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MS Judge to Allow Demonstration of Modular Windows

robkill writes: "U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, over the vigorous objections of Microsoft, will allow the nine dissenting states to demonstrate a modular version of Windows. The software is based on Windows XP Embedded, and was built by computer consultant James Bach. Details can be found here [zdnet.com]"

27 of 574 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Finally by discstickers · · Score: 3, Funny

    Like Minesweeper? ;)

    --
    I have a shitty sig!
  2. Demonstration of Modular Windows by Metrollica · · Score: 1, Funny

    I wonder how long it will be before it crashes.

    --



    --Metrollica
    1. Re:Demonstration of Modular Windows by Nick+Driver · · Score: 2, Funny

      I have 100% microsoft OS on my webserver, and it never crashes either. Funny how these things work... :)

      I have a 100% Microsoft OS on one of my servers at work too, and it never crashes either.... it hangs!

      There's a difference you know.

    2. Re:Demonstration of Modular Windows by Dolly_Llama · · Score: 3, Funny
      they don't care. All they care is that it WORKS

      It just works? Out of the box?

      You mean like a Mac?

      --

      Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -- Carl Sagan

  3. modular windows by caca_phony · · Score: 2, Funny

    everythings always about windows,
    WINDOWS, WINDOWS, WINDOWS!</jan brady>

    --
    ...and this lie crawls out of its mouth: 'I, the state, am the people.'
  4. Uh-oh by TheRealFixer · · Score: 5, Funny

    But unfortunatly, Microsoft countered by denying their Product Activation Code at the time of the demo! D'oh!

    1. Re:Uh-oh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      We have found a way to fake out the activation codes.
      --Put on your rubber gloves.
      --Connect you cat5 enhanced patch cable up to a standard 120v outlet.
      --Fried Bill !!!!
      --problem solved.

    2. Re:Uh-oh by ndevice · · Score: 5, Funny

      better still, part of the EULA that bach used could have prohibitted using xp embedded against ms in court.

    3. Re:Uh-oh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Hey!

      That really works!

    4. Re:Uh-oh by ThatTallGuy · · Score: 2, Funny

      But if Windows is modular, we can replace the copy protection / serial activation with our own modules, right? ;)

    5. Re:Uh-oh by dimator · · Score: 5, Funny

      But if Windows is modular, we can replace the copy protection / serial activation with our own modules, right?

      Yes! I'll make my serial number 12345, the same as on my luggage.

      --
      python -c "x='python -c %sx=%s; print x%%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))%s'; print x%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))"
    6. Re:Uh-oh by AussiePenguin · · Score: 2, Funny

      We have found a way to fake out the activation codes.
      --Put on your rubber gloves.
      --Connect you cat5 enhanced patch cable up to a standard 120v outlet.
      --Fried Bill !!!!


      Why waste perfectly good hardware? hardware?

      --

      Jeremy
      Melbourne, Australia
      Jabber Australia

  5. One slight Problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny


    One problem I could see with this is that Windows' own bugginess could be misconstrued as the fault of the person who developed this modular windows.
    "And if you'll watch as I click here, you'll see that there is no Internet Explor-- Er... one second folks, I have to reboot..."
    Microsoft Lawyer: "AH-HA! Innocent I tell you!"

    1. Re:One slight Problem by ThePlague · · Score: 1, Funny

      If it does not boot,
      You must throw out the suit.

  6. Microsoft lawyer gets promotion! by Alsee · · Score: 5, Funny

    One Microsoft lawyer was heard commenting:
    "Well, a modular version of Windows is impossible. What the heck, let him testify."

    He has since been given a promotion to the Microsoft head office in Afghanistan.

    -

    --
    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  7. what about the games? by ndevice · · Score: 2, Funny

    not that I play solitaire myself, but what if they took that out of modular windows? people who spend all their time playing it wouldn't know what to do anymore.

