MS bans patches from magazine cover disks?

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

Apparently MS in the USA has decided that magazines can no longer
provide MS code (SP1a, DX9.0b, etc.) on their cover CDs. I boggle at
this, given that much of the world isn't on, and won't be for ages,
broadband, and these suckers are huge.

Maybe someone from MS would like to comment/explain? Any =logical=
explanation would do .. personally I rely on these things for many
service packs and major patches.

 

[Wizard]

Wouldn't you think that a fellow with some 40-odd billion to his name
could see his way clear to occasionally send us a free CD with all of
the
patches to his $200 OS? I know he has my name and address because I
had to give it to him when I received a flawed XP Pro CD ROM disk and
I called for a replacement. I really don't think that's asking too
much...

Apparently MS in the USA has decided that magazines can no longer
provide MS code (SP1a, DX9.0b, etc.) on their cover CDs. I boggle at
this, given that much of the world isn't on, and won't be for ages,
broadband, and these suckers are huge.

Maybe someone from MS would like to comment/explain? Any =logical=
explanation would do .. personally I rely on these things for many
service packs and major patches.

typing.

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

Wouldn't you think that a fellow with some 40-odd billion to his name
could see his way clear to occasionally send us a free CD with all of
the
patches to his $200 OS? I know he has my name and address because I
had to give it to him when I received a flawed XP Pro CD ROM disk and
I called for a replacement. I really don't think that's asking too
much...

Hmm Xp Pro is more like a $300-$400 OS, at least in these parts .. and
you're asking more than I was .. I can't imagine it costs MS =anything=
to let the reputable PC magazines distribute the stuff to their readers
... which has to be cheaper than sending CDs out (fat chance!).