Re: W32.Licum Gaelicum.A

Roger Wilco wrote:

> > Wouldn't it be nice to give grandma an OS that was safe
> > "out-of-the-box" ???
>
> While on your soapbox you switch back and forth between
> Microsoft's admittedly buggy software and their penchant
> for the non-minimalist approach to the 'out of the box'
> experience.

There's no switching involved. Those 3 items (buggy software,
non-minimalist software, and "out-of-box" configuration) exist
simultaneously with XP (and 2K).

MS's non-minimalist approach is driven by their internal need to put
out a new OS every 2 years. It requires them to come up with new
mechanisms, additional complexity to help insure the obselescence of
older OS's. Security was LOW on their list because their target,
their most prized and primary customer base (mid to large-size
corporations, institutions, gov'ts, etc) hid their computers behind
firewalls (assuming their networks even had gate-way access to the
internet).

The single largest difference between Win-98 and NT/2K was DESKTOP
LOGIN SECURITY and PERMISSION-BASED FILE/NETWORK ACCESS, neither of
which was needed for the single-user/home-user/soho situation.

> Hundreds of thousands of "grandma's" calling them up to ask how
> to re-configure their machine to offer services they now feel
> they need for some reason was to be avoided by the non-minimalist
> approach.

The home market was, and continues to be largely irrelevant to MS.
How much do you think MS is getting for XP-home on a Dell pc that is
selling for $399?

How many grandma's out there would ultimately need to activate desktop
sharing or remote administration, or netbios or default administrative
shares or network DDE or administrative alerts?

> So, Microsoft has polluted the internet with "grandma servers"
> in this respect just as they have done with other forms of
> allowing clueless users to use computers.

Yes they have, and eventually more people will look above the trees
and see this forest for what it really is. In the mean time, most
everyone will be too focused on those "evil doers" who are exploiting
XP boxes and look upon MS with awe as they release patch after patch
and even subscription-based solutions to fix the situation that they
themselves created.

> If you are advocating only clueful users be enabled to use
> computers

I am advocating that people question the merits of XP over Win-98 for
home use and put some blame on MS for knowingly releasing what is
essentially a mega-trojan (Windows XP) when not administered by a
proper IT department.

> Microsoft has done quite alot to enable the common man
> to use a computer

Only because it suits them, and only in ways that strengthen their
monopoly position. They've also done a lot to intimidate and
strong-arm alternatives and competitors.

XP on home computers starting in early 2002 was a major setback to the
internet and people's use of it. The internet is the PRIMARY (and in
many cases the only) reason why so many homes have computers. It's
too bad Microsoft has made so many people's computing experience so
tortuous and complicated.
.

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