Windows XP SP2 Beta Reviewed

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Posted by simoniker on Monday January 5, 2004 @10:50AM from the steel-bars dept.

worm eater writes "Ars Technica has a characteristically thorough review of Windows XP Service Pack 2 Beta, with plenty of screen shots. In a nutshell, it's all about security fixes, including a seriously beefed up firewall. The final release is expected this summer." The review concludes: "Overall, Microsoft has made a step in the right direction with this service pack. The increased focus on security will be good not only for the average user who does not spend much time thinking about security her system, but also for 'power users' and those who work supporting end users."

34 of 623 comments (clear)

hmm... by twiggy · 2004-01-05 10:52 · Score: 5, Funny

I'd tolerate all the exploits if this thing would make me toast and coffee in the morning.. meh.

--
http://www.babysmasher.com
http://www.openingbands.com
1. Re:hmm... by i_r_sensitive · 2004-01-05 11:14 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Except that the coffee and toast are virtually guaranteed not to be backwards compatible with your current version of Gastrointestinal Tract.
  
  --
  "Talk minus action equals nothing" - Joey Shithead, D.O.A.
  "Talk minus action equals /." -
2. Re:hmm... by xSquaredAdmin · 2004-01-05 11:18 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Then someone would release a virus which would shoot out your toast at 60mph, and make it shoot the boiling hot coffee all over. It would then be addressed in the next service pack, 6 months to 1 year later.
  
  --
  Crushing dreams at the speed of sarcasm
3. Re:hmm... by NanoGator · 2004-01-05 12:02 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  "I'd tolerate all the exploits if this thing would make me toast and coffee in the morning.. meh."
  
  Then you'd bitch that Microsoft kept the coffee blend secret.
  
  --
  "Derp de derp."
4. Re:hmm... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-05 17:53 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Well, it could always be worse -- it could be a virus that kills your intestinal flora. Eat one byte .. er, bite, of the infected MS Toast(R), and forget about being able to digest anything for a few days.
  
  I'll stick to BSD/Linux Toast, thanks.
A review of a service pack by grennis · 2004-01-05 10:52 · Score: 5, Funny

A review of a service pack? What's next, A screenshot of RTPatch? I can see it now...

"Here we see the patch process at 37% complete. Note that the progress bar is roughly one third filled in with a nice blue color."

Please!!
1. Re:A review of a service pack by Babbster · 2004-01-05 10:54 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  No, no, no. This is a review of a service pack BETA. Just the fact that someone reviewed it is news.
Yet another yealot joke.... by XiChimos · 2004-01-05 10:54 · Score: 5, Funny

You can download the service pack here
1. Re:Yet another yealot joke.... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-05 10:59 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Remember, that's just the beta. The full version can be downloaded here when it is released.
Hmm... by Loki_1929 · 2004-01-05 10:54 · Score: 2, Funny

"The increased focus on security will be good not only for the average user who does not spend much time thinking about security her system, but also for 'power users' and those who work supporting end users."

The only security improvement that I would characterize as being "good" for those who work support end users is one which prevented them from using the computer in the first place.

Please, God, take me now....

(been a long day)

--
-- "Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
'power users' ? by odyrithm · 2004-01-05 10:57 · Score: 4, Funny

'power users', 'Windows'... in the same sentance.. what are you smoking? :P

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moo
1. Re:'power users' ? by ch-chuck · 2004-01-05 11:02 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  everyone who runs windows uses power, usually somewhere around 500-700 watts.
  
  --
  try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
2. Re:'power users' ? by odyrithm · 2004-01-05 11:04 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  yeah that'll be the windows idle process keeping the cpu(s) running at 100% load ;)
  
  --
  moo
3. Re:'power users' ? by bathmatt · 2004-01-05 11:15 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  'power users', 'Windows'... in the same sentance.. what are you smoking? :P
  It is like slashdot poster and correct spelling...
4. Re:'power users' ? by pyros · 2004-01-05 11:31 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Loki, there's no such thing as Windows Power Users. They're make-believe like gnomes, elves, and eskimos.
  </homer voice>
5. Re:'power users' ? by vsprintf · 2004-01-05 12:00 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  yeah that'll be the windows idle process keeping the cpu(s) running at 100% load ;)
  
  Nah, it's the antivirus software fighting with the OS and the apps that actually want to open files.
Finally a secure operating system for the masses. by polyp2000 · 2004-01-05 10:57 · Score: 3, Funny

Wait , OMG... I must format my Gentoo build now, and install this superior Operating system.

--
Electronic Music Made Using Linux http://soundcloud.com/polyp
Re:Too late for some by odyrithm · 2004-01-05 11:02 · Score: 3, Funny

Microsoft needs to completely re-engineer the OS like they are doing with Longhorn to resolve the security problems with Windows

Wasnt that what the aim of 3.11, 95, 98, NT4, ME, 2000, XP.. and all those I missed was? ;)

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moo
XPSP2? by DrLZRDMN · 2004-01-05 11:04 · Score: 1, Funny

Try saying that 5x fast.
Re:Don't combine bug fixes with new features! by gleekmonkey · 2004-01-05 11:06 · Score: 2, Funny

But once you forget about them, aren't they fixed?
Pop-Up Blocker? by Dangerously_Swiss! · 2004-01-05 11:09 · Score: 5, Funny

IE now has a popup blocker.. thereby making Telnet the last (by my count) internet-related application that does NOT have a built-in popup blocker. Are companies still paying for that shit? I can't imagine them getting anything approaching a good return on investment for popup ads these days. Unless they can get them free in specially-marked boxes of cereal, or something. On an unrelated note, why are they giving XP users a firewall? Any XP user that needs a firewall should be on 2000, if not Linux/Unix. XP is for media and third-graders. :(
Re:the nicest feature by rock_climbing_guy · 2004-01-05 11:10 · Score: 2, Funny

The problem is, when Gator changes it's name once a week, we'll begin to see things like this:

The web page you are viewing is attempting to download and install G4T0R EW4LLET on your PC. Do you wish to allow this download?

