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Re:It's all just a misunderstanding. by Anonymous Coward · 2007-09-27 11:34 · Score: 0, Troll · on Microsoft Should Abandon Vista?

Dr. Death has arrived. After only 3 years, requiem for an OS: Dr. Death is ready to begin killing software that customers want to use. He has decided that Windows XP will begin to die soon: January 31, 2008. ...and will continue to provide warranty claims, get hotfixes, design changes, and feature requests until April 14, 2009. After that, XP will continue getting security updates, paid support, web support, and Knowledge Base support until April 8, 2014.

The really major problems in Windows XP stopped only after SP2 was released, on August 25, 2004. That means we have gotten only 3 years of good use from Windows XP. Most got good use from XP after SP1 was released on September 9, 2002. However, until August 2004, you could have gotten good use from Windows 2000. You sure do bitch a lot.

Let other people have the grief. Unless forced by circumstances, never move to a new version of Microsoft software until the second service pack is released. Or you could evaluate it yourself and make your own decision on when the free updates (not just Service Packs) have fixed your important bugs and problems. Or when 3rd party software and drivers have been updated for Vista.

Microsoft seems to have delayed releasing an SP3 for Windows XP to try to discourage people from using Windows XP. That would fit your paranoid, ranting vision of Microsoft. Of course, it's possible that the good quality of XP SP2 and the FUD about Vista has caused MS to put Vista SP1 on higher priority than XP SP3.

New versions of Linux are released to make a better OS. New versions of Microsoft Windows seem to have the purpose of 1) killing the old version and 2) using more CPU power so that it is necessary to buy new hardware. When you partner with Microsoft, you partner with a company that may sometimes choose to be your enemy, in my opinion. How long did it take to create insane your view of this world?

Re:Cluestick to Microsoft: Focus on Fundamentals.. by HappyUserPerson · 2007-09-27 11:07 · Score: 0 · on Microsoft Should Abandon Vista?

Maybe if Microsoft spent more time on stuff (that people actually _use_ you know), instead of fluff, maybe Vista would actually be half decent.

I agree; although Vista is not without faults, many of the points you mentioned are addressed or improved in Vista.

- A way to customize the File Open dialog box, with the folders you constantly use, gasp!?

In the File Open dialog box, in "Favorite Links", right click on the small area below the list of folders, and click "Open Favorites Links" -- you can easily add or remove folders or links that are shown in that list. You can also get there by clicking on Start -> [username] (which will bring up your home directory) and open "Links".

- Expose. Enough said.

A good point; Flip3d is useful and pretty, but it leaves some things desired. Happily, a third party has come up with a competent free-ware alternative which beats Expose and Flip 3d in a number of ways. Switcher (I recommend the 2.0 beta) is built on Aero so it supports all the neat live-window-preview features. It has some unique features, like alternative layouts (Tile, Dock, and Grid), and it has a very cool ability to find a window as you type it's title. Also, it has great multi-monitor support.

- A built in spell checker / Dictionary / Thesaurus, with quick access to wikipedia

That is indeed missing!

- A search that isn't broken (Thx WinXP!)

I've found Vista's search to be pretty handy. For example, if I want to launch Winamp, I can just press my WinKey, and type "winamp" and press enter because it searches programs and the start menu. The few times I've needed search to locate a document, it's been useful. For real, non-indexed, text-based searches, the command line is much better. Windows Vista (and previous versions) comes with the findstr command. Example: to search for "resume" recursively: findstr /s resume * findstr supports regular expressions with the "/r" parameter.

- The ability to re-locate, (or hide) the dam 'close' button - Title bars that stop sucking up valuable screen space, instead of being small movable tabs like in BeOS - Virtual Desktops

Nope, doesn't do that, sadly. However, Switcher (mentioned above) makes the lack of Virtual Desktops less painful.

- An OS that gets FASTER from version to version (again BeOS)

Having only used BeOS 5, I don't know whether or not it got faster from version to version, but it was fast. Vista is faster than XP in certain areas due to optimization (it starts up faster and is more responsive after logging in and application launching is faster, for example). It is more resource intensive (read, slower) in other areas due to desktop composition and neat Aero effects, and possibly online indexing at times (although it's pretty good at throttling for idleness)

- A proper KILL command -- I'm admin on the dam box, let me kill that process.

