Slashdot Mirror

Server Core is unfortunately pretty useless. Nearly everything of importance needs to be done using a remote server manager GUI, or MMC snap-ins on a desktop which, in my experience, are both slow and buggy. There's also not a snap-in for everything. For example: networking. Doing anything beyond setting the IP address for a network adapter (ie. disabling ipv6) has to all be done in the registry, and basic functionality like creating a PPTP connectoid is simply impossible.

There's many other basic server tasks you can't perform like installing exchange, even though 2010 can be entirely managed from powershell.

In short, Windows is entirely dependent on the GUI.

Why yes, I do have that URL memorized. Sigh.

I've not had any performance problems with MSE. Seems to do the job, is quiet about it and is free. I've moved the various family members I provide tech support for to it. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download

Microsoft Security Essentials - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download - is free, quite light and actually good enough.

Check out the bit under How We Work: (from the memo)

Each major initiative will have a champion who will be a direct report to me or one of my direct reports. The champion will organize to drive a cross-company team for success, but my whole staff will have commitment to the initiative’s success.

Bringing the word champion to the table seems like a noble and heroic undertaking, but listen to the undercurrent. It says each champion will be "a direct report to [Ballmer] or one of [his] direct reports." Hrm... is there an historical precedent for such a caste? I think so, and their uniforms had pairs of matching letters; I believe it's the letter just after "R" and just before "T". (and depicted in the 1970's Detroit Arena Costumed Rock Band fashion)

Now note the second statement, how these champions will "organize to drive a cross-company team for success," but he also makes a point of informing how "[Ballmer's] whole staff will have commitment to the initiative's success." Is the parallel getting through yet? This is moving from an inefficient dog-eat-dog tribal model--as Ballmer previously molded MSFT in the early millenium--into a clear model of Gestapo fascism. It's lovely how this "initiative" is not named at all; might it be called "The Final Solution" at some point? (If you haven't grasped the insinuation by now, then I can't help you any further without degrading this into a trite labeling of a particular historical world figure that has vilified so many in the past decade.)

And before anyone pulls out the "welcome to corporate culture" card, just be clear that this is MSFT, or an equivalent to the population of a small first-world nation we're talking about here. The gravitas is a bit greater than some tri-state, regional or even continental US conglomerate. The scope of this one corporation is like a moderate-sized government with world-wide reach, and one which reasonably and in all practical sense can (and does) have a major influence on world affairs. This isn't just name-calling here.

Later in that paragraph:

Our focus on high-value activities — serious fun, meetings, tasks, research, information assurance and IT/Dev workloads — also will get top-level championship.

If you get the implications of the former passage, then this one should chill you to the bone. Great, just what we need... a 'champion' for "serious fun" and "information assurance."

Spelling isn't important in programming, lol. That's what the IDE is for. Coincidentally, most IDEs for javascript have little to no spelling assistance, lol.

Tell that to Microsoft who had to break compatibility due to some spelling mistakes. Specifically, the MFC/ATL section.

Because of how bloated Windows 8 is, a serious chunk of storage space isn't available at all to the user. You might think 32 GB oughta be enough for anyone, but half of that is reserved for the system.

According to Microsoft:

* The 32 GB version has approximately 15 GB free hard disk space.
* The 64 GB version has approximately 45 GB free hard disk space.

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/storage-files-and-folders/surface-disk-space-faq

Oh, I think it's important to continuously draw attention to hypocritical actions/statements of corporations, whether it is A or B.

You believe everything you read on the internet about Apple? Were you born yesterday? First of all, "according to people familiar with the matter" is not 100%.

Oh god, what the heck? Do you even understand English?

How in the hell is "Bloomberg, WSJ, NYT, Washington Post" the same as "the internet" ? Do you have sudden amnesia that hits you just after you read my post and before you write a reply? I specifically said that speculation by organizations like that are "NOT THE SAME AS THE SPECULATION ON THE INTERNET".

Do you even read what you yourself quoted from my post???

You seem to lack the basic knowledge that when Bloomberg, WSJ, NYT, Washington Post say "According to people familiar with the matter" they're pretty much 100% right.

