XP Service Pack Does the Impossible

Peyna writes "This article over at C|net discusses the upcoming Microsoft Windows XP service pack, which will contain the normal bug fixes, but more importantly, will make XP more modular, allowing you to override their default products. I assume this means Internet Explorer and possibly some other apps as well."

Comments

A tad worried

[MarvinMouse]

"The control offers four different choices for changing the Windows desktop and Start Menu: "Computer Manufacturer Configuration," "Microsoft Windows," "Non-Microsoft" and "Custom."

When I change my setting to Non-Microsoft, will microsoft know? If so, will I not get updates for certain things because I am "Non-Microsoft"? Why does the system need to know that the program is "Non-Microsoft"

(I am not trying to flamebait or troll, just stating my worries considering previous Microsoft practices.)

Re:The 3rd parties are still screwed

[mccalli]

3rd party apps will appear as choices if they are coded so that they interface with XP to appear as choices...perhaps even having to use some shared library from MS.

Well of course.

How else am I, as the operating system, supposed to know that this completely unknown executable you've just stuck on the drive handles foodlewidgets unless you tell me that it handles foodlewidgets?

No conspiracy here people. Move along now...

Cheers,
Ian

Re:No more updates for pirates

[Geeyzus]

It disables further updates/patches for users who run XP with pirated activation numbers. I think this is horribly irresponsible

So let me get this straight, not only should a company be OK with people using pirated copies of their software, they should also offer software updates to those people? Maybe 24-hour tech support too just in case?

I don't run XP and don't plan to. However, they are offering an update to their paying customers, I have NO clue why you think they should cater to people stealing their software too.

Mark

You don't pay for it, you don't use it

[fstanchina]

since I refuse to pay for XP, I wouldn't be able to upgrade

If you didn't pay, you shouldn't have anything to upgrade in the first place. The fact that software should be free doesn't mean that we can refuse to pay companies who want us to. As silly as Microsoft sometimes are, I entirely approve the anti-piracy part of this.

Re:You don't pay for it, you don't use it

[Oculus Habent]

I agree.

The simple fact is software, music, art, etc, can only be free if we live in one of two types of societies:

1. Communism/Socialism: If the government has the ability to support people who are furthering the minds of the people/state, then art, music, and software can be free to us, even if we are not free oursleves.

2. Social Democracy: This concept is much harder for Americans than others, as it is contrary to pure capitalism. We would have to support those who make a contribution to our state, but whose contribution should be free. In this model, the government funds artists, music costs are virtually non-existant (you would still have to pay "cost" for physical media, and a "artist tax") and we can get all the music and software for nothing.

The US is a social/capitalist democracy, and very often we are living in the No Man's Land between the two sides.

Sorry for the rant.--
Freedom of Information doesn't mean that information is free.

Re:You don't pay for it, you don't use it

[JamesOfTheDesert]

If the government has the ability to support people who are furthering the minds of the people/state, then art, music, and software can be free to us, even if we are not free oursleves.

Free? Just where does the money to pay for this software come from? Trees? It may be free for certain individuals, but it sure ain't free to others.

In this model, the government funds artists, music costs are virtually non-existant (you would still have to pay "cost" for physical media, and a "artist tax") and we can get all the music and software for nothing.

Again, in "this model", *somebody* has to pay for all this. Shifting costs doesn't make anything free; all this means is some people can make other people pay for things.

Sort of like if I rob you so I can buy new clothing. From my point of view it's free, but you, of course, may think otherwise ....

Re:Biting the hand that pirates it

[Rogerborg]

• Not that any /.ers would use pirated software

Pirated? I dunno about that, I have a shared copy of WinXP Pro, probably with one of "those" keys. I'll pay for it when my refund arrives for the OEM copy of Win98SE that I was forced to pay for on my laptop (now running SuSE), i.e. the 2nd of Never.

If any Microserf are reading, the only reason that I still boot to Windows is to play games. Offer me a stripped down OS that presents an API subset limited to DirectX, OGL and enough of the WinAPI to let me install and start a game, at a reasonable price ($30) without any idiotic licensing or activation crap, and I'll buy it. Short of that, forget it. Every dumbed down "Telletubbies" new Windows version, every curate's egg upgrade, every bluster and threat and waved MicroFist just brings me closer to the point where I'll wipe the Windows partition and take my chance with WineX. When that happens, you lose any chance of getting any more money out of me, ever.