As for installed crapware, it's just a right-click to uninstall. No uninstaller prompt BS any more.
No, it's not that easy. And it can never be that easy. Crapware is installed with system privileges. If you have crapware on your PC then somebody you don't trust to have your best interest at heart has been operating your PC with system privileges - before you even got it. They have professional programmers, advanced system knowledge. They can replace anything including core parts of the operating system, install keyloggers, rootkits and whatever. The standard retail consumer cannot defeat this. As an end user you absolutely must trust some of their software because you must have the OEM drivers to operate the gear. Even if you're an ideal IT pro and doing a burn an purge from verified Microsoft OS image, you still have to trust the OEM drivers that are installed with highest privilege. But the OEM has put fourth-party software on your gear, for pay, counter to your best interest - and almost certainly without inspecting it for nefarious code. This is not how you establish a trust relationship with your device or your OEM.
Dynamically switching the end user between two different GUIs by default is an interesting design choice. Certainly not one I would have made. Allowing an advanced user to switch his GUIs on the fly, that's one thing...
You should try Windows 8. With that you get integrated advertising without even having to subscribe to it. For some reason they've integrated it into the operating system.
And again, this is in comparison to the previous generation tablets which were 3-4 pounds and an inch+ thick.
And you bring into the discussion not a comparison to commonly available and selling-well tablets, but from one generation of not-selling Intel tablet to a new one that's less bad as if that were relevant. As if Wintel tablets were the only thing to consider, and "most improved" was a merit badge. This is not the Special Olympics.
While I sympathize with you your problem isn't a general condition. And again, it's not a technical but an HR problem. It's not relevant to this discussion.
The wonderful thing about FLOSS is its diversity. While a company might try two or three avenues to success the FLOSS community by its diversity tries them ALL.
You have perfectly nailed Microsoft's position on the subject and you don't know it. Thank you. I wanted to post this earlier but didn't know how to put it. Your post has given me clarity.
From Microsoft's point of view Microsoft is responsible for all progress in technology since 1976. It was their software that dragged along all of the OEMs, and Intel and AMD and the device vendors into their ecosystem and created this thing that became the common PC. They built it and own it all, and they own the glory and deserve the recognition for every advance since then both in software and hardware. If they give anybody access to earn a dollar for a day, it's a leasehold they can take away. Technology is a realm where they are King and grant minor holds to their loyal minor nobles - and take it away again for lack of faith. As they did take it away from Lotus, from Borland and Stac and Aldus and Novell, and many others by shifting the software to not work with their competitors apps. They take it away from others still every day, and are hoping to establish a Windows App Store where they become the ONLY channel where apps are sold, so as to improve their control even more.
From Microsoft's point of view Independent Software Developers are a ripe field that competes to be their breakfast.
It turns out that this point of view may not be in line with how things actually work any more. Maybe once it held, but not now. Now there is a different way.
What with Christmas and all the SC-72MID is out of stock just about everywhere. Here is a link to an almost equivalent product that can still be had in case you're ready to upgrade your understanding of what's available for $79 delivered. I haven't tried this one, but it's likely good. It has the advantage that it can be had.
In addition to the others' comments, Microsoft is out of DOJ supervision for monopoly abuse and free to act in whatever way they want until they get caught again.
The Intel 486 was not designed to prevent the owner from running whatever software on it he desired, including Linux. The hardware under discussion is designed to prevent the use of any software that is not signed by a Microsoft crypto key. The problem is not that it is "not designed to run Linux". The problem is that it is "designed to not run Linux".
You're seriously bringing $99 rite aid tablets into this discussion?
Yes. I actually have many of these in the house. Two are SuperSonic SC-72MID. They are quite fine with a HTML5 browser, Google Play and even FlashPlayer preinstalled. There are many similar brands and models at this price which are quite fine as long as they have capacitive 5-point touch, acceptable display, uSDHC and Google Play, Android 4.0. $89 + tax delivered. Plus $12 for a uSDHC card. I've got one sitting next to me as I type this, and it's a huge win at the price. Not an Enterprise tablet, but well worth the money for home. Between now and summer given the progress in mobile you will be able to get tablets 2x as good for less.