If you don't find Task Manager convenient, you can easily use the command line. Example of Taskkill (available in previous versions of Windows too):Taskkill /im notepad.exe You may find Tasklist useful too. Assuming you have UAC turned on, you'll probably want an elevated prompt which is Vista's answer to "su". You can find an way to get to a quick elevated prompt using the keyboard

Re:Cluestick to Microsoft: Focus on Fundamentals.. by HappyUserPerson · 2007-09-27 11:07 · Score: 0 · on Microsoft Should Abandon Vista?

Maybe if Microsoft spent more time on stuff (that people actually _use_ you know), instead of fluff, maybe Vista would actually be half decent.

I agree; although Vista is not without faults, many of the points you mentioned are addressed or improved in Vista.

- A way to customize the File Open dialog box, with the folders you constantly use, gasp!?

In the File Open dialog box, in "Favorite Links", right click on the small area below the list of folders, and click "Open Favorites Links" -- you can easily add or remove folders or links that are shown in that list. You can also get there by clicking on Start -> [username] (which will bring up your home directory) and open "Links".

- Expose. Enough said.

A good point; Flip3d is useful and pretty, but it leaves some things desired. Happily, a third party has come up with a competent free-ware alternative which beats Expose and Flip 3d in a number of ways. Switcher (I recommend the 2.0 beta) is built on Aero so it supports all the neat live-window-preview features. It has some unique features, like alternative layouts (Tile, Dock, and Grid), and it has a very cool ability to find a window as you type it's title. Also, it has great multi-monitor support.

- A built in spell checker / Dictionary / Thesaurus, with quick access to wikipedia

That is indeed missing!

- A search that isn't broken (Thx WinXP!)

I've found Vista's search to be pretty handy. For example, if I want to launch Winamp, I can just press my WinKey, and type "winamp" and press enter because it searches programs and the start menu. The few times I've needed search to locate a document, it's been useful. For real, non-indexed, text-based searches, the command line is much better. Windows Vista (and previous versions) comes with the findstr command. Example: to search for "resume" recursively: findstr /s resume * findstr supports regular expressions with the "/r" parameter.

- The ability to re-locate, (or hide) the dam 'close' button - Title bars that stop sucking up valuable screen space, instead of being small movable tabs like in BeOS - Virtual Desktops

Nope, doesn't do that, sadly. However, Switcher (mentioned above) makes the lack of Virtual Desktops less painful.

- An OS that gets FASTER from version to version (again BeOS)

Having only used BeOS 5, I don't know whether or not it got faster from version to version, but it was fast. Vista is faster than XP in certain areas due to optimization (it starts up faster and is more responsive after logging in and application launching is faster, for example). It is more resource intensive (read, slower) in other areas due to desktop composition and neat Aero effects, and possibly online indexing at times (although it's pretty good at throttling for idleness)

- A proper KILL command -- I'm admin on the dam box, let me kill that process.

If you don't find Task Manager convenient, you can easily use the command line. Example of Taskkill (available in previous versions of Windows too):Taskkill /im notepad.exe You may find Tasklist useful too. Assuming you have UAC turned on, you'll probably want an elevated prompt which is Vista's answer to "su". You can find an way to get to a quick elevated prompt using the keyboard

Re:Cluestick to Microsoft: Focus on Fundamentals.. by HappyUserPerson · 2007-09-27 11:07 · Score: 0 · on Microsoft Should Abandon Vista?

Maybe if Microsoft spent more time on stuff (that people actually _use_ you know), instead of fluff, maybe Vista would actually be half decent.

I agree; although Vista is not without faults, many of the points you mentioned are addressed or improved in Vista.

- A way to customize the File Open dialog box, with the folders you constantly use, gasp!?

In the File Open dialog box, in "Favorite Links", right click on the small area below the list of folders, and click "Open Favorites Links" -- you can easily add or remove folders or links that are shown in that list. You can also get there by clicking on Start -> [username] (which will bring up your home directory) and open "Links".

- Expose. Enough said.

A good point; Flip3d is useful and pretty, but it leaves some things desired. Happily, a third party has come up with a competent free-ware alternative which beats Expose and Flip 3d in a number of ways. Switcher (I recommend the 2.0 beta) is built on Aero so it supports all the neat live-window-preview features. It has some unique features, like alternative layouts (Tile, Dock, and Grid), and it has a very cool ability to find a window as you type it's title. Also, it has great multi-monitor support.

- A built in spell checker / Dictionary / Thesaurus, with quick access to wikipedia

That is indeed missing!