How can you even claim that that equates to "believing everything you read on the internet" ? Are you dumb or just acting so?

How many news sites and blogs are on the internet? Hundreds of thousands?

How many news sites and blogs are in the list "Bloomberg, WSJ, NYT, Washington Post" I count 4.

I feel that I am debating with someone who can't read.

Again you color all speculation the same.

"The sun will rise tomorrow". Is that speculation or fact? Is it at the same level of speculation as Apple will release iPhone 6 tomorrow? Don't you agree that there's different levels of speculation based on probability, track record etc.?

There's informed speculation and there's uninformed speculation.

Second according to your link, WSJ predicted iPad in March. It didn't come out until April: How is that "100% right"?

Oh yes, ignore everything that the WSJ got right and pick on one thing(March could've been the internal plan at Apple in Jan). Also ignore that I said "it's pretty much 100% right". The link was an example about how WSJ had access to real information as opposed to the rest of the internet.

I see you still fail to read the news which broke around 30 mins before your post. Here's your new head of Xbox, Ballmer is not taking over till the holiday season like you were insinuating.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2013/Jul13/07-11OneMicrosoft.aspx

Will you admit you were wrong in your posts below?

Also why even mention the holidays in a few months if everyone knows that a re-org is coming in the next few days.

Also I don't know about you but how is Ballmer is really qualified to lead the Xbox team? I mean he doesn't have much experience with that division or familiarity with the subject area in particular.

If you don't agree that your posts and basically this whole Slashdot article and most of the comments on here are bunk after the news that broke today, you're morally and ethically bankrupt.

It appears you are correct, Microsoft's new file 3d printing file format specification is explicitly designed to allow for "content protection."

I wouldn't be surprised if microsoft starts their own 3d printing "app-store."

Sure... for x86 machines. I assume you mean

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dn168167.aspx

where they have four requirements, one of which is "They must allow the user to completely disable Secure Boot."

Now, for the Win RT version of Surface

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2800988

"If the computer is running Windows RT, Secure Boot cannot be disabled."

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Sure... for x86 machines. I assume you mean

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dn168167.aspx

where they have four requirements, one of which is "They must allow the user to completely disable Secure Boot."

Now, for the Win RT version of Surface

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2800988

"If the computer is running Windows RT, Secure Boot cannot be disabled."

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

That's why I code everything for Silverlight. It's backed by Microsoft, a multibillion dollar enterprise with a long history of excellent support. How could I go wrong?

Microsoft has long provided CRT macros for mapping memory allocations and finding leaks. Turning on _CRTDBG_MAP_ALLOC does exactly what you describe. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/10t349zs.aspx

ADO.Net works fine if you aren't an incompetent boob.

No, serously. System.Data.SqlClient is for when you want to hard code SQL Server (and only SQL Server) database support into your app. If you're even moderately competent at writing .Net code, you've long since figured out how to use System.Data.Common.DbProviderFactory. It's dirt simple to use and makes supporting any arbitrary ADO.Net database library a cinch without having to rewrite anything.

The System.Data.OracleClient stuff works fine through this mechanism.

There's a lot of boasting yes, but as I understand it a lot of security bugs are discovered because they're being exploited. If you do all your hacking in a test lab and only use it sparingly and targeting specific computers it might take a long time before it ends up in any security researcher's lab. For example, take this recent bug from Microsoft, it affects every IE version back to IE6 - possibly older since they don't test further. Assuming it was in the original IE6 code base that's a bug the cyberwar division might have been sitting on for 12 years. Multiply that with lots and lots of top notch people and a system that don't disclose and (mostly) don't exploit, just hoard for a rainy day and I have no problem believing they have a pretty solid stash.

However that is also their biggest limitation, if you start using them they'll also become exposed so they're more like deep undercover agents. They're not going to "waste" them trying to catch the odd criminal, even if it's for serious crimes. They're military assets stockpiled for a cyberwar, like being able to crack the Enigma code during WWII. Some of it for espionage but I'm guessing most for being able to strike both physically and electronically at the same time, paralyze or even mislead their systems while you move in.

Last time I checked, cookies were stored locally and not transmitted with every request.

