Author Topic: Microsoft Bait 'n Switch? Naaw, not Microsoft... (Read 666 times)

OneST8 · « **on:** April 05, 2007, 08:29:12 am »

Microsoft Sued Over Deceptive 'Vista-Capable' Sticker

Ok, so I find this stuff funny. Just don't sue me! haha!

Kindo · « **Reply #1 on:** April 05, 2007, 10:56:13 am »

Stoopid Microsoft.

Marswipp · « **Reply #2 on:** April 05, 2007, 05:08:38 pm »

I think the only reason this has happened is because Microsoft Corporation has a deathgrip on the majority of the commercially produced personal computers. Not to mention that Microsoft Corporation (and Adobe) take advantage of the resulting larger advantage (price-gouging) resulting from the limited choice.

MJZ · « **Reply #3 on:** April 05, 2007, 06:17:27 pm »

All the Vista nonsense is just too hilarious. It doesn't even make me smile. **Looks down at the "Vista Capable!" sticker on her laptop** I bought you for school when my PC's HD mysteriously died while I was on vacation! Nothing more!

Every other day I tell myself I've had enough of MS. Then I fire up Linux and groan about the new things I haven't yet learned, and boot back into MS. Laziness knows no bounds. (Or lack of time, however you want to put it.) Just a couple of days ago, I installed a vital MS security update. Which resulted in the destruction of my Realtech soundcard dll. Contact distributor for a new dll. Yep, I'll just call Realtech right up.

But whaddya mean, Adobe? Not Adobe!! PS is so... so... integral!!

hawklen · « **Reply #4 on:** April 05, 2007, 06:40:59 pm »

Vista Home Basic, "which has been described by one reviewer as 'the most pointless edition of Windows that Microsoft has ever released'."

That made me giggle

Dorganath · « **Reply #5 on:** April 05, 2007, 08:20:41 pm »

Yeah, OK...I'm going to play Devil's Advocate here...And it's all in good spirits

1) I thought Microsoft Bashing as a participant sport went out in the late 1990's...

2) Microsoft historically publishes bare minimums for being able to support their OSes. This has always been the case, and they are frequently about 50% of what one should generally treat as the minimums. I'm sure other OS Vendors do this as well...even the Linux distros...in order to attempt to appeal to a broader market.

3) It is not Microsoft's fault that a hardware vendor does not built their machines to specifications over the minimums.

4) Yeah, Vista Basic is pretty useless...but this confusion, in my opinion, is the problem being introduced here is that there are 5 versions of Vista (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate and Enterprise). XP had 3 versions (Home, Professional and Media Center). The requirements of each are vastly different for maximum benefit.

5) The "Aero" GUI is NOT Windows Vista...sorry. Windows Vista is the operating system, not the GUI. To say otherwise is like saying Gnome is Linux.

I'm sure there's more, and no, I'm not a shareholder in Microsoft, but it's really easy to attack them for no other reason but that they're the biggest ones in the room. But meh...not worth arguing. Everyone has their preferences, and all OSes have their shortcomings.

And for what it's worth, my PC at work is running Vista on a machine never stickered for Vista and bought a good year ago with full "Aero" eye-candy across two 1680x1050 20" LCD monitors operating at full resolution and it doesn't skip a beat.

YMMV :p

MJZ · « **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2007, 09:26:30 pm »

Quote from: Dorganath

1) I thought Microsoft Bashing as a participant sport went out in the late 1990's...

Never! Windows bashing shall never die, so long as Windows lives on! :p

Quote from: Dorganath

....but it's really easy to attack them for no other reason but that they're the biggest ones in the room.

That's not the reason.. the reasons are such that their software is purposefully incompatible with other non-MS software, loading a video in WMP will cause all other video programs to crash afterwards, installing updates damages often more than it fixes, drivers drivers drivers error error error, blue screen of death (which STILL happens!!), monopolies make the evil overlords who run them not give a bibble... *continues in a complicated and rambling manner*

Quote from: Dorganath

And for what it's worth, my PC at work is running Vista on a machine never stickered for Vista

Which only proves that it was all a ploy! A ploy I tells ya!