- A search that isn't broken (Thx WinXP!)

I've found Vista's search to be pretty handy. For example, if I want to launch Winamp, I can just press my WinKey, and type "winamp" and press enter because it searches programs and the start menu. The few times I've needed search to locate a document, it's been useful. For real, non-indexed, text-based searches, the command line is much better. Windows Vista (and previous versions) comes with the findstr command. Example: to search for "resume" recursively: findstr /s resume * findstr supports regular expressions with the "/r" parameter.

- The ability to re-locate, (or hide) the dam 'close' button - Title bars that stop sucking up valuable screen space, instead of being small movable tabs like in BeOS - Virtual Desktops

Nope, doesn't do that, sadly. However, Switcher (mentioned above) makes the lack of Virtual Desktops less painful.

- An OS that gets FASTER from version to version (again BeOS)

Having only used BeOS 5, I don't know whether or not it got faster from version to version, but it was fast. Vista is faster than XP in certain areas due to optimization (it starts up faster and is more responsive after logging in and application launching is faster, for example). It is more resource intensive (read, slower) in other areas due to desktop composition and neat Aero effects, and possibly online indexing at times (although it's pretty good at throttling for idleness)

- A proper KILL command -- I'm admin on the dam box, let me kill that process.

If you don't find Task Manager convenient, you can easily use the command line. Example of Taskkill (available in previous versions of Windows too):Taskkill /im notepad.exe You may find Tasklist useful too. Assuming you have UAC turned on, you'll probably want an elevated prompt which is Vista's answer to "su". You can find an way to get to a quick elevated prompt using the keyboard

Re:This will spur the Vista sales by n0dna · 2007-09-27 10:50 · Score: 1 · on Microsoft 'Stealth Update' Proving Problematic

You make a good point except for being wrong.

Products Released Windows XP Home Edition
General Availability Date 12/31/2001
Mainstream Support Retired 4/14/2009
Extended Support Retired 4/8/2014

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN=en-us&x=11&y=14&p1=3221

Things will continue as normal.

It's all just a misunderstanding. by Futurepower(R) · 2007-09-27 09:25 · Score: 5, Interesting · on Microsoft Should Abandon Vista?

"The real problem is that CPU speeds have nearly flatlined."

MOD PARENT UP. The abuse of deliberately making an OS require far more power, so people would feel it was necessary to buy another computer, has become a much bigger abuse than it was before.

However, that's not the REAL problem. The real problem is just a misunderstanding. People think that Microsoft is a software company that is routinely abusive, but it isn't. Microsoft is an abuse company that merely uses software as a means of delivering abuse.

It is more abusive to not just deliver abuse in constant streams, but to deliver big booms of abuse, too, so that people can't learn as easily to defend themselves. So, DOS 1.0, 1.1, 2.0 BOOM, 2.1, 3.0 BOOM, 3.1, 4.0 BOOM, 5.0, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME BOOM, Windows NT first release BOOM. Windows 2000, Windows XP first release BOOM, Win XP SP1, Win XP SP2, Windows Vista BOOM.

Dr. Death has arrived. After only 3 years, requiem for an OS: Dr. Death is ready to begin killing software that customers want to use. He has decided that Windows XP will begin to die soon: January 31, 2008. The purpose is to make Bill Gates richer. Bill Gates can't invade Iraq, so he has to be happy with killing an operating system.

The huge number of bugs in Windows XP before SP2 was very expensive for us. If I remember correctly, Windows XP SP2 fixed more than 630 bugs, and some of the fixes were not documented. The really major problems in Windows XP stopped only after SP2 was released, on August 25, 2004. That means we have gotten only 3 years of good use from Windows XP.

Let other people have the grief. Unless forced by circumstances, never move to a new version of Microsoft software until the second service pack is released.

(Someone said that rule will just cause Microsoft to release service packs much more often. If that happens, it may be necessary to change the rule to "until the X service pack...")

Even though updating Windows XP from an SP2 CD requires downloading more than 170 Megabytes of files, Microsoft hasn't delivered a service pack for Windows XP in 3 years. The Windows XP updates of just August's Patch Tuesday were more than 20 Megabytes. Microsoft seems to have delayed releasing an SP3 for Windows XP to try to discourage people from using Windows XP.