Check again. How do you think your server knows who you are from a new HTTP request? Cookies. They get in every query your browser sends to your server. Every single one. CSS, images, javascript files, AJAX queries, everything. Moreover, this is upload which often is much slower for the browser.

Now the ViewState .NET variables I'd have to look up because I didn't fall into that trap, but I would imagine that they are also locally stored so not so much the reason your HTTP requests being generally slow.

Well, again, you're sadly mistaken. Check http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms972976.aspx for more information. ViewState data is posted back and forth to sync component state between the server and the client. On a poorly coded site this can amount to hundreds of kilobytes of data for every click the user makes. However, it has nothing to do with HTTP.

Meanwhile I've avoided Windows "LOL I Iz a Cellphone, Buy my appstorez LOL" 8 and if the fat bastard doesn't change course I'll avoid Win 8.1 just as easily and I will STILL be able to run all the latest software and games without issue, it'll "just work". Oh and in all my years I have NEVER seen Windows shit all over one of my drivers with an update, Linux has shit on the wireless and sound more times than I care to count, if its volunteers doing the QA and QC somebody needs to fire their stoner asses because they royally suck. Anybody who shits all over Realtek sound? Ought to be fucking ashamed of themselves, no excuse on screwing up the most popular sound chip on the planet, no excuses.

Ati Driver broken after windows update January, 2013

RealTek Sound drive broken/missing components after windows update, March 2010

Wifi driver broken after windows update June, 2011

RealTek NIC broken after windows update, October 2009

So, does "all my years" mean, 2 years? Keep in mind, I didn't even leave the first page of google's search results to find these references. Go shill somewhere else

Meanwhile I've avoided Windows "LOL I Iz a Cellphone, Buy my appstorez LOL" 8 and if the fat bastard doesn't change course I'll avoid Win 8.1 just as easily and I will STILL be able to run all the latest software and games without issue, it'll "just work". Oh and in all my years I have NEVER seen Windows shit all over one of my drivers with an update, Linux has shit on the wireless and sound more times than I care to count, if its volunteers doing the QA and QC somebody needs to fire their stoner asses because they royally suck. Anybody who shits all over Realtek sound? Ought to be fucking ashamed of themselves, no excuse on screwing up the most popular sound chip on the planet, no excuses.

Ati Driver broken after windows update January, 2013

RealTek Sound drive broken/missing components after windows update, March 2010

Wifi driver broken after windows update June, 2011

RealTek NIC broken after windows update, October 2009

So, does "all my years" mean, 2 years? Keep in mind, I didn't even leave the first page of google's search results to find these references. Go shill somewhere else

Meanwhile I've avoided Windows "LOL I Iz a Cellphone, Buy my appstorez LOL" 8 and if the fat bastard doesn't change course I'll avoid Win 8.1 just as easily and I will STILL be able to run all the latest software and games without issue, it'll "just work". Oh and in all my years I have NEVER seen Windows shit all over one of my drivers with an update, Linux has shit on the wireless and sound more times than I care to count, if its volunteers doing the QA and QC somebody needs to fire their stoner asses because they royally suck. Anybody who shits all over Realtek sound? Ought to be fucking ashamed of themselves, no excuse on screwing up the most popular sound chip on the planet, no excuses.

Ati Driver broken after windows update January, 2013

RealTek Sound drive broken/missing components after windows update, March 2010

Wifi driver broken after windows update June, 2011

RealTek NIC broken after windows update, October 2009

So, does "all my years" mean, 2 years? Keep in mind, I didn't even leave the first page of google's search results to find these references. Go shill somewhere else

Most users will not need or ever use the additional advanced features in Windows 8 Pro.

From http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/compare from the Website
1) Provides enhanced data protection with BitLocker and BitLocker To Go to help keep your information secure.
2) Enables you to host a Remote Desktop Connection on your own PC so you can connect to it when you're using a different PC.
3) Connects to your corporate or school network with Domain join.

Linux Users are offered these features in *every* version without the $130 markup.

people pay a lot of money to Microsoft

$39.99

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/buy?ocid=GA8_O_WOL_Hero_ShopHP_FPP_Null from the Windows sales page the cheapest...read crippled (Windows 8 upgrade) its $150 for the less crippled version (Windows 8 Pro)$280. They do not offer a retail version...the price must be horrendous.