There are still some lame old resistive Android 2.3 tablets in the market, and I suspect that is the basis of your experience. Give the new ones a try.
You are missing the point perhaps that having burned every buyer of "Windows tablets" for 15 years so badly with poor products and huge promises, all of them have sworn off the practice forever. If they still have jobs at all. They have truly been that bad.
On battery life, the Atoms that were promised for Christmas are delayed until summer for driver issues related to sleep states. The mainstream Intel processor versions don't have the battery life you speak of, nor the sexy slimline form factors, nor the low weights of competing tablets.
On price, you can get a 7" Android tablet now for $90, or 10" for $130 - and they work fine. If you pay more you can get more. Between now and summer the platform will advance again and you will be able to get more for less.
Ability to run legacy apps is a trap. They're deprecating legacy apps. Eventually they want to break app compat with legacy apps because the situation has become unmaintainable.
A Windows tablet is something you sell to somebody you never want to darken your doorstep again. It's a "farewell product". As IT staff it's the last joke you play on the customers who tormented you before you retire. This is not going to go well for Microsoft.
That's what the fine article is about. It's not a general purpose machine. It does have a bogus barrier. It is a machine deliberately designed to not accept any bootloader that's not signed with a Microsoft key. It is designed, literally, to prevent other operating systems from running on it.
Now, there are probably some programming engines in it that are Turing Complete, and so can run User Mode Linux in a limited way. But that's not the full use of the device we're talking about.
Slashdot Mirror
He's doing great! Do you think some lesser man could have pulled this off?
That's because it's for tablets now, that don't even have a keyboard.
Now with Linux Genuine Advantage!
As for installed crapware, it's just a right-click to uninstall. No uninstaller prompt BS any more.
No, it's not that easy. And it can never be that easy. Crapware is installed with system privileges. If you have crapware on your PC then somebody you don't trust to have your best interest at heart has been operating your PC with system privileges - before you even got it. They have professional programmers, advanced system knowledge. They can replace anything including core parts of the operating system, install keyloggers, rootkits and whatever. The standard retail consumer cannot defeat this. As an end user you absolutely must trust some of their software because you must have the OEM drivers to operate the gear. Even if you're an ideal IT pro and doing a burn an purge from verified Microsoft OS image, you still have to trust the OEM drivers that are installed with highest privilege. But the OEM has put fourth-party software on your gear, for pay, counter to your best interest - and almost certainly without inspecting it for nefarious code. This is not how you establish a trust relationship with your device or your OEM.
Windows OEMs cannot be trusted any more.
Dynamically switching the end user between two different GUIs by default is an interesting design choice. Certainly not one I would have made. Allowing an advanced user to switch his GUIs on the fly, that's one thing...
A sighting.
The Democrats and Republicans seems to be blocking each other as much as possible causing a deadlock.
Inevitably. Almost as if the system were designed with that outcome in mind.
Wow. Your first day here? Stick around. Some of the natives are friendly - sometimes.
Meh. I'm less concerned about what this is than where it leads: "Ow my balls!"
You should try Windows 8. With that you get integrated advertising without even having to subscribe to it. For some reason they've integrated it into the operating system.
And again, this is in comparison to the previous generation tablets which were 3-4 pounds and an inch+ thick.
And you bring into the discussion not a comparison to commonly available and selling-well tablets, but from one generation of not-selling Intel tablet to a new one that's less bad as if that were relevant. As if Wintel tablets were the only thing to consider, and "most improved" was a merit badge. This is not the Special Olympics.
Where do they get you people?
While I sympathize with you your problem isn't a general condition. And again, it's not a technical but an HR problem. It's not relevant to this discussion.
The wonderful thing about FLOSS is its diversity. While a company might try two or three avenues to success the FLOSS community by its diversity tries them ALL.
You have perfectly nailed Microsoft's position on the subject and you don't know it. Thank you. I wanted to post this earlier but didn't know how to put it. Your post has given me clarity.
