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| Thread ID: 31882 | 2003-04-03 07:25:00 | Microsoft's disgusting habits | agent (30) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 133098 | 2003-04-03 07:25:00 | I'll admit that, having read the privacy article in this months issue of PC World, I'm criticising Microsoft. Being a user who doesn't do anything illegal with any Microsoft software, I don't read EULAs. Perhaps it is about time I should. Might just have to insert my Windows XP CD and read the EULA itself. And don't forget ones for future patches I install, the one for Windows Update, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Access, Internet Explorer, if any, IIS, and the list goes on. I could read a 50-page essay in all that time I reckon. But what disgusts me even more is things like Palladium (no, it's not new to me, but I thought it was going to be a hardware chip on your motherboard, not part of the frickin' kernel), CPRM, and the TCA (Trusted Computing something Alliance, backed by Microsoft of course). I'm not happy with having some power-hungry companies dictate what I can and cannot do on my computer. The entertainment industry wants to stop illegal trading of songs and movies? Fine. But first they have to realise the $35-$40 for a brand new album is outrageous, especially considering the price five years ago. Frankly, I don't care about movies, because I don't often watch them, and when I do, they're via completely legal methods. People love music. And let's face it, would you rather get music for free or pay for it? Perhaps they should try to make every song pure crap, so people don't like them, and therefore don't want to get them. Do I sound like the Planet Bike ad where there's a [literally] stupid British voice saying "no cars, no oil; no oil, no war"? Probably. And the prices of software aren't much better. I know that a lot of effort goes into producing these things, but when you come down to the basics, business is about profit. And the easiest way of making more profit is increasing the price of your services. Then again, you could turn all your workers into.... never mind, we won't go there (but remember that article from last weekends canvas? They said it was good money - though that is extremely arguable, and I do not support doing this in any way). So, you're fine with third-parties having access to your data? There was a little disruption over a Borland licence agreement a few years back, particularly involving a little statement that basically said "we, or companies associated with us, have the right to go around to your house and take a look at what's on your computer". It's appaling. We're getting back to the old days where popes controlled a whole lot more than they should (no, I'm not religious, but my damned school is). No one should have that level of control over you or your property. Unless of course you hire your OS - "alright sonny, you're not making any payments, so we'll just confiscate your hard drive and anything else that's ours until further notice". Kind of stupid. But it could become a reality, the way things are going. Let's bring out the media-mafia. They're going to knock you silly until you stop illegal trading of software, movies, music, pictures, you name it. I know I for one certainly wouldn't be happy if there was a part of my hard drive which I couldn't access, but a service provided by Sony could. Sure, I like Sony, because they're damned good quality (though the price of good quality is high), but if there are parts of my property which I wouldn't have access to... I'd be very pissed off. I might even become mentally deranged and buy a computer-guided missile launcher. Except by then, companies would have built in technologies so that you cannot target their premises. |
agent (30) | ||
| 133099 | 2003-04-03 09:05:00 | Sheesh You had a bad day or something Agent. |
Baldy (26) | ||
| 133100 | 2003-04-03 09:09:00 | Is it legal to post whilst under the influence of wacky Backy? | Thomas (1820) | ||
| 133101 | 2003-04-03 09:15:00 | I agree that what Microsoft is planning to do is wrong. I would rather not use a computer at all than use one infected with Palladium (or I could just use Linux ;-)). | flyer590 (2523) | ||
| 133102 | 2003-04-03 09:28:00 | >Is it legal to post whilst under the influence of wacky Backy? Indeed it is! it is legal to be under the influence, and do almost anything so long as one isn't driving or being a public annoyance. Its only illegal to distribute, grow, or own a quantity of "wacky" unconsumed, or the parafinalia to consume it with less tar intake. .Clueless .Clueless |
Clueless (181) | ||
| 133103 | 2003-04-03 09:29:00 | It might be difficult to run a OS that doesn't comply. Both Intel and AMD have signed into the agreement so it will be interesting to see what occurs. Perhaps if we want to run linux or play music we will have to stick with the current technology. Brrrrr, I'm feeling cold :) |
Gorela (901) | ||
| 133104 | 2003-04-03 09:42:00 | And lets be assured that anything politicaly sensitive WILL will be become copyrighted material that wont run....... Music piracy sounds a good reason to give govt control over information doesn't it? .Clueless |
Clueless (181) | ||
| 133105 | 2003-04-03 10:24:00 | LOL! I agree - And we may someday have to ditch Intel/AMD (Heaven forbid) and move over to the Via chipset or whatever ;-) I personally dont think that it'll be pulled off too soon... If Big Billy does, Im happy with my PC running Linux for the time being then.. But what if they're clever and make the net use it too... Any website you try to access from a non-Palladium Compatible PC and you get re-directed? Life as we know it will come to a halt and the Geek World will be ruled by 2 people - Bill and Linus! Could be interesting, but for now, my linux skills are enough to keep me going.... I personally dont like it, but Ive said yes to Bill downloading stuff without my knowing by installing WMP9 on about 12 PC's altogether now. I still wonder if he's got himself a back door into the OS somehow aye!?! |
Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
| 133106 | 2003-04-03 21:03:00 | I must say that I dont appreciate media player sending home messages about what it plays so i just use zonealrm to disable it's internet access Xp etc all do the same though and it will only get worse as we go towards a pay as you surf mode Think I will stick with 98 even though all support will be gone in a few more years | kiwibeat (304) | ||
| 133107 | 2003-04-04 00:24:00 | Of course Microsoft being the biggest computer company, they want to control as much of the industry as they can and now that music and film can be played on a pc, that opens up more ways for Microsoft to make money . So we as consumers are all assumed to have the potential for not paying for all the software, music, film we use so they must implement technology to stop us . I can see the day when software will simply not work if it can't connect to the internet and check that you are a valid user of whatever software you are using . It will be a sad day and I will be using . . . , wait for it . . . , Linux . Of course a big corporation like Microsoft, has our best interests at heart . :D |
Dolby Digital (160) | ||
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