I thought they fixed all the security bugs. Wasn't that the whole point of the big push with their decade of trustworthy computing? Well, it's been over a decade now...

My favorite excel function used to crash both LibreOffice and OpenOffince.The function in question is ={FREQUENCY(data ref,bins ref)}, but I do not know any other excel users that use array based functions. So for a long time, I naively thought that my use case was special, and that nobody but a few specialized workers needed Excel. I hold that pious but erroneous belief until I had to email a worksheet to a colleague running Linux. Sure, according to OO documentation that function is supported but it is was crashing his LO nonetheless...
LO should really put some work into that refactoring, being a sub par Excel is a far bigger adoption turn off than all the other LO/OO MsO compatibility problems.
Almost all executives do not care about a paragraph margin wrong by 2px but they all care about wrong numbers especially when those numbers are about money !!!

Citation please?

Asking for citations for everything you disagree with makes you look like a tool.

Here are the short lists of what was fixed in SP1 and SP2.
In my opinion (which does not need a citation), XP before SP1 was too buggy for production use.

It's not exactly secret news that early versions of XP were buggy compared to the versions of W2k that were available at the same time. Sure, later versions of XP were better, but when it came out, it was quite buggy. Also, XP Pro had SMB networking deliberately crippled compared to 2000 Professional - you were limited to 10 SMB connections to servers and printers. While this might not have affected the average home user, it was often an issue for workplaces.
If you need more "citations", use a search engine.

Citation please?

Asking for citations for everything you disagree with makes you look like a tool.

Here are the short lists of what was fixed in SP1 and SP2.
In my opinion (which does not need a citation), XP before SP1 was too buggy for production use.

It's not exactly secret news that early versions of XP were buggy compared to the versions of W2k that were available at the same time. Sure, later versions of XP were better, but when it came out, it was quite buggy. Also, XP Pro had SMB networking deliberately crippled compared to 2000 Professional - you were limited to 10 SMB connections to servers and printers. While this might not have affected the average home user, it was often an issue for workplaces.
If you need more "citations", use a search engine.

XNA (which can be used by any .NET language, not just C#)

All .NET languages work in XNA on Windows, but not all .NET languages work in XNA on Xbox 360 because XNA on Xbox 360 uses a subset of called the .NET Compact Framework. According to this answer, the .NET Compact Framework lacks the libraries needed to run C++/CLI, and it also lacks the Reflection.Emit library needed to run DLR languages such as IronPython. Besides, any non-trivial C++ program ported from another platform will end up using unsafe features because the syntax for standard C++ differs from the syntax for the safe subset of C++/CLI (Wikipedia; MSDN), and XNA on Xbox 360 will not load an assembly that uses unsafe features.

if Microsoft giving NSA info on undisclosed vulnerabilities, they have in effect a magic backdoor in Windows.

Would you prefer that Microsoft tells foreign companies about vulnerabilities *without* informing the NSA about the same vulnerabilities?

The MAPP program is public and has been since it's introduction. As part of the program, Microsoft will release vulnerability information (and sometimes even PoC exploit code) to MAPP partners a few days in advance of releasing the patch for a vulnerability.

The reason is that a vulnerability patch is essentially the same as a disclosure. It is in the interest of both Microsoft, AV vendors and Microsofts' customers that AV vendors get a head start when creating scanning signatures that will catch exploit attempts.

Some of these AV vendors are foreign companies. Yes, some of them may be shells for or cooperate with e.g. a foreign intelligence service. Yes, even if they are only given a head start of a few days, there certainly is a risk that a foreign intelligence body could use the information to infiltrate US companies or government entities.

In that light, is it so terrible that the NSA get the information as well? You know, it could actually deter the foreign entity from actually attempting an exploit.

This is a fabricated scandal. Worse, it detracts from the *real* scandal, which is not what companies have been forced to hand over but rather the erosion of rights in the law.

Here you go, a free copy of Visual Studio 2012 Express: http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/downloads#d-2012-express that includes all the MSDN information.