From Microsoft's point of view Microsoft is responsible for all progress in technology since 1976. It was their software that dragged along all of the OEMs, and Intel and AMD and the device vendors into their ecosystem and created this thing that became the common PC. They built it and own it all, and they own the glory and deserve the recognition for every advance since then both in software and hardware. If they give anybody access to earn a dollar for a day, it's a leasehold they can take away. Technology is a realm where they are King and grant minor holds to their loyal minor nobles - and take it away again for lack of faith. As they did take it away from Lotus, from Borland and Stac and Aldus and Novell, and many others by shifting the software to not work with their competitors apps. They take it away from others still every day, and are hoping to establish a Windows App Store where they become the ONLY channel where apps are sold, so as to improve their control even more.
From Microsoft's point of view Independent Software Developers are a ripe field that competes to be their breakfast.
It turns out that this point of view may not be in line with how things actually work any more. Maybe once it held, but not now. Now there is a different way.
Regardless of what he said or didn't say, it really was one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind.
What with Christmas and all the SC-72MID is out of stock just about everywhere. Here is a link to an almost equivalent product that can still be had in case you're ready to upgrade your understanding of what's available for $79 delivered. I haven't tried this one, but it's likely good. It has the advantage that it can be had.
Why don't you take your argument to the people responsible and see if they care? Hint: they don't.
This. It's a motivation to discover the Microsoft root key. As Sony learned, eventually it will be leaked.
In addition to the others' comments, Microsoft is out of DOJ supervision for monopoly abuse and free to act in whatever way they want until they get caught again.
The Intel 486 was not designed to prevent the owner from running whatever software on it he desired, including Linux. The hardware under discussion is designed to prevent the use of any software that is not signed by a Microsoft crypto key. The problem is not that it is "not designed to run Linux". The problem is that it is "designed to not run Linux".
You're seriously bringing $99 rite aid tablets into this discussion?
Yes. I actually have many of these in the house. Two are SuperSonic SC-72MID. They are quite fine with a HTML5 browser, Google Play and even FlashPlayer preinstalled. There are many similar brands and models at this price which are quite fine as long as they have capacitive 5-point touch, acceptable display, uSDHC and Google Play, Android 4.0. $89 + tax delivered. Plus $12 for a uSDHC card. I've got one sitting next to me as I type this, and it's a huge win at the price. Not an Enterprise tablet, but well worth the money for home. Between now and summer given the progress in mobile you will be able to get tablets 2x as good for less.
There are still some lame old resistive Android 2.3 tablets in the market, and I suspect that is the basis of your experience. Give the new ones a try.
The world is different now.
At least on this, we agree.
You are missing the point perhaps that having burned every buyer of "Windows tablets" for 15 years so badly with poor products and huge promises, all of them have sworn off the practice forever. If they still have jobs at all. They have truly been that bad.
On battery life, the Atoms that were promised for Christmas are delayed until summer for driver issues related to sleep states. The mainstream Intel processor versions don't have the battery life you speak of, nor the sexy slimline form factors, nor the low weights of competing tablets.
On price, you can get a 7" Android tablet now for $90, or 10" for $130 - and they work fine. If you pay more you can get more. Between now and summer the platform will advance again and you will be able to get more for less.
Ability to run legacy apps is a trap. They're deprecating legacy apps. Eventually they want to break app compat with legacy apps because the situation has become unmaintainable.
A Windows tablet is something you sell to somebody you never want to darken your doorstep again. It's a "farewell product". As IT staff it's the last joke you play on the customers who tormented you before you retire. This is not going to go well for Microsoft.
That's what the fine article is about. It's not a general purpose machine. It does have a bogus barrier. It is a machine deliberately designed to not accept any bootloader that's not signed with a Microsoft key. It is designed, literally, to prevent other operating systems from running on it.
Now, there are probably some programming engines in it that are Turing Complete, and so can run User Mode Linux in a limited way. But that's not the full use of the device we're talking about.
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Ghandi