New versions of Linux are released to make a better OS. New versions of Microsoft Windows seem to have the purpose of 1) killing the old version and 2) using more CPU power so that it is necessary to buy new hardware. When you partner with Microsoft, you partner with a company that may sometimes choose to be your enemy, in my opinion.

It is not only the vulnerabilities that are expensive. Microsoft's adversarial behavior is expensive, too.

Some of this may be a joke, and some of it may be the truth.

It's all just a misunderstanding. by Futurepower(R) · 2007-09-27 09:25 · Score: 5, Interesting · on Microsoft Should Abandon Vista?

"The real problem is that CPU speeds have nearly flatlined."

MOD PARENT UP. The abuse of deliberately making an OS require far more power, so people would feel it was necessary to buy another computer, has become a much bigger abuse than it was before.

However, that's not the REAL problem. The real problem is just a misunderstanding. People think that Microsoft is a software company that is routinely abusive, but it isn't. Microsoft is an abuse company that merely uses software as a means of delivering abuse.

It is more abusive to not just deliver abuse in constant streams, but to deliver big booms of abuse, too, so that people can't learn as easily to defend themselves. So, DOS 1.0, 1.1, 2.0 BOOM, 2.1, 3.0 BOOM, 3.1, 4.0 BOOM, 5.0, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME BOOM, Windows NT first release BOOM. Windows 2000, Windows XP first release BOOM, Win XP SP1, Win XP SP2, Windows Vista BOOM.

Dr. Death has arrived. After only 3 years, requiem for an OS: Dr. Death is ready to begin killing software that customers want to use. He has decided that Windows XP will begin to die soon: January 31, 2008. The purpose is to make Bill Gates richer. Bill Gates can't invade Iraq, so he has to be happy with killing an operating system.

The huge number of bugs in Windows XP before SP2 was very expensive for us. If I remember correctly, Windows XP SP2 fixed more than 630 bugs, and some of the fixes were not documented. The really major problems in Windows XP stopped only after SP2 was released, on August 25, 2004. That means we have gotten only 3 years of good use from Windows XP.

Let other people have the grief. Unless forced by circumstances, never move to a new version of Microsoft software until the second service pack is released.

(Someone said that rule will just cause Microsoft to release service packs much more often. If that happens, it may be necessary to change the rule to "until the X service pack...")

Even though updating Windows XP from an SP2 CD requires downloading more than 170 Megabytes of files, Microsoft hasn't delivered a service pack for Windows XP in 3 years. The Windows XP updates of just August's Patch Tuesday were more than 20 Megabytes. Microsoft seems to have delayed releasing an SP3 for Windows XP to try to discourage people from using Windows XP.

New versions of Linux are released to make a better OS. New versions of Microsoft Windows seem to have the purpose of 1) killing the old version and 2) using more CPU power so that it is necessary to buy new hardware. When you partner with Microsoft, you partner with a company that may sometimes choose to be your enemy, in my opinion.

It is not only the vulnerabilities that are expensive. Microsoft's adversarial behavior is expensive, too.

Some of this may be a joke, and some of it may be the truth.

RDC by hotsauce · 2007-09-27 08:39 · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Should Abandon Vista?

Hi blantonl, you can do one step better!

Put that PC in a closet, and use Remote Desktop.

Re: Easy Answer by westlake · 2007-09-27 08:37 · Score: 1 · on Why Do Commercial Offerings Use Linux, But Not Support Linux Users?

they saved a ton by using a premade OS rather than building their own

But the parent doesn't really say that - much less prove it - all it says is that: "just the same, they probably saved millions of dollars using a free kernel."

This is what the boss sees when he looks at Windows Automotive:

Based on WinCE 5.0.

Comes with a full set of familiar - though significantly customized - development tools, APIs and so on.

DirectSound. Direct3D Mobile.

"The Automotive User Interface Toolkit (AUITK) - a GUI framework that makes it easy to create advanced user interfaces at a desktop PC and store them as XML markup.

This separates the user interface from the functional part of the application program." The UI designer does not have to be a programmer.

What does all this tell him about development costs, schedules and staffing?

It's about good citizenship, not an extra two cents profit per device.

That two cents can mean the difference between a stillborn project and product on the shelves at Target.

it really is true that linux users probably affect more sales than just the machines we buy for ourselves. I know I have personally influenced the buying habits 5 other users in the last 24 months (all non-linux users)

Twice nothing is still nothing.

