The Pied Piper routine isn't working.
Many, like me, will not buy software that requires 'permission' to
use. I don't like where MS is heading at all here. This alone will
keep me from buying another MS product.
Then again, 98SE is pretty darned rock solid. The only shortcoming is
memory utilization. XP might utilize my 256 megs more efficiently, but
98SE does a pretty good job. Enough so that I'm comfortable enough
with it not to buy XP.
With a majority of the world electing not to buy into XP, it is
critical not to drop security updates for the older MS OS's. MS
already has the distinction of being the largest target in the world
for malware writers. A bounty isn't going to solve this problem. They
must react, or be known as responsible for the majority of vulnerable
machines connected to the internet... = horrible PR.
Then there is the open source front. The bottom line dictates
efficiency in the long run. There is no way to battle free operating
systems in the long run, especially with products pocked full of
security holes. The short term costs associated with switching over to
open source are paltry compared to the long term savings governments
and corporations can reap in switching.
Is the pendalum changing course?
I really think so. This might well be a historic time to remember. A
time that MS comes to the realization that paying customers are king
and are directly responsible for the numbers on the Income Statement.
I have a class I've been putting off for some time now... the second
cobol course. It's a dreadfully boring language I have no interest in.
My plan worked to an extent. They finally dropped it and are going
with Visual Basic .NET instead.
I don't like the .NET premise, but it _is_ better than cobol! The
downside is it requires XP Pro or 2000 Pro and I have 98. I was going
to have to do the coding in the lab, rather than in the comfort of
home. I just learned that MS is giving XP Pro and VB .NET to all
faculty and CS students in an 'initiative'.
Obviously MS isn't coming down on the list price... another mistake
IMO. Instead, they are trying to get the OS and development
environment out into the world by giving it to key institutions and
personnel.
I assume the plan is we'll keep, use and recommend the freebies and
provide a front for XP - .NET.
I'll install the monster to code at home, but it's history at
semesters end. And I'll not write any .NET applications afterwards.
I suppose we both have ulterior motives. I can achieve mine, but I
will not assist MS in achieving it's.
Look a gift horse in the mouth? Heck yeah!