    1. Re:what about the games? by morgajel · · Score: 2, Funny

      that's what you'll see- a modular windows- the "core" part that's little more than win3.1 and you'll be able to add on the extra(THEMES) which will include all the games.
      they'll both come on the CD, and you'll only have those 2 options.
      no half way. if you want solitare, you have to take the rest of the middlewear.

      --
      Looking for Book Reviews? Check out Literary Escapism.
  8. Modular Windows by rmohr02 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Microsoft: It can't be done! It can't be done!

    States: Yes it can, and we can prove it!

    Microsoft: Damn!

  9. ABORT! by ethereal · · Score: 3, Funny

    Maximum number of Microsoft articles per day exceeded. Core dumped.

    I mean, really - I like to keep up on this case as much as the next guy, but we're up to what, four articles today? And the night's still young. How 'bout at least containing all the trial-related stuff into one wrap-up article per day, at least, and saving the "Microsoft eats small children for breakfast" filler ones that aren't breaking news for more of the off days?

    Disgruntled but still reading the article,

    --

    Your right to not believe: Americans United for Separation of Church and

  10. Re:Developer's nightmare... by Chris+Johnson · · Score: 4, Funny
    Yeah, but the alternative is already underway, and it's "all MS stuff works with other MS stuff as long as you keep really up to date, but everything else breaks a lot". The degree of integration continually shuts out other products.

    You're arguing for a state of affairs that is putting you out of business: the simplest baseline configuration is "We supply all the software, why would you ever need anything else?". And that's what MS is driving towards.

    Are you really so dedicated to user simplicity that you're willing to stake your career as a Windows developer on it, and side with Microsoft on this issue? Very noble, but I'd question how smart it is. Maybe you should consider making life a little harder and riskier for those consumers so YOU can have room to move, and to sell them stuff.

  11. Re:Finally by dirkdidit · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah they could always take out the blue screen of death and the errors. Windows would run 100% better then.

  12. Re:What a Sham! by StiffMittens · · Score: 2, Funny

    absolute twaddle! you have the reasoning faculties of a shoe! if tiger woods bent all the other golfer's clubs before the tournament, then yes we would penalize him. if michael jordan was allowed to kick all the other players on the court in the scrotum, then yes people would say it was unfair. and maybe we should have tied one of joe montana's hands behind his back! i would have voted for the right hand.

    --
    Some are given suckers and some get lollipops
  13. Re:Finally by NumberSyx · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft would deliver a base set of Windows with such marginal functionality, then have a nice expensive upgrade you'd have to buy to get anything done

    I can hear the conversation now...

    Joe: I can't format this floppy.

    MS Rep: Oh, no problem, you need to purchase the Format:Floppy Extension, but before you can do that you will need Read:Floppy and Write:Floppy as well. Normally they are $9.95 each, but if you buy all three, it will only cost $24.95.

    Joe: Well...I guess I don't have a choice.

    MS Rep: Great, we are also having a special on Copy:File this week...

    --

    "Our products just aren't engineered for security,"
    -Brian Valentine,VP in charge of MS Windows Development

  14. modules? by Cynikal · · Score: 2, Funny

    Welcome to the Advanced windows XP setup.
    With this new version of Windows you now have the choice of which modules you install on your system.

    Which components would you like to install?

    - Windows core files (Required)
    - Desktop "enhancements" (Required)
    - Internet Explorer 6.0 (Required)
    - Fatal exception core files (Required)
    - Illegal Operation Scripting Engine(tm)(Required)
    - Security Backdoor Enhancements (Required)

  15. Re:Finally by rosewood · · Score: 3, Funny

    I dont know how to play minesweeper or freecell :

    I guess that means I can not be MCSE yet or something

  16. Re:Finally by dup_account · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, but would I still be able to get the BSOD as an add on module?

  17. Re:Are we there yet? by spectecjr · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's not the stupid example on his part. The Really Stupid Example is that we all CAN have the specs on a ford engine. Just go to the dealership and buy one. Then take it apart, while modeling every piece.

    You can do that with Windows too. Machine code *is* readable by humans you know.

    It will just take you a Very Long Time.

    Simon

    --
    Coming soon - pyrogyra