Windows is approaching one billion users on the Desktop. Windows Vista has about the same market share as OSX and Linux - and got there in six months. OS Statistics

httponly by Spy+der+Mann · 2007-09-27 06:15 · Score: 4, Informative · on Gmail Vulnerability May Expose User Information

In fact, the "cookie grabbing technique" is one of the oldest tricks in the areas of XSS.

... and this is the reason why the "httponly" cookie extension was created. Firefox 3 will support it, and I already modified my PHP framework to use this for the session cookies.

What about WSUS? by permaculture · 2007-09-27 04:40 · Score: 1 · on Microsoft 'Stealth Update' Proving Problematic

Many companies use WSUS to deliver Windows updates.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/wsus/default.aspx

Did the stealth updates install on PCs that don't have WGA installed, and don't update from the Windows web site? If not, what effect will that have?

I got bitten by this by arkhan_jg · 2007-09-27 03:03 · Score: 4, Interesting · on Microsoft 'Stealth Update' Proving Problematic

I'm actually in the process of upgrading a windows 2000 image to XP Pro (no, it can't be a clean install, it's a long and dull story), and got bit by this bug. When I searched for the error number associated with the windows update failure on technet, I did come up with technet article explaining how to register the windows update dll's to fix it (as also listed in the linked article). I just assumed it was an odd bug because of all the cruft in the windows 2000 install.

Now I find out it's because of a broken secret mandatory update to the DRM that breaks windows update altogether. Nice one Microsoft!

I had another bug after that windows update, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883821
That took a lot longer to fix, as none of those listed fixed it. Perhaps that was also related? Lovely.

I've run into this and the fix isn't hard. by domatic · 2007-09-27 02:57 · Score: 4, Informative · on Microsoft 'Stealth Update' Proving Problematic

I ran into this a couple of weeks ago. When the attempt to use update.microsoft.com fails, the "troubleshooter" will direct you to a Knowledge Base article that advises you to do the following:

At the command prompt, type the following commands, press ENTER after each command, and then click OK every time that you receive a verification message: regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wups2.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll

Once that is done, you'll be able to use Microsoft Update again.

Re:I'm sure this is actionable! by LKM · 2007-09-26 21:44 · Score: 1 · on Upcoming Firmware Will Brick Unlocked iPhones

The fact that you know is not a fact at all. Windows XP Service Pack 2 did this, in fact.

The product key used to install Microsoft Windows may not be valid. For more information about why you have received this error message, and steps you can take to resolve this issue visit www.howtotell.com/xpsp2.

Re:Is that even legal? by fractoid · 2007-09-25 14:46 · Score: 1 · on Upcoming Firmware Will Brick Unlocked iPhones

Well, I can guarantee you it's not genuinely advantageous. :P

"The default Web browser will be started and the user will be presented with an option to purchase a new product key. There is no start menu, no desktop icons, and the desktop background is changed to black. [...] After one hour, the system will log the user out without warning". (from here)

Re:And Google does it again! by LO0G · 2007-09-25 08:10 · Score: 1 · on Firefox 3 Antiphishing Sends Your URLs To Google

???? IE7's antiphishing is enabled by default?

On every machine I've installed IE7 on, the first time you hit a page in the internet, it pops up and asks you if you want to turn antiphishing on.

Microsoft also claims that it's off by default:
"Automatic checking of all websites by Phishing Filter is off by default. Phishing Filter can be turned on and off from the Internet Explorer Tools menu. For example, to turn off automatic checking of all websites:"

Cut and Paste from Visual Studio by HappyUserPerson · 2007-09-25 06:22 · Score: 2, Informative · on Embedding XML In Docs?

If you need to have XML fragments in your Word document, one of your best options is to copy and paste from Visual Studio. The result is nicely indented, colorized and mono typed. If you don't have Visual Studio, you can download it Visual Studio Express for free.

Just open Visual Studio and create a new XML file (don't create a project-- there's no need to do so; just use File->New->File... and select XML file). Copy and paste your XML fragment into the new file. Press Ctrl-K, Ctrl-D to reformat the document. Then just select the fragment you want and copy and paste into Word.

I hope that helps.

Re:Yet another downgrade ancedote... by Seraphim_72 · 2007-09-25 06:18 · Score: 1 · on PC Makers Offering a Bridge Back To XP

How about they make their premier development platform work on Vista first. That is simply inexcusable. Word on the street is to wait for Studio 2k8 and that 2k5 will be tolerated, and anything earlier can choke on it. Thanks Bill, The commercial copies from Trolltech are starting to look like a bargain.