SQL Server, why not develop on either SQL Express or SQL Compact, both are free as well.

Making websites, no new signups, but you could have gotten Windows 7, SQL Server, Windows Server, Visual Studio 2012 Premium, and MSDN for free here for two years: http://www.microsoft.com/web/websitespark/webpro/

Here you go, a free copy of Visual Studio 2012 Express: http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/downloads#d-2012-express that includes all the MSDN information.

SQL Server, why not develop on either SQL Express or SQL Compact, both are free as well.

Making websites, no new signups, but you could have gotten Windows 7, SQL Server, Windows Server, Visual Studio 2012 Premium, and MSDN for free here for two years: http://www.microsoft.com/web/websitespark/webpro/

Ballmer issued a statement which included a comment that all Don's former employees now report to Ballmer through the holiday for the XBOX ONE.. Hm...

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2013/Jul13/07-01steveb-mail.aspx

MS has categorized keyboards and mice under "Legacy User Interaction Features" in MSDN. Fingerprint smears are the wave of the future...

- T

Ouch !!!

Though we also get screwed here in Australia.

Visual Studio and other products have free versions now, so TechNet subscription is mostly outdated service. Visual Studio Express is the same great product that the full version of Visual Studio is, but is great for beginners. Visual Studio as a whole is a great product too. And, MSDN subscription is there too.

Visual Studio 2013 Preview just came out of the oven, too.

By the way, here's the official free preview ISO image for those who want to try out Win8.1 in a VM and form their own opinion.

Something like 86% of Slashdot posts involve statistics that are yanked right out of their bung.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/sir/default.aspx

If MS can be believed (large grain of salt) the breakdown is approximately:

javascript 35%
documents (primarily pdf) 28%
java 20%
os 15%

1.
2.

I don't know that Microsoft doesn't have any drive. Spend some time at: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/, they have some very cool ideas. Even for Windows-8 I think the idea of ubiquitous computing is rather cool. Not having drive would be standing by and letting the switch to Android happen. What Microsoft is doing is stepping up and leading their platform. They win, they may lose but they are fighting.

I did that, but it was called program manager, not task man. I think the option existed in 98 as well. The OS didn't present you with an option but it was configurable in System.ini file.

It's /. so I can be pedantic. If you're running Windows XP 64-bit edition then you probably don't care about games as you're on an Itanium system.

Now, if you're running Windows XP x64 edition then that's a different story. In either case, you're likely used to not having drivers for your system as this has always been the bastard of the XP family and general availability of usable drivers weren't widely available until after Windows 7's release.

Microsoft is killing XP whether you like it or not. This isn't something like GNOME3 where you can take GNOME2 and fork it either so you are screwed regardless of what AMD does. I'm biased as I never did like the Fisher-Price interface but you should have a migration strategy RIGHT NOW. Find out what you need and get to it because the end is near. Move to Windows 7 and run Windows XP mode. (It sort of works on 8 as it's just a VM) You can run something like Classic Shell if it's a UI thing. For that matter, you could just run Linux and make it look like XP. There's even an entire distro designed around that! They even make you pay for the "professional" versions.

In short, get out. Get out now. XP is the Titanic and you should get to a lifeboat pronto.

Windows 8 comes with app store functionality bundled.

Applications available through this store must use only the Windows Runtime API (section 3.1). This API lacks DirectInput (source), which means Windows Store games on desktop computers can't use inexpensive or specialized game controllers. They're limited to a keyboard (for Player 1 only), a mouse (for Player 1 only), and an Xbox 360 Controller (which must be licensed by Microsoft). Games must be fully playable with a touch screen alone (section 3.5), which rules out several genres that rely on giving the player physical buttons to perform actions, and it can't have more than five seconds of loading even when run on the cheapest Atom-powered computer with a spinning disk hard drive (section 3.8). Nor may it allow users to create scripts and share them with one another (section 3.9), ruling out user-created game mods that aren't just mesh/texture swaps and the entire Programming Game genre. Nor do games with retro-style low-definition pixel-art graphics like Mega Man 9 appear to be supported, as their screenshots are smaller than 1366x768 (section 6.8).

With features like this, who needs technology? Tic-Tac-Toe anyone?

