MS makes yet another smart move 1724

People open up a conventional oven and reach in to check on food (e.g. sticking a toothpick in a cake to see if it's done) all the time. They do similar things with microwave ovens, too... but there are safety interlocks so the radiation shuts off. This is because reaching into an operating microwave oven is dangerous.

People want to smoke near gas pumps. (People want to smoke, period.) You can find people that want all kinds of ridiculous things.

Installing software is a dangerous operation. It needs to be treated with care. Microsoft chose to sow the wind on this one, and they are now reaping the whirlwind.

Data and executables are two different things. Movies and pictures can (and should) be treated one way, executables another. Of course, Microsoft's formats are so incestuous it's hard to tell sometimes (VBA viruses, anyone?) and the file extension system is so broken it can be impossible to tell just what will happen when you click on a file or attachment.

Locking down an XP machine is *harder*. There are apps that won't install and won't run without Administrator privilege. Most people just run as Administrator to avoid the hbuttle. Linux, being based on decades of Unix experience, has no problems with regular users being able to do safe things and unsafe things requiring more privilege.

No. I buttert that OEMs in general are afraid that, whatever options they offer, they *must* offer Windows in order to be profitable. And Microsoft, to stifle compebreastion, does not allow OEMs that get a volume discount to provide systems in a dual-boot configuration.

Microsoft has used OEM deals to prevent compebreastion before (DR-DOS, I've quoted internal emails to you that shows this was their purpose), the DOJ hit them for the same tactics with regard to web browsers... this is no surprise to anyone.

Yeah, people want this:

I did a bit of Googling and found *one* place that would do it. And, if you want Windows, you pay retail OEM price, no volume discounts.

-- Sincerely,

Ray Ingles (313) 227-2317

"Plan B? We're still working on Plan A." - Geoff Morris