Open letter to MS

[TomP]

To Microsoft,

RE: Windows XP

I must say that I am not, at all, pleased with the "new"
(critical & security) updater. It would seem that in your
infinite wisdom - the (average) user is not capable of
making the correct decisions regarding which update should
be applied. On two occasions this past week, as part of a
XP repair, I tried to apply the latest security updates to
the clients PC. I loaded the newest "updater" (this is
now required) to proceed. I choose "Custom Install", in
which case, the PC just sat there spinning its wheels for
30 minutes (scanning my PC) before I terminated the
process - choose "Express Install". This then loaded
every update that was available. I had no options to
choose and pick which updates "I" felt were needed, in
this instance.

On the second occasion (one of my personal PC's) I tried
to by-pass the newer updater - no luck. I tried to
download the updates from the download site - no luck. It
seems that I needed to start the "Automatic Update
Service" (which I purposely disabled) and I could proceed
no further.

Some months ago I migrated my users over to a Mozilla
browser and mail utility to avoid all the potential
problems using IE and Outlook involve. I will now be
migrating my users over to Linux. This way, I will have
the ability to put on my PC's what I feel is necessary and
needed - not what Microsoft feels is in my best interest.

* ftr:
I am a MCSE and have helped trained many others on the
MCSE track, since "99"

Regards,
TomP

 

[Tony Allen]

Nice post

 

[Guest]

TomP

From day 1, with Windows XP, I have always had Automatic update turned on
for a 1:00 a.m. download on one computer and 3:00 a.m. on the other. I have
never been selective and it has worked. Our computer club has also found that
automatic update on its 15 Windows SP computers has kept us out of problems.
This was especially true during the summer of 2003 when the patch was
applied before the massive worm attacks.

We did receive a Windows XP SP2 CD and installed it on all computers. We
religiously use auto update on all copies of our antivirus programs.

To keep the adware at bay along with other security issues, we installed
Mozilla Firefox and set it as the default browser.

 

[moses]

TomP -
I don't totally disagree with you, but your "open letter"
to Microsoft probably isn't isn't going to be read by any
one there. And if it is, well so what if they lose a few
to Linux. Problem with Linux is that there just isn't the
huge variety of programs available to run on it. And a lot
of the peripheral hardware won't work without drivers.
mo -------------------------------------------------------

 

[D.R.]

TomP -
I don't totally disagree with you, but your "open letter"
to Microsoft probably isn't isn't going to be read by any
one there. And if it is, well so what if they lose a few
to Linux. Problem with Linux is that there just isn't the
huge variety of programs available to run on it. And a lot
of the peripheral hardware won't work without drivers.
mo -------------------------------------------------------

There is a huge amount of software available for Linux. Just not too many
commercial apps or games. Debian Linux's last release was 8 CD's big full of
software. The next release will be far bigger. There are plenty of office apps,
cd burning apps, multimedia tools, etc. Just not too many big names have ported
their software to it yet.

I am really happy running Debian "Sid" on my desktop pc, and SuSE 9.1 on my
laptop. RTCW Enemy Territory (and Americas Army) runs natively and smooth with
my ATI Radeon. The proprietary drivers are great. NVidia's are better.

Everyday, there is becoming less reason to keep upgrading through MS product
releases, and more reason to migrate to Linux. No wonder why MS spreads such
lies about Open Source/Linux. I haven't bought a MS package since Win98SE and
Office 97. Of course I install XP/2003 Server for my customers who need a
domain, etc.

D.R.

 

[D.R.]

To Microsoft,

RE: Windows XP

I must say that I am not, at all, pleased with the "new"
(critical & security) updater. It would seem that in your
infinite wisdom - the (average) user is not capable of
making the correct decisions regarding which update should
be applied. On two occasions this past week, as part of a
XP repair, I tried to apply the latest security updates to
the clients PC. I loaded the newest "updater" (this is
now required) to proceed. I choose "Custom Install", in
which case, the PC just sat there spinning its wheels for
30 minutes (scanning my PC) before I terminated the
process - choose "Express Install". This then loaded
every update that was available. I had no options to
choose and pick which updates "I" felt were needed, in
this instance.

On the second occasion (one of my personal PC's) I tried
to by-pass the newer updater - no luck. I tried to
download the updates from the download site - no luck. It
seems that I needed to start the "Automatic Update
Service" (which I purposely disabled) and I could proceed
no further.

Some months ago I migrated my users over to a Mozilla
browser and mail utility to avoid all the potential
problems using IE and Outlook involve. I will now be
migrating my users over to Linux. This way, I will have
the ability to put on my PC's what I feel is necessary and
needed - not what Microsoft feels is in my best interest.

* ftr:
I am a MCSE and have helped trained many others on the
MCSE track, since "99"

Regards,
TomP

Amen!

 

[Tom]

TomP -
I don't totally disagree with you, but your "open letter"
to Microsoft probably isn't isn't going to be read by any
one there. And if it is, well so what if they lose a few
to Linux. Problem with Linux is that there just isn't the
huge variety of programs available to run on it. And a lot
of the peripheral hardware won't work without drivers.
mo -------------------------------------------------------

I don't know how long it has been since you've last used any Linux distro (if any at all), but hardware support with Suse 8.0 and up, as well as Mandrake 9.0 and up are totally supported by all the hardware manufacturers. Even software writers are getting inline for the newer distros of Linux.