Windows 8 comes with app store functionality bundled.

Applications available through this store must use only the Windows Runtime API (section 3.1). This API lacks DirectInput (source), which means Windows Store games on desktop computers can't use inexpensive or specialized game controllers. They're limited to a keyboard (for Player 1 only), a mouse (for Player 1 only), and an Xbox 360 Controller (which must be licensed by Microsoft). Games must be fully playable with a touch screen alone (section 3.5), which rules out several genres that rely on giving the player physical buttons to perform actions, and it can't have more than five seconds of loading even when run on the cheapest Atom-powered computer with a spinning disk hard drive (section 3.8). Nor may it allow users to create scripts and share them with one another (section 3.9), ruling out user-created game mods that aren't just mesh/texture swaps and the entire Programming Game genre. Nor do games with retro-style low-definition pixel-art graphics like Mega Man 9 appear to be supported, as their screenshots are smaller than 1366x768 (section 6.8).

With features like this, who needs technology? Tic-Tac-Toe anyone?

Windows 8 comes with app store functionality bundled.

Applications available through this store must use only the Windows Runtime API (section 3.1). This API lacks DirectInput (source), which means Windows Store games on desktop computers can't use inexpensive or specialized game controllers. They're limited to a keyboard (for Player 1 only), a mouse (for Player 1 only), and an Xbox 360 Controller (which must be licensed by Microsoft). Games must be fully playable with a touch screen alone (section 3.5), which rules out several genres that rely on giving the player physical buttons to perform actions, and it can't have more than five seconds of loading even when run on the cheapest Atom-powered computer with a spinning disk hard drive (section 3.8). Nor may it allow users to create scripts and share them with one another (section 3.9), ruling out user-created game mods that aren't just mesh/texture swaps and the entire Programming Game genre. Nor do games with retro-style low-definition pixel-art graphics like Mega Man 9 appear to be supported, as their screenshots are smaller than 1366x768 (section 6.8).

With features like this, who needs technology? Tic-Tac-Toe anyone?

Windows 8 comes with app store functionality bundled.

Applications available through this store must use only the Windows Runtime API (section 3.1). This API lacks DirectInput (source), which means Windows Store games on desktop computers can't use inexpensive or specialized game controllers. They're limited to a keyboard (for Player 1 only), a mouse (for Player 1 only), and an Xbox 360 Controller (which must be licensed by Microsoft). Games must be fully playable with a touch screen alone (section 3.5), which rules out several genres that rely on giving the player physical buttons to perform actions, and it can't have more than five seconds of loading even when run on the cheapest Atom-powered computer with a spinning disk hard drive (section 3.8). Nor may it allow users to create scripts and share them with one another (section 3.9), ruling out user-created game mods that aren't just mesh/texture swaps and the entire Programming Game genre. Nor do games with retro-style low-definition pixel-art graphics like Mega Man 9 appear to be supported, as their screenshots are smaller than 1366x768 (section 6.8).

With features like this, who needs technology? Tic-Tac-Toe anyone?

Windows 8 comes with app store functionality bundled.

Applications available through this store must use only the Windows Runtime API (section 3.1). This API lacks DirectInput (source), which means Windows Store games on desktop computers can't use inexpensive or specialized game controllers. They're limited to a keyboard (for Player 1 only), a mouse (for Player 1 only), and an Xbox 360 Controller (which must be licensed by Microsoft). Games must be fully playable with a touch screen alone (section 3.5), which rules out several genres that rely on giving the player physical buttons to perform actions, and it can't have more than five seconds of loading even when run on the cheapest Atom-powered computer with a spinning disk hard drive (section 3.8). Nor may it allow users to create scripts and share them with one another (section 3.9), ruling out user-created game mods that aren't just mesh/texture swaps and the entire Programming Game genre. Nor do games with retro-style low-definition pixel-art graphics like Mega Man 9 appear to be supported, as their screenshots are smaller than 1366x768 (section 6.8).

With features like this, who needs technology? Tic-Tac-Toe anyone?

Windows 8 comes with app store functionality bundled.

