Spyware By Any Other Name Is Still Garbage

A few days ago Cybersouth had an article about Windows Vista and took a stance indicating support and use of this relatively new operating system, with the exception of Vista Home Basic which is a very weak, watered down version. I still feel it will be on most everyone's PC eventually in spite of the woesayers and psychotic ads run by the goofballs at Apple. I'm sorry, if you own 3-4% of the market share and you sling mud at someone that owns almost 90% then you're like a small snotty nosed diapered child throwing a temper tantrum. Grow up Apple. Spend that ad money in research and make a better, less expensive computer. There are others that whine and complain, but their part in the big picture is to be whiners.

Ed Bott's Microsoft Report has touched on one of the real problems concerning Microsoft and its line of operating systems. WGA, Windows Genuine Authentication, will shut down Vista if it is not properly activated within 30 days. Absurd. It also will want an explanation of hardware changes within 3 days or shut down. Absurd. This little idea was dreamed up by head clown and buffoon Steve Ballmer (pictured at left) and his group of paranoids at Microsoft Central. WGA is also active in Windows XP and Windows 2000. They both were retrofitted after the paranoids pushed this goofy idea through the channels. This is a DIRECT invasion of privacy. It is none of Microsoft's business how I change hardware as long as I've spent MY money to buy their product off the shelf!! If you want to argue this then get in line behind the Apple goons. Thankfully, Mr. Bott's article reports that Microsoft is changing this weird procedure. Soon to be released Vista Service Pack 1 should make some positive changes for users.

It's simple. Microsoft! Quit punishing the consuming public because you are not writing secure code. All the billions of dollars spent on this outright blatant spyware called WGA should have been spent in research and development. While we are at it there's another piece of information that needs airing. If you upgrade an existing version of Windows with Vista it will destroy your older version of Windows that you upgrade. Yep, that's a fact. Don't worry, though. Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows has a procedure for overcoming this problem. I think people that buy upgrades should get the price break due to being previous Windows users. I might want that old copy of XP to go on another PC and I absolutely don't think that Microsoft has the right to destroy it. It was bought and paid for just like the new version of Vista. Only the most fanatical Windows Nazis will disagree.

This is not written to promote piracy or slam Microsoft. It is information everyone should know. My recent change of video cards, inclusion of more memory and reloading Vista Ultimate on a new set of hard drives DID NOT require any type of overt WGA voodoo. This is not to say they didn't snoop around behind the scenes. No doubt, I still think people should upgrade to Vista and enjoy the perks of a more secure OS that has great potential. Remember, if you need that old copy of XP be sure purchase the full version of Vista or chance using the above procedure if you agree with me about the upgrade version. The Good Lord knows I will ALWAYS be against any form of spyware no matter the source. Microsoft needs to stay out of my business and then there will be no complaints here. Stop calling on my machine for MRUs. Do away with WGA period. Start treating your customers like people instead of vassals. Gosh, you'd think Steve Jobs had taken over Microsoft!

Hopefully, this will get better. Soon. Please Mr. Gates. Stop all this spyware period. Make Service Pack 1 for Vista really awesome which will make Microsoft really awesome again. And get rid of that idiot Steve Ballmer.

“Privacy is not something that I'm merely entitled to, it's an absolute prerequisite.”
~George Washington