Sera

Well... by Xenographic · 2007-09-25 05:05 · Score: 1 · on Excel 2007 Multiplication Bug

I misread the newsgroup and thought that the message saying "2003 too" was saying that it had the bug, not seeing that it was a response to a message saying that Excel 2000 *did* work.

FWIW, it may be related to this old bug.

Re:In OOXML? by Frankie70 · 2007-09-25 00:59 · Score: 4, Informative · on Excel 2007 Multiplication Bug

Welcome to the world of Floating point arithmetic.

Look at these articles.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q78113/
http://c-faq.com/fp/printfprec.html
http://c-faq.com/fp/fpequal.html

Microsoft Excel was designed around the IEEE 754 specification with respect to storing and calculating floating-point numbers.

Re:"fundamental security flaws" by argent · 2007-09-24 23:42 · Score: 1 · on Microsoft to Allow PC Makers to Downgrade to XP

Firstly, take a look at this - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Outlook#HTML_rendering

Um, go back up a couple of messages, I already pointed out that Outlook 2007 wasn't using the standard HTML control. The GP claimed that Outlook 2003 had similar control over the standard HTML control that 2007 gets from the Word control. That was obviously not true, since 2003 was subject to vulnerabilities that wouldn't have happened if it had that control.

Unfortunately, that control isn't an option for third party programs, because it's part of Office, which may not be installed. Third party applications should not be using the standard control (NOBODY should be using it, including Microsoft), but they are, and so that insecure API is still part of Windows, and widely used.

For the record, I too despise the control, but then like I said if you don't like it, don't use it.

You don't have the option of "not using it" if you're running Windows. It's the standard HTML control and it's used by almost all programs that render HTML. The fact that you can do something else

Either way, it appears to just be sloppy programming if what you say is true.

It's inherent in the design. Every time you force another entity (application, shell, interpreter) to perform parsing and evaluation of something that has to remain secure, you create a new class of security holes. If there is no mechanism to specify correct quoting, then you create an inherently unfixable security hole. It doesn't matter if you're calling the helper application from .NET*, or if the helper application is written in .NET, the API is inherently insecure and it's how helper applications are called.

There is a similar API in UNIX, the 'system' call. Secure applications don't use it, they use the underlying exec() call that avoids the extra layer of interpretation. In Windows, the command line IS the API... the called application doesn't receive an argument vector, it receives a command line and (if needed) recreates the argument vector from it. So, again, this insecure API is part of Windows, and widely used.

It's actually rather clever really, take a look - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0906.mspx

That just enables and disables the whole service. It doesn't allow you to have your computer listen to file and print connections from (for example) an internal virtual machine while not listening to those connections from the outside world, WITHOUT using a firewall. The equivalent services on UNIX can *all* be bound to a particular network interface (usually because the network connections are handled by a superserver like inetd, xinetd, or tcpserver), so you can get the same level of security in a mixed network environment... and *then* add a firewall.

Window may have mechanisms to allow a superserver model to be used, I would be surprised if they didn't, but they haven't implemented one (unless you count LAN Manager (whatever it's called this week... 'file and print') itself). Instead every service application opens its own listening socket and few if any have a mechanism to request them to listen only for connections to specific interfaces (in particular, LMGR doesn't). So the API actually used is still inherently insecure.

Microsoft can't fix this in the current platform without pain. Too many applications are using inherently insecure APIs like these. They have to deprecate those APIs and declare a flag day after which they will no longer be provided. This will be highly disruptive... even more so than Vista has been. But there really isn't an alternative if they want to transition to a system that is secure by design rather than just create more leaky sandboxes.

* As a side issue, the .NET security model is pretty clear

Re:Limited Lifespan by cowbutt · 2007-09-24 21:24 · Score: 1 · on PC Makers Offering a Bridge Back To XP

Support for security patches and feature upgrades will end April 2009.

No, as explained by Microsoft's XP lifecycle page read in conjunction with their lifecycle definitions, Extended Support (presently available until 8 April 2014) includes: Paid support and Security update support at no additional cost but Non-security related hotfix support requires a separate Extended Hotfix Support Agreement to be purchased (per-fix fees also apply).

Re:Limited Lifespan by cowbutt · 2007-09-24 21:24 · Score: 1 · on PC Makers Offering a Bridge Back To XP

Support for security patches and feature upgrades will end April 2009.

