vista got died.
Yes, for those of you who haven't experienced this already, Vista is a pain in the ass to work with.
A large percentage of my loyal readers already know this, but for those who don't, I work in a local computer repair shop. We sell, maintain, and repair systems - pretty self-explanatory. However, since last summer, we've had all sorts of fun fixing customers' systems after the WGA debacle. There's a laundry list of reasons why the WGA doesn't work. The fun part? Most are incredibly hard to find and are even harder to fix. I can personally recall two systems I've had to reinstall Windows on (after just installing it, mind you) due to unrecoverable problems with WGA. I've also resorted to, well, less honorable methods. (*cough*wpakill*cough*)
So what does all of this have to do with Vista, you ask? Well, I'm glad you did. According to this recent article by ZDNet, these issues are continuing to happen with Vista. Legitimate users are having problems dealing with Windows Software Protection Platform (hereafter referred to as SPP) and basic, up-to-date software that the average user deals with. Apparantly, Vista thinks a lot of software acts like rootkits and then decides to call the operating system "tampered with" and illegitimate. Go Vista.
What makes it even better, going by the article, is that a SPP problem can also be caused by some other commonplace actions:
Sound familiar? It should - these actions occur on a daily. fucking. basis. And I checked this out - it's directly from the powers that be at Redmond.
Yeah, Vista's new. However, WGA isn't, and the problems with that are still occurring. I'd bet all $4 in my bank account that this crap is going to continue for a long, long time. This means the average user is going to encounter anti-piracy at it's finest, not know what it means, and become frustrated at a "system they paid hundreds of dollars for that doesn't work right." Why is that quoted? Because I'm quoting about a hundred customers at the shop that I've personally dealt with on this.
So, if you're my average reader, you skipped all of this and are looking for the witty and quick comment at the end. Well, here it is: Microsoft, in all of its glory, is steamrolling the average user yet again. Their system still isn't secure, and never will be to the people that want to crack it. They're just screwing the little guy over in the end.
Related:
Blue Pill (a hypervisor to run unsigned code on a Vista system) and the fun story behind it.
Want to be anti-Microsoft? Do your part with open-source software, such as OpenOffice, Firefox, and Thunderbird.
A large percentage of my loyal readers already know this, but for those who don't, I work in a local computer repair shop. We sell, maintain, and repair systems - pretty self-explanatory. However, since last summer, we've had all sorts of fun fixing customers' systems after the WGA debacle. There's a laundry list of reasons why the WGA doesn't work. The fun part? Most are incredibly hard to find and are even harder to fix. I can personally recall two systems I've had to reinstall Windows on (after just installing it, mind you) due to unrecoverable problems with WGA. I've also resorted to, well, less honorable methods. (*cough*wpakill*cough*)
So what does all of this have to do with Vista, you ask? Well, I'm glad you did. According to this recent article by ZDNet, these issues are continuing to happen with Vista. Legitimate users are having problems dealing with Windows Software Protection Platform (hereafter referred to as SPP) and basic, up-to-date software that the average user deals with. Apparantly, Vista thinks a lot of software acts like rootkits and then decides to call the operating system "tampered with" and illegitimate. Go Vista.
What makes it even better, going by the article, is that a SPP problem can also be caused by some other commonplace actions:
You may be prompted to activate Windows Vista on a computer on which Windows Vista activation was not previously required. Although this problem rarely occurs, it may occur during typical use of a Windows Vista-based computer. For example, this problem may occur under one or more of the following conditions:
• You install a device driver. • You install a program. • You run a new program. • You remove a program.
Sound familiar? It should - these actions occur on a daily. fucking. basis. And I checked this out - it's directly from the powers that be at Redmond.
Yeah, Vista's new. However, WGA isn't, and the problems with that are still occurring. I'd bet all $4 in my bank account that this crap is going to continue for a long, long time. This means the average user is going to encounter anti-piracy at it's finest, not know what it means, and become frustrated at a "system they paid hundreds of dollars for that doesn't work right." Why is that quoted? Because I'm quoting about a hundred customers at the shop that I've personally dealt with on this.
So, if you're my average reader, you skipped all of this and are looking for the witty and quick comment at the end. Well, here it is: Microsoft, in all of its glory, is steamrolling the average user yet again. Their system still isn't secure, and never will be to the people that want to crack it. They're just screwing the little guy over in the end.
Related:
Blue Pill (a hypervisor to run unsigned code on a Vista system) and the fun story behind it.
Want to be anti-Microsoft? Do your part with open-source software, such as OpenOffice, Firefox, and Thunderbird.
5 comments:
I refuse to click on that Thunderbird link. Because I know that the best way to fight Microsoft is by imbibing vast quantities of Thunderbird fortified wine, and that link will shatter my world forever.
All I can say, as a CS major, a big fan of Ubuntu Linux and someone with enough foresight to realize that Google will eventually take over the world, is that I'm just patiently awaiting Goobuntu. If you're not running Linux yet, I recommend throwing a copy of Ubuntu on your computer if you have a free partition. Linux (as well as Mac OSX) have had all the eye candy that Vista has been bragging about since months before they released, and it works better too. Linux also now has support for IE and the .NET environment. Also, did I mention it's free, and has far better free support than Windows will ever have? The only thing I use Windows for anymore is running games now and then.
I agree with Tristan on Ubuntu. As a complete and utterly useless Linux user, I can say that I have had no trouble doing boring day to day activities with the OS.
BUT, I honestly think that OSX is probably my most favorite OS to date. There really is no simpler way to install a program. You drag it into your Applications folder. Done. How can you argue with that? Now if it would run on all computers, I think it would be more popular than that silly iPhone.
My only problem (that is evident at the moment) with Linux installs is networking. Filesharing itself in a home network isn't much of a problem - so long as the file formats are compatible, Windows can see a Linux box and vice-versa.
The problem itself lies in other devices that aren't so robust. I've got an Xbox 360, and it LOVES Windows. Go figure, eh? Well, I stream my media through that thing, and getting it to play nice with Linux is a foreseen nightmare.
So, if I can get Linux to work with the Xbox, I'm set. Otherwise, I'm stuck with Windows.
Oddly enough, right now, it would seem my 360 hates Windows. Maybe more specifically my computer.
I can't say I have an opinion on this whole OS topic. I've only really used Windows. Sure, I'm on my 2nd copy of XP because the 1st exploded. Sure, I've taken steps to make my PC appear more Mac like. I enjoyed OSX, but I only really got to use it at school, so it was never in depth. And Linux scares me, like a yeti does. i'm sure it's neat, but I've never seen it.
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