Applications available through this store must use only the Windows Runtime API (section 3.1). This API lacks DirectInput (source), which means Windows Store games on desktop computers can't use inexpensive or specialized game controllers. They're limited to a keyboard (for Player 1 only), a mouse (for Player 1 only), and an Xbox 360 Controller (which must be licensed by Microsoft). Games must be fully playable with a touch screen alone (section 3.5), which rules out several genres that rely on giving the player physical buttons to perform actions, and it can't have more than five seconds of loading even when run on the cheapest Atom-powered computer with a spinning disk hard drive (section 3.8). Nor may it allow users to create scripts and share them with one another (section 3.9), ruling out user-created game mods that aren't just mesh/texture swaps and the entire Programming Game genre. Nor do games with retro-style low-definition pixel-art graphics like Mega Man 9 appear to be supported, as their screenshots are smaller than 1366x768 (section 6.8).

With features like this, who needs technology? Tic-Tac-Toe anyone?

Ummm, yeah. Microsoft is going to stop releasing security patches for the OS. If you're still running XP, using older video drivers should be the least of your concerns.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/endofsupport.aspx except that is not happening for another year. The initial date (although I suspect it will be pushed back) April 8 2014.

Its also the date of the end of support for Office 2003. Most of the i915 and above machines (with 1GB of Memory) should simply be moved to Ubuntu and Libreoffice.

But the reality is as the summery states AMD are jumping the gun on this.

Windows 8 comes with app store functionality bundled.

Applications available through this store must use only the Windows Runtime API (section 3.1). This API lacks DirectInput (source), which means Windows Store games on desktop computers can't use inexpensive or specialized game controllers. They're limited to a keyboard (for Player 1 only), a mouse (for Player 1 only), and an Xbox 360 Controller (which must be licensed by Microsoft). Games must be fully playable with a touch screen alone (section 3.5), which rules out several genres that rely on giving the player physical buttons to perform actions, and it can't have more than five seconds of loading even when run on the cheapest Atom-powered computer with a spinning disk hard drive (section 3.8). Nor may it allow users to create scripts and share them with one another (section 3.9), ruling out user-created game mods that aren't just mesh/texture swaps and the entire Programming Game genre. Nor do games with retro-style low-definition pixel-art graphics like Mega Man 9 appear to be supported, as their screenshots are smaller than 1366x768 (section 6.8).

Windows 8 comes with app store functionality bundled.

Applications available through this store must use only the Windows Runtime API (section 3.1). This API lacks DirectInput (source), which means Windows Store games on desktop computers can't use inexpensive or specialized game controllers. They're limited to a keyboard (for Player 1 only), a mouse (for Player 1 only), and an Xbox 360 Controller (which must be licensed by Microsoft). Games must be fully playable with a touch screen alone (section 3.5), which rules out several genres that rely on giving the player physical buttons to perform actions, and it can't have more than five seconds of loading even when run on the cheapest Atom-powered computer with a spinning disk hard drive (section 3.8). Nor may it allow users to create scripts and share them with one another (section 3.9), ruling out user-created game mods that aren't just mesh/texture swaps and the entire Programming Game genre. Nor do games with retro-style low-definition pixel-art graphics like Mega Man 9 appear to be supported, as their screenshots are smaller than 1366x768 (section 6.8).

Windows 8 comes with app store functionality bundled.

Applications available through this store must use only the Windows Runtime API (section 3.1). This API lacks DirectInput (source), which means Windows Store games on desktop computers can't use inexpensive or specialized game controllers. They're limited to a keyboard (for Player 1 only), a mouse (for Player 1 only), and an Xbox 360 Controller (which must be licensed by Microsoft). Games must be fully playable with a touch screen alone (section 3.5), which rules out several genres that rely on giving the player physical buttons to perform actions, and it can't have more than five seconds of loading even when run on the cheapest Atom-powered computer with a spinning disk hard drive (section 3.8). Nor may it allow users to create scripts and share them with one another (section 3.9), ruling out user-created game mods that aren't just mesh/texture swaps and the entire Programming Game genre. Nor do games with retro-style low-definition pixel-art graphics like Mega Man 9 appear to be supported, as their screenshots are smaller than 1366x768 (section 6.8).