No, as explained by Microsoft's XP lifecycle page read in conjunction with their lifecycle definitions, Extended Support (presently available until 8 April 2014) includes: Paid support and Security update support at no additional cost but Non-security related hotfix support requires a separate Extended Hotfix Support Agreement to be purchased (per-fix fees also apply).

Re:"fundamental security flaws" by Toreo+asesino · 2007-09-24 18:45 · Score: 1 · on Microsoft to Allow PC Makers to Downgrade to XP

Firstly, take a look at this - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Outlook#HTML_rendering

For the record, I too despise the control, but then like I said if you don't like it, don't use it.

The params thing I'll take your word on. In .net things like that are hardened anyway, which is more my area. Either way, it appears to just be sloppy programming if what you say is true.

Finally, I will correct you, while XP leaves file & print sharing services open by default (note: that doesn't mean you can just walk into any XP box), Vista does not (depending on the type of network you say you're connected to). For public networks, all inbound sharing services are switched off AND the firewall is set to paranoid-mode. It's actually rather clever really, take a look - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0906.mspx

Re:I've been out of it but... by nick_davison · 2007-09-24 17:43 · Score: 2, Insightful · on PC Makers Offering a Bridge Back To XP

I'm a computer-using professional, (a web developer, actually) and I haven't bought a computer in years (who needs to? a five year old Pentium IV does everything anyone needs a computer to do!). So long as you can run a basic text editor, MS Paint and a web browser, you can call yourself a web developer. By that rationale, a 233MHz processor, 128mb of ram and a 1.5gb hard drive meets those requirements (XP min specs).

Of course, no one in their right mind would do.

I can work with a single monitor, rather than two. I can work with a 15 inch 800x600 screen rather than something much larger. I can work with 512mb of ram and simply deal with files thrashing out disk constantly. I can close one browser before opening the next to free up memory when testing. I can close down my text editor before opening my FTP client rather than using one integrated suite. Were I a designer as well as a developer, I could build all of my graphics in a couple of layers, always merging down, in an old version of Photoshop rather than using things like layer effects.

A more powerful machine, the latest software, etc. may not be essential to being able to brute force my way through jobs. That doesn't change the simple fact that it's nowhere near as efficient and that, dealing with those inefficiencies, I'll be tempted to cut corners on quality rather than endure whatever hardships.

Sure, there are people who disagree with that. They'll take the cheap and easy approach. Then again, there're a lot of people who call themselves web developers while hustling for $25/hr to write crappy code.

In my case, I'm a director, running a decent sized team of developers at one of the fastest growing west coast digital media agencies. My life is a constant balance of cost vs. reward. In that world, with developers whose skills merit charging a decent rate, the increase in efficiency from investing in hardware and software is absolutely merrited. The reward point isn't there for the very latest, most powerful possible hardware. It absolutely is there for running on a two to three year hardware cycle and within two cycles of various Adobe products. In a pinch, we'll pull out an old machine and a single monitor but the cost of doing so is usually so great (about a $20-50/hr billable productivity drop) that it merits a ~$2,500 hardware/software setup in one to three weeks.

So, while it's doable to use old hardware, there really is a large productivity gain to be had. If charging at true professional rates, proudly refusing to upgrade really isn't a justifiable cost saving.

Re:"Broken" Computers by pjt33 · 2007-09-24 09:18 · Score: 1 · on EU Think Tank Urges Full Windows Unbundling

Oops. Yes, I lost track a bit there. I stand by the statement that Vista Business doesn't include DVD codecs, though, on two bases. Firstly, that of personal experience - I had an embarrassing moment a week ago when a new laptop with Vista Business couldn't play a DVD presentation. Secondly, that of Microsoft documentation.

Re:Multilinking, maybe? by Peyre · 2007-09-24 08:56 · Score: 1 · on What To Do When Broadband is Not An Option?

