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BBC Hails "fair" Microsoft XP SP1

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-the-microsoft-i-know dept.

Richard Bown writes "Continuing their current trend of only giving you half the story the BBC have this article on how fair and equitable Microsoft are these days. No mention of EULA changes."

9 of 458 comments (clear)

  1. What kind of bs is that? by photon317 · · Score: 4, Interesting


    Is the article accurate? The settlement was just to "hide" the bundled software? There was no part indicating that the services offered to IE, Outlook, Media Player, etc by the OS have to be available to competitors, so that they can integrate and interoperate as seamlessly? No wonder 9 states dissented.

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    11*43+456^2
  2. Data protection act by oliverthered · · Score: 5, Interesting

    UK companies that have taken data from me can-not agree to the terms of Microsoft's ELUA, any company found agreeing to the terms will be violating the data protection act by potentially allowing Microsoft to access my data.

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    thank God the internet isn't a human right.
  3. Hiding them? Get rid of them! by jsonmez · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Among the bug fixes and security updates are a set of tools that let people hide the existence of Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Windows Messenger, and Windows Media Player.


    Gee, thanks for allowing me to hide the stuff M$, everyone likes having useless software that still takes up disk space and probably still loads DLLs into memory that they can't see. I want the ability to remove the stuff, not just hide it. If I wanted to just hide it, I just wouldn't look at it!

  4. A more realistic question by tkrotchko · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Since many under the age of 18 use computers, can a EULA be binding on a minor?

    I've asked this many times of many, and I've never received any response other than a shrug.

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    You were mistaken. Which is odd, since memory shouldn't be a problem for you
    1. Re:A more realistic question by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I don't think a EULA can be binding on anyone. As far as minors go, I don't believe a minor can enter into a contract, but IANAL, nor do I really even know much for a layman.

      Besides, Microsoft is going to keep doing what they want until they get smacked down, and it hasn't happened yet.

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      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
    2. Re:A more realistic question by damiangerous · · Score: 3, Interesting

      This is one reason why companies have official corporate software packages and employees are not supposed to install other software. Use only the software the company tells you to and you're fine. Install your own personal software, even if it's to make your job easier, and you become liable. If you need something that bad get it approved. Have you ever heard of the employees being fined because there weren't enough Word license to go around? No, employees are only liable when they do things like install warezed Quake for their after hours LAN parties.

  5. Whither Windows Update? by tbmaddux · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What happens to Windows Update, which requires the use of MSIE, if a user chooses to "hide" the MSIE browser? How is that user going to download the inevitable patches that will be needed for XP SP1? Is Microsoft providing a new stand-alone update application (a la Apple's "Software Update"), and if so, how secure is it? Or, have they retooled Windows Update to work with non-MSIE browsers?

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    Can't you see that everyone is buying station wagons?
  6. XPSP1 already hacked by WCMI92 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Found this earlier today:

    http://www.trwxp.kit.net/xp_sp1.html

    Also, a download for SP1:

    http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/ SP /SP1/WXP/en-us/xpsp1_en_x86.exe

    This thing is a fucking pig... 137MB.. Woah! Lots of bugs...er..features fixed here.

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    Corporatism != Free Market
  7. Re:My legal copy? by RzUpAnmsCwrds · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "hack I found, because MS has no right to sell me something and then force me to ask permission to use it."

    That's a pretty lousey reason. Activation takes thirty seconds and doesn't require personal information.

    Microsoft has the right to protect their copyrights. Something like 80% of all windows copies ever purchased (OEMs excluded) were installed on more than one machine.