[] Yes
[] No
[] Always trust software from G4T0R
[] Never trust software from G4T0R

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Wh47 d1d j00 541, 31337 15n't t3h r0xor5 ne m0r3???
Re:iTunes firewall exception question by Shut+the+fuck+up! · 2004-01-05 11:14 · Score: 5, Funny

Just shows MS can't win. If iTunes defaults unblocked, security users will say that an unnecessary port was left unblocked. If default is blocked Apple zealots will claim it's a conspiracy to take away Apple marketshare.

They need to invent Schrodinger's Port.
Re:Wow, finally.. by i_r_sensitive · 2004-01-05 11:17 · Score: 0, Funny

It ASKS YOU before installing random crap in the background and at least notes that "Some software could be harmful"
Yeah, but I bet it ignores the most harmful software of all...
...Windows Service Packs!

--
"Talk minus action equals nothing" - Joey Shithead, D.O.A.
"Talk minus action equals /." -
power users? by potpie · 2004-01-05 11:29 · Score: 3, Funny

What exactly defines the "power users" who need this new-and-improved-maybe-this-time-it-won't-suck version of Windows?

Let's look at the word...
Power and User come together. Obviously, this implies that the user has some kind of power. However, this user is using Windows, which gives no power to its users. Thus, this mysterious user must actually WORK at Microsoft. Now why would the staff of MS need a version of Windows with security that doesn't suck?
the answer: to cover their asses for making crappy software.

--
Esoteric reference.
Re:Oh NOS!!!1111 by twiggy · 2004-01-05 11:35 · Score: 4, Funny

That was the point.. it's called sarcasm.

I'm a windows user (but not zealot.. if *nix did what I wanted easily on a day to day basis, I'd prefer it)... I was just poking tongue-in-cheek fun at the immediate onslaught of "IT STEEL SUX0RZ" ;-)

--
http://www.babysmasher.com
http://www.openingbands.com
"Characteristically thorough"? by Zocalo · 2004-01-05 11:43 · Score: 2, Funny

Well it certainly looks like it's thorough from the title of the first page:
Ars Technica: Windows XP SP2 Beta first look: Page 1 -- (1/2004)
2004 pages! Now that's thorough! Oh, wait a minute...

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UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
Re:Wow, finally.. by NanoGator · 2004-01-05 12:08 · Score: 2, Funny

"yeah a pop-up blocker would be cool, and the firewall probably isn't a bad idea. "

I don't have my Pitchfork Handbook on me here, but isn't Microsoft guilty of being evil every time they add a bit of software that other companies are producing?

--
"Derp de derp."
Microsoft Rules of Default Configuration by ackthpt · 2004-01-05 12:13 · Score: 3, Funny

Does it default allowed or denied? The screenshot shows it checked (allowed) but did it come that way?
1. The most annoying option will be the default.
2. The more aggrevating the behavior of a default option, the more difficult it will be to find where it's set and change the setting.

--

A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Re:iTunes firewall exception question by Minderbinder106 · 2004-01-05 12:36 · Score: 2, Funny

Better yet, is windows media player and internet explorer blocked by default.
Re:Oh NOS!!!1111 by macdaddy357 · 2004-01-05 12:41 · Score: 1, Funny

A beta of a service pack? I just can't wait to install this on my pc!!! /sarcasm

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How ya like dat?
Re:Too late for some by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-05 13:15 · Score: 1, Funny

Sure, when you Windows users stop calling Wintels PCs. The Apple II was described as a "personal computer"; the first IBM-compatible was the IBM Personal Computer (product name, not description). A PC is a personal computer, a computer smaller than a workstation but bigger than a PDA.
Firewall Shmirewall... by ydrol · 2004-01-05 13:21 · Score: 2, Funny

I'd assume, therefore, that it works like any other software firewall I've used - the default is to ask the user on first connection attempt, and subsequently, until they tell you to always do X.
Funny thing about Software firewalls. They are subject to "Social Engineering". A SW firewall is really 2nd level (even 3rd level) defence. Microsoft have done a good thing by enabling it as default and making it a bit more functional, as an interim measure. (I suspect ZA may disagree)
To stop rogue incoming traffic, it's easier than trying to work out which of the many interrelated default Windows services they can disable, or configure to listen to local requests only... which is the approach I assume Longhorn is be taking.... Security-wise this is the conceptual flaw with Windows. Power without responsibility... A firewall will paste over the cracks for a short time - but for how long?
To stop rogue out going traffic, well usually its too late by then ...
Firewall: "Do you wish to allow "Very Important Microsoft Firewall Update to access the intenet?"
User: Err... yes?
Trojan: "Sucker!!! ..."
Re:What's really funny is... by MisterFancypants · 2004-01-05 14:03 · Score: 2, Funny

Well, you know it only took 10 FSCKING YEARS!!
They didn't take this step in the right direction; they were dragged. Kicking, screaming and fighting every inch of the way!
Yeah it took them 10 damn years! Oh..Microsoft and security? For a second there I thought you were talking about decent desktop GUI support under Linux!