Instructions for XP: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307849

Re:Incorrect Summary by spiderbitendeath · 2007-09-24 08:28 · Score: 2, Informative · on Apple's Leopard Will Exclude 800MHz G4 Processors

Actually, I believe 800mhz is the minimum for Vista. Though you'd be insane to try it.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/systemrequirements.mspx

Re:the solution is simple by Anonymous Coward · 2007-09-24 05:11 · Score: 0 · on Firefox Working to Fix Memory Leaks

Or http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/default.mspx

;-)

Re:My Vote by xtracto · 2007-09-24 01:51 · Score: 2, Interesting · on The Linux Identity Crisis

Cancel or Allow man, Cancel OR Allow

or maybe Abort, Retry , Ignore, Fail

In all seriousness, from the article:
It's interesting to me that the liberal arm of the Linux community is trying to play it off like it's not trying to turn Linux mainstream to make money. Sure, some of them say it's to take Linux away from the enterprise and towards the consumer market, but let's be honest with ourselves--it's about the money.

This guys asks about the Linux community "identity". Well, let me tell ya, he is completely wrong in the previous snippet, because of his assumption. There is no such thing as a general identity in Linux, Linux is just a program, and due to its nature, there are lots of groups interested in it with different identities. For example, I, and others want Linux to succeed in the mainstream but it is NOT because of money (I could care less... I am an AI researcher) but because we *know* Linux is better than current alternatives in some aspects, and because monopolies are bad.

But I am sure there are others who want Linux to succeed in the mainstream to make money... and there are others who wants it to succeed because they like the penguin or whatever.

I read all the article, and it is, as the tags say a non article. This guy is drowning in a glass of water. If the lkml is indeed being spamed with flames related to this, I would suggest Linus and the others to ignore the flamers and just continue to work. If they (we) want to fork the Linux kernel, go ahead, that is the nature of Open Source.

Re:Bah... by Eggplant62 · 2007-09-24 01:11 · Score: 5, Insightful · on The Linux Identity Crisis

I won't hesitate to point out what PJ has already pointed out, that most of these stories about all the trouble with Linux infighting is meant as the next undermining tactic by a company with deep pockets in an attempt to further bolster its market dominant position.

I, for one, do not welcome our FUD-spewing, bad-software-making overlords.

Re:It's not the same by petermgreen · 2007-09-23 22:35 · Score: 1 · on DOS 5 Upgrade Video

ok found it http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEdrv.mspx seems you have to specify /PAE in boot.ini

Re:xpdf etc by Anonymous Coward · 2007-09-22 09:41 · Score: 0 · on Zero-day Exploit in PDF With Adobe Reader

PDF isn't an open standard. If you want to implement it, Adobe apparently retains the right to sue you for it at any time.

Umm..MS DID implement it. Implementation is no problem. Preventing fair competition by bundling could be a problem (see also: jvm, media player, etc.).

Re:Not the whole time by Anonymous Coward · 2007-09-22 00:52 · Score: 0 · on Microsoft to Allow PC Makers to Downgrade to XP

There's no need for strongly worded emails, since you can downgrade Vista Business and Ultimate to XP for free for quite a while. Essentially you're throwing away a free license to upgrade to Vista later if you order your computers with XP instead of Vista. With Dell computers you won't even have to bother to get new license keys from microsoft, as XP will be pre-activated after installation from Dell OEM CDs.

Re:Skip Vista? Dr. Death arrives after only 3 year by MojoStan · 2007-09-22 00:08 · Score: 3, Informative · on Microsoft to Allow PC Makers to Downgrade to XP

Dr. Death has arrived. After only 3 years, requiem for an OS: Bill Gates is software's Dr. Death, ready to kill software prematurely that customers want to use. He has decided that Windows XP will die soon: January 31, 2008. I'm not trying to dispute the spirit of your post, but I think saying XP "will die" on January 31 is "greatly exaggerating." That's just the date Microsoft will stop making XP available to retailers and OEMs. That's not the date MS stops support.

According to MS's Windows XP Pro lifecycle page, "mainstream support" for XP lasts until April 14, 2009 and "extended support" (which includes security updates and paid support) lasts until at least April 8, 2014 (the same dates apply to XP Home). That's actually a heck of a lot longer than any other OS AFAIK.

The really major problems in Windows XP stopped only after SP2 was released, on August 25, 2004. That means we have gotten only 3 years of good use from Windows XP. Since XP will continue to get security updates, paid support, and free knowledgebase support until at least April 2014, you should be able to get at least a few more years of use from XP. If you need a bunch of additional licenses, order them before January 31 (to be safe). If you only need a few additional licenses, it should be easy to find old stock after that date.

That said, Linux distros have gotten a heck of a lot better since XP was released nearly six years ago. Also, desktop versions of Ubuntu LTS guarantee 3 years of support, which is pretty darned good for a free download that's updated every 2 years (LTS versions).