Most of their user base is unfortunately computer illiterate. These users don't really know what a program is. They think of everything has buttons and windows. They buy a computer with Windows. They use Internet Explorer because it comes with it. So then 85% of their costomers are using MSIE. Then Microsoft make money selling Frontpage and maybe even ISS.
I am not going to buy a peice of hardware or software just because it has been endorsed by some obscure celeberties I have never heard of. Even if I did know them, I still wouldn't. Apple and Microsoft are only going to get impulsive buyers who buy just because there is a famous name on it. They won't encourage informed consumers, however they might annoy them.
Granted that Linux might have more vulnerabilities if it had the user base of Windows, those vulnerabilities would be lessened because Linux (and *BSD) takes many security precautions that Windows doesn't by default. Such as not running as root (unless you are talking about Linspire).
While I am somewhat inclined to agree with you, MS won't do this because of the time required. Users are too impatient for a new OS release to wait for an entire rewrite. Even with Longhorn, MS has been cutting features to stick to a realistic deadline. And MS is not likely to allow MSIE to be uninstalled unless forced to by legal authority because if they did, it would make them look like hiporcrits after claiming they can't remove MSIE because it is part of the OS. I do beleive MS will continue to add security features to the OS, like they did in SP2. Also, not to be an MS apologist (I run FreeBSD as well as being a slacker), but I think it is difficult for MS to keep track of all the code being appended to the Windows sourcecode repository. MS does try to be strict however (such as not allowing developers to touch the Windows source until they read through a book and such).
Lexmark obviously wants to track ink jet cartridge usage because that is where they get their most profit. They probably want to know when consumers start switching to a more viable printing technology
so they can jump on the bandwagon.
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They also endorse Microsoft... http://www.google.com/microsoft.html
Most of their user base is unfortunately computer illiterate. These users don't really know what a program is. They think of everything has buttons and windows. They buy a computer with Windows. They use Internet Explorer because it comes with it. So then 85% of their costomers are using MSIE. Then Microsoft make money selling Frontpage and maybe even ISS.
I am not going to buy a peice of hardware or software just because it has been endorsed by some obscure celeberties I have never heard of. Even if I did know them, I still wouldn't. Apple and Microsoft are only going to get impulsive buyers who buy just because there is a famous name on it. They won't encourage informed consumers, however they might annoy them.
Granted that Linux might have more vulnerabilities if it had the user base of Windows, those vulnerabilities would be lessened because Linux (and *BSD) takes many security precautions that Windows doesn't by default. Such as not running as root (unless you are talking about Linspire).
While I am somewhat inclined to agree with you, MS won't do this because of the time required. Users are too impatient for a new OS release to wait for an entire rewrite. Even with Longhorn, MS has been cutting features to stick to a realistic deadline. And MS is not likely to allow MSIE to be uninstalled unless forced to by legal authority because if they did, it would make them look like hiporcrits after claiming they can't remove MSIE because it is part of the OS. I do beleive MS will continue to add security features to the OS, like they did in SP2. Also, not to be an MS apologist (I run FreeBSD as well as being a slacker), but I think it is difficult for MS to keep track of all the code being appended to the Windows sourcecode repository. MS does try to be strict however (such as not allowing developers to touch the Windows source until they read through a book and such).
Lexmark obviously wants to track ink jet cartridge usage because that is where they get their most profit. They probably want to know when consumers start switching to a more viable printing technology so they can jump on the bandwagon.