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

On the Windows Update page, select Administrative Options/Windows Update
Catalog. You can download any and all updates you want and install them
offline. The Automatic Update service does not need to be enabled; however
if you are running SP2, you made need to allow the connection.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Mark Jones]

I am a MCSE and have helped trained many others on the
MCSE track, since "99"

A lot of long time Microsoft developers and support people
are getting fed up with the fact that decisions regarding
what is appropriate for their systems is being taken away.

I too have run into problems with the updater and haven't
found a way around it. For now, I am avoiding it until MS
fixes it.

 

[Gary Labowitz]

TomP,

I have noticed that most writers in these discussion groups that have
problems, have one of two attibutes; 1. No firewall or antivirus program, and
2. Tweakers.

Once again, our computer club in our retirment community of 10,000 folks
makes "house calls." We find a third attribute, "experts" have invariably
"worked" on the systems before we are called. "Experts" are defined as
children and grandchildren of our neighbors.

We fully update the operating system and newer versions of utilities like
the Adobe Reader, Ad-aware, and Belarc Advisor. The Belard program provides a
list of the hardware and software installed on the system. That knowledge
make for easier trouble shooting.

Amen. I have settled on W2K and have never had a virus or problem. I update
with any MS updates that apply to my hardware config. My students and
brother (a Luddite) constantly have problems, lost data, viruses, crashes,
etc. and are totally helpless to fix them. They all are running a variety of
"garbage" apps that they download --- music players, video games, messaging
systems --- all with really "kool" names (excuse me: "namez"). Advice of
"not to do that" fall on deaf ears until they are lost.

I have used Belarc for some time and can't believe that every system
administrator in the world hasn't heard of it.

Am I a fool living in a fool's paradise, and just lucky, or by playing by
the rules and keeping a clean shop am I doing something right?

I'm not saying that a malicious attacker couldn't break into my system and
cause havoc, but barring a direct attack I seem to be okay.

 

[Shane]

TomP -
I don't totally disagree with you, but your "open letter"
to Microsoft probably isn't isn't going to be read by any
one there. And if it is, well so what if they lose a few
to Linux. Problem with Linux is that there just isn't the
huge variety of programs available to run on it. And a lot
of the peripheral hardware won't work without drivers.
mo -------------------------------------------------------

I don't know how long it has been since you've last used any Linux distro
(if any at all), but hardware support with Suse 8.0 and up, as well as
Mandrake 9.0 and up are totally supported by all the hardware manufacturers.
Even software writers are getting inline for the newer distros of Linux.


Half the Windows users in the world would have to buy a new modem before
they could even go on-line.


Shane

 

[Kelly]

How to Contact the Microsoft Wish Program
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;114491

 

[Tom]

I don't know how long it has been since you've last used any Linux distro
(if any at all), but hardware support with Suse 8.0 and up, as well as
Mandrake 9.0 and up are totally supported by all the hardware manufacturers.
Even software writers are getting inline for the newer distros of Linux.


Half the Windows users in the world would have to buy a new modem before
they could even go on-line.

HUH?

 

[Shane]

I don't know how long it has been since you've last used any Linux distro
(if any at all), but hardware support with Suse 8.0 and up, as well as
Mandrake 9.0 and up are totally supported by all the hardware manufacturers.
Even software writers are getting inline for the newer distros of Linux.


Half the Windows users in the world would have to buy a new modem before
they could even go on-line.

HUH?

There's almost zero winmodem support in Linux. You're lucky if you can get
an example driver you can then adapt for your own chipset - but how many
winmodem users can rewrite a driver anyway?

Shane

 

[Steve N.]

HUH?

There's almost zero winmodem support in Linux. You're lucky if you can get
an example driver you can then adapt for your own chipset - but how many
winmodem users can rewrite a driver anyway?

Shane

This is because winmodem manufacturers will not release their
proprietary chipset code for Linux developers to create working drivers
from. Winmodems are not true modems anyway, but "telephone interfaces"
to the CPU and less efficient than a true modem concerning CPU
utilization. A real modem is cheap enough to not make this a huge
barrier and a lot easier to install and use in any OS. Last I saw a Zoom
external v.92 56K serial modem was about $50.

Steve

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Tom;
If you want Microsoft to see this, you are posting to the wrong place,
Microsoft does not officially monitor these peer to peer support
groups.

Try here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=114491
And...
http://register.microsoft.com/mswis...=/isapi/gomscom.asp?target=/mswish/thanks.htm

 

[NobodyMan]

I don't know how long it has been since you've last used any Linux distro (if any at all), but hardware support with Suse 8.0 and up, as well as Mandrake 9.0 and up are totally supported by all the hardware manufacturers. Even software writers are getting inline for the newer distros of Linux.

The reason Linux and/or Unix will never dominate the home market is
ease of use. I can't just slam in a new card and have the OS walk me
through it's installation like you can over 90% of the time with
Windows.

I am not slamming Linux in any way. If you are computer savy and like
to tweak your system, then Linux is for you. It is powerful OS. For
ease of use of the average Home user, Linux is NOT the way to go.