Microsoft Security Essentials - Ars Technica review

[Joe Moore]

Talk about "spin"!

If the first week saw 1.5 million downloads and the second week saw
1.2 million (2.6 million total after two weeks minus 1.5 million of
those which were downloaded the first week), the numbers are going
DOWN, not UP!

Or does the author believe the fact that the TOTAL is increasing is
really news?

I could spin it and say that I was giving Microsoft credit for an
aditional .1 million downloads the second week, but actually, I goofed
on the numbers. Regardless, 1.5 million downloads the first week and
1.1 million downloads the next week is still a declining trend.

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joemooreaterolsdotcom

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joemooreaterolsdotcom

 

[Paul Jones]

Well the author does not have show much bias towards other MS products
(and often quite the opposite) so I have little reason to be live he is
trying to spin anything here.

I could spin it and say that I was giving Microsoft credit for an
aditional .1 million downloads the second week, but actually, I goofed
on the numbers. Regardless, 1.5 million downloads the first week and
1.1 million downloads the next week is still a declining trend.

Have you any data to show that this is not normal for all software new
and *first* releases? If not your summarising shows nothing.
If the numbers are going up. It is an upwards trend, no matter how much
*you* try to *spin* it.

Be interesting to see how many downloads of any of the other
anti-malware solutions there were in their first weeks.
Much MUCH lower I would think.

 

[Joe Moore]

Well the author does not have show much bias towards other MS products
(and often quite the opposite) so I have little reason to be live he is
trying to spin anything here.

You might be right. It could be he just didn't give much thought to
what he said.

Have you any data to show that this is not normal for all software new
and *first* releases?
No.

If not your summarising shows nothing.
If the numbers are going up. It is an upwards trend, no matter how much
*you* try to *spin* it.

According to your logic, if only 3 copies were download next week, two
the week after, and one the week after that, it would still be an
upward trend because the TOTAL is going up even though rate of
downlading is obviously going down. Would it take an outbreak of folks
*uploading* the software before you conceded a downward trend?

Be interesting to see how many downloads of any of the other
anti-malware solutions there were in their first weeks.
Much MUCH lower I would think.

That may very well be true. But it still wouldn't make the fact their
TOTAL numbers increased from week to week newsworthy. It's hard to
imagine any other possibility unless their server broke.

Don't get me wrong. Anything which makes life easier for the average
computer user is fine by me and I hope this product works well and is
easy to use. It's just that hype of any kind annoys me no matter who's
doing it.

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joemooreaterolsdotcom

 

[Dustin Cook]

Well the author does not have show much bias towards other MS products
(and often quite the opposite) so I have little reason to be live he
is trying to spin anything here.


Have you any data to show that this is not normal for all software new
and *first* releases? If not your summarising shows nothing.
If the numbers are going up. It is an upwards trend, no matter how
much *you* try to *spin* it.

Be interesting to see how many downloads of any of the other
anti-malware solutions there were in their first weeks.
Much MUCH lower I would think.

I don't see Microsoft dedicating the time or resources to compete in the
antivirus/antimalware fields. They have enough problems writing code for
the OS that works and doesn't break something...

I don't see this app lasting long or becoming anybodies favorite for
cleaning up an infected machine.

 

[Paul Jones]

According to your logic, if only 3 copies were download next week, two
the week after, and one the week after that, it would still be an
upward trend because the TOTAL is going up even though rate of
downlading is obviously going down. Would it take an outbreak of folks
*uploading* the software before you conceded a downward trend?



Don't get me wrong. Anything which makes life easier for the average
computer user is fine by me and I hope this product works well and is
easy to use. It's just that hype of any kind annoys me no matter who's
doing it.

_ _
joemooreaterolsdotcom

 

[Paul Jones]

Ignore last 'incomplete' post.

According to your logic, if only 3 copies were download next week, two
the week after, and one the week after that, it would still be an
upward trend because the TOTAL is going up even though rate of
downlading is obviously going down.

No, I would see a trend when a trend is set. Many weeks of continuing
lower volume of downloads may indicate a trend but could also indicate
normal download activity.

Don't get me wrong. Anything which makes life easier for the average
computer user is fine by me and I hope this product works well and is
easy to use. It's just that hype of any kind annoys me no matter who's
doing it.

I hope so and I also hope they quickly iron out the bugs that seem to be
affecting a few people.

 

[Paul Jones]

I don't see Microsoft dedicating the time or resources to compete in the
antivirus/antimalware fields. They have enough problems writing code for
the OS that works and doesn't break something...

Like I said, time will tell.
I have no issues with any current MS OS (possibly Vista is the
exception). The only objection I have is they try not to break older
legacy applications when they develop a new OS. Personally I would
prefer if they started an OS from the ground up and to hell with any
existing apps. The OS is the backbone. Application developers need to
develop applications that work in the OS. and not blame their failings
on the OS or MS.

I don't see this app lasting long or becoming anybodies favorite for
cleaning up an infected machine.

I see no reason why MS would not continue to develop this and improve on
it.
As a priority I would expect it to prevent infections rather than clean
them up.
Maybe there is some bias to your opinion? There is none to mine. I am a
completely independent party.

 

[Dustin Cook]

I see no reason why MS would not continue to develop this and improve
on it. As a priority I would expect it to prevent infections rather
than clean them up. Maybe there is some bias to your opinion? There
is none to mine. I am a completely independent party.

For the same reasons MS developed (bought) MSAV and MWAV. Malware is a very
time consuming process; and it takes people seriously dedicated to it on
both sides. If preventing infections 100% of the time could be achieved I'd
be out of a job, along with thousands of others in this field.

I suppose one could suspect bias with my opinion, but I believe I've had
the same opinion of malware in general long before I ever worked for an
antimalware company. I really try not to get work related things mixed up
with personal opinions of this or that.

 

[Chief Scratchum]

Like I said, time will tell.
I have no issues with any current MS OS (possibly Vista is the
exception). The only objection I have is they try not to break older
legacy applications when they develop a new OS. Personally I would
prefer if they started an OS from the ground up and to hell with any
existing apps. The OS is the backbone. Application developers need to
develop applications that work in the OS. and not blame their failings
on the OS or MS.


I see no reason why MS would not continue to develop this and improve on
it.
As a priority I would expect it to prevent infections rather than clean
them up.
Maybe there is some bias to your opinion? There is none to mine. I am a
completely independent party.

I *love* parties!