controller.

There's also a heap load of stuff that PC's need rendering capability for. CGI is done on PC workstations, Game development is done on PC work stations, 3D product visualisation, Architectural visualisation and so on.
8. -> What do you mean by multi-user controls?

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 9:43 AM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Whoa!!! YOU'RE AN OS/2 WARP FAN??? That's awesome! My SO, a true computer genius, still regrets that IBM let that one slip away. According to him OS/2's brilliant implementation was that everything was an object. He has not seen that idea carried out so consistently since, even in Linux. (I hope that makes more sense to you than to me.) We STILL have OS/2 Warp as a selection in our multi-boot setup.

Like VHS, it just goes to prove that the better product doesn't always win.

---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 9:52 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE

It'll get worse before it gets better. Google is bringing out an entire Office software package. They've already got a spreadsheet application available on a limited basis in Google labs. Micro$oft stand to lose a looot of money once it's released, so they'll be grabbing every penny they can.

More graphics and animations available at www.desktophippie.com

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 10:10 AM

Object refers to Object Orientated Programming (OOP). It's a way of making programming easier, more bug free and more productive. It's a very involved subject, I won't bore you with the details but a good overview is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object-oriented_programming

Ironically OS2 was a joint venture between IBM (who wrote the core code) and MS (who wrote the interface). MS cut out of the deal, no surprises for why Window 95 and OS2's interfaces are so similar

.

I don't get much oppertunity to use OS's outside windows. Unfortunatly all the Software I use is released only for Windows, which makes using other OS's difficult. I had Linux on my laptop for awhile, but in the end I just stopped doing any work on it, as much as I like open source Blender can't beat 3DS Max and GIMP can't beat Photoshop

.

Though I have happilly moved over to openoffice, the only thing it can't quite deal with are some of the Spreadsheets I use for work.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 12:37 PM

BILLGATES

Everyone has a right to an opinion, but I must say I'm very disappointed by the hateful attitude expressed here.

I recently watched the Firefly series, and Serenity. I loved it so much, I was planning on donating A LOT of money to Joss Whedon. I was going to fund a sequel.

But not now, no way. The people in this thread are directly responsible for Serenity not getting a sequel.

Windows Vista is a superior product. It introduces a breakthrough user experience and is designed to help you feel confident in your ability to view, find, and organize information and to control your computing experience.

I will return here in one week. If everyone has apologized to me, I may reconsider and fund the Serenity sequel after all.

Sincerely,

Bill Gates

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 12:52 PM

I think we should settle this issue simply and in a civilised manner.

A boxing match, or I'll sic me mate Eric on ya:
http://www.twisted-imaginings.com/Share/bananaman.mp3

PS are you really Bill Gates?

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 2:46 PM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Hey Bill- I noticed "You know who I am" in your profile.

Well, I know who you're NOT. You're NOT Bill Gates! So I'm thinking mebbe.... Chrisisall!

---------------------------------
Did I get it? huh? huh?

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 3:23 PM

THATWEIRDGIRL

Vista is not going to launch well.

I'm not sorry! I won't apologize, you smelly PC man, with your magic finger...nothin sticks to it. Hooray for macs. You're strange.
(

I know you)

www.thatweirdgirl.com
---
"...turn right at the corner then skip two blocks...no, SKIP, the hopping-like thing kids do...Why? Why not?"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 3:28 PM

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!

Hi Bill,

I was just wondering why you would bother to come up with an onerous license so arcane that no one will go for it. Do you know something about previous versions of Windoze that we don't know?

Sincerely,
Rue

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 6:05 PM

BILLGATES

Quote:
Originally posted by rue:
Hi Bill,

I was just wondering why you would bother to come up with an onerous license so arcane that no one will go for it. Do you know something about previous versions of Windoze that we don't know?

Sincerely,
Rue

The bottom line is this: I don’t want people to steal from me. I don’t want people to use a single copy to upgrade all of their computers and their friends’ computers, too.

My license is perfectly legal and reasonable. One of the goals at Microsoft is to provide an affordable, cutting edge computer experience. But like many commodities in the market, such as the condom, it’s only supposed to be used once.

Bill

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 6:50 PM

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!

Hi Bill,

Why would anyone give up money for your new product if the old ones work and don't have as many restrictions? Do you know something about your previous versions that we don't know? Like, will you disable them through back doors?

Rue

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 10:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by thatweirdgirl:
Vista is not going to launch well.

I'm not sorry! I won't apologize, you smelly PC man, with your magic finger...nothin sticks to it. Hooray for macs. You're strange.
( I know you)

I really thought it was Chris, but guess not.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 7:30 AM

FREMDFIRMA

I was always a big fan of ROM-based DOS.

That's right, DOS on a read only chip, loaded prettymuch instantaneously, you barely even had to wait for drive spinup, and utterly, absolutely immune to virus.

I still have a couple of them chips, I know some laptops used em, the Tandy 1000 did for sure.

Never understood why they didn't go with that, myself.

-Frem

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 7:37 AM

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!

Hi Bill,

I'm still left wondering how you're going to sell Vista. While you have the right to sell whatever you want under your specified conditions, we have the right to not buy it.

You licensing is at odds with good marketing strategy.

So I'm left wondering if you intend to sabotage previous versions as a way to induce new purchases.

Your reply would be appreciated.

Rue

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 7:57 AM

The problem with ROM OS's is that they can't be updated or overwritten (which is also why they're immune to viruses). Modern OS's really can't go that route, they need far more storage space than ROM's can provide, and most of the virus suceptabillity is with files that have to be read/write anyway (like the registry).

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 2:42 PM

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!

Hey there Bill,

I'm hoping you'll answer my question. You see, I can't think of a successful marketing strategy that will make Vista's limitations appealing to a large number of people, and I would very much like to benefit from your insight. It just doesn't seem likely that people will buy new when they have something that works and the new product has a serious downside.

I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt by assuming you do have an answer but technical problems are keeping you from replying.

Awaiting your prompt reply,

Rue

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rue:
I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt by assuming you do have an answer but technical problems are keeping you from replying.

Don't hold your breath, I've heard he uses Windows

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, October 19, 2006 5:37 AM

ERIC

I imagine their plan will be much like it always has been: to flood the market with products that only work on Vista. Games system requirements, free or cheap media playing programs, etc. Conspire to restrict access to only Windows drivers for all hardware devices. Pay web sites to use coding that only Vista or IE7 can recognize, 'discover' new critical security flaws on XP that can't be patched. Basically make it impossible to carry out standard computing activities with anything other than their latest product. I wouldn't put it past them to deploy XP-specific viruses and worms.

I'm reminded of Coke. I did my undergrad at Ohio State, which basically sold itself to Coke- only Coke at all vending machines, all campus restaurants, logos on pretty much all official products. You had to travel some distance to find a Pepsi product (not that I particularly like either of these). Then at all the games some robotic announcer would enthusiatically thank everyone for 'choosing' Coca-Cola. Always Coca Cola!!!

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, October 19, 2006 9:16 AM

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!

At least the EU is chipping away at it.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, October 19, 2006 10:04 AM

DANFAN

Quote:
Originally posted by BillGates:

But like many commodities in the market, such as the condom, it’s only supposed to be used once.

Bill

You're only supposed to use a condom once?

Man, do I feel foolish now...

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, October 19, 2006 10:10 AM