Advice for MS
I'm not a hack, programmer, or IT nerd. I just learned what "beta" meant a
few months ago. I am just a regular guy who's beggining to realize the
important implications of privacy (esp. through the shisty google...) and
technology, especially with the limited case law existing and a mad-man in
the white house... i'm a little freaked out. Anyway, I know a lot more about
most tech than my friends and advise them on a lot things. Me and my friends
loved MSAS, especially the tracks eraser. I keep the guys updated on crap
like this. It's not just tech-folk that care about this stuff, all of my
college buddies use it! And we're all pretty upset about a software
downgrade.
Let's look at the costs and benefits here: you can please the critical
generations coming up (almost middle-aged computer lits, the yuppies, college
kids, teenagers) that will use (or stop using) your software for a lifetime,
or you can marginally advance anti spyware techniques by scaring the old folk
like my parents (who are retiring soon and won't even want much more to do
with computers in their life) 2% less than you already do by skimming on
features and buttons.
Oh, and if integrating the tracks eraser into the new internet explorer is
somehow a way to get people to switch back to it from Opera or FireFox... it
ain't happening.
Face it: normal people are starting to realize more about technology, and
once they think they've been crossed they might not switch back.
Sorry for this post being long and seemingly arrogant... I really don't know
what i'm talking about, i just hate losing great software... i also hate my
girlfriend seeing the porn i looked at last just cuz i can't remember to
clear Real player, winamp, and media player.