Dorganath · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2007, 09:46:46 pm »

The BSoD is caused far more by 3rd-party software and drivers than the OS or Microsoft's software.

ALL OSes can crash when an unstable element is introduced.

And yes, they ARE attacked because they're the biggest one in the room.

If (and it's a big IF) Linux or MacOS (any version) had the same market penetration as Windows:

* People would bash them with equal fervor
* More malware writers would target those platforms.

Though the latter may happen anyway...since Linux, MacOS and Windows can all run on Intel-based platforms, it's just a matter of time before someone smart figures out how to write and deploy a cross-OS virus.

Whee! This is fun! :p

darkstorme · « **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2007, 10:48:34 pm »

*applauds Dorg for taking such a dangerous stance*

(Mind you, I've been developing MFC stuff for the better part of a month, now, so I've taken to drawing little devil horns on any M-soft logos I run across. :S)

Dorganath · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2007, 10:58:04 pm »

Switch to .NET...your brain will thank you.

hawklen · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2007, 10:59:45 pm »

Quote from: Dorganath

Switch to .NET...your brain will thank you.

Yer crazy!! @_@

Dorganath · « **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2007, 11:18:06 pm »

Quote from: hawklen

Yer crazy!! @_@

I am!

But .NET is still much nicer than MFC....and overall, it's a pretty slick framework.

Marswipp · « **Reply #12 on:** April 05, 2007, 11:23:54 pm »

Not to mention its sometimes as buggy as the dickens; it is an MS product after all.

hawklen · « **Reply #13 on:** April 05, 2007, 11:26:59 pm »

I perfer KFC over MFC. Its finger linkin' good!

gilshem ironstone · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2007, 04:38:23 am »

Quote from: Dorganath

Yeah, OK...I'm going to play Devil's Advocate here...And it's all in good spirits

Even though I loathe Microsoft, not for their largeness, but for the tactics that helped them attain their largeness. Any producer of any product, knowingly putting sub-standard product on the market for the sake of a short-term dollar and then billing it as a quantum leap forward for your quality of life is so totally unethical that they should have their corporate charter revoked and thrown in prison. This includes hardware companies involved in intentional obsoletism, to Microsoft, to car companies, to pharms, to whatever. At the end of the day though, only the consumers of these products can hold vendors responsible, because all other institutions are systemically involved in propagating irresponsible behaviour. So although Dorg, you are right we should maybe just move on from Microsoft I also suggest that these sorts of dialogues create momentum to demand greater responsibility from our corporate citizens. So keep on being devil's advocate, and lets hope the angels continue to sing!

hawklen · « **Reply #15 on:** April 06, 2007, 05:27:38 am »

Quote from: gilshem ironstone

Even though I loathe Microsoft, not for their largeness, but for the tactics that helped them attain their largeness. Any producer of any product, knowingly putting sub-standard product on the market for the sake of a short-term dollar and then billing it as a quantum leap forward for your quality of life is so totally unethical that they should have their corporate charter revoked and thrown in prison. This includes hardware companies involved in intentional obsoletism, to Microsoft, to car companies, to pharms, to whatever. At the end of the day though, only the consumers of these products can hold vendors responsible, because all other institutions are systemically involved in propagating irresponsible behaviour. So although Dorg, you are right we should maybe just move on from Microsoft I also suggest that these sorts of dialogues create momentum to demand greater responsibility from our corporate citizens. So keep on being devil's advocate, and lets hope the angels continue to sing!

Uh, is this the part where we burn our underwear and sing protest songs?

Laldiien · « **Reply #16 on:** April 06, 2007, 05:36:25 am »

Quote from: hawklen

Uh, is this the part where we burn our underwear and sing protest songs?

I burn my underware as a matter of course. I'm not trying to make a statement though.

Dorganath · « **Reply #17 on:** April 06, 2007, 08:38:23 am »

Quote from: Laldiien

I burn my underware as a matter of course. I'm not trying to make a statement though.

It's easier than washing them *nods* :p

Faldred · « **Reply #18 on:** April 06, 2007, 08:44:11 am »

Quote from: Dorganath

Switch to .NET...your brain will thank you.

Meh. If you want to program in Java, why not just program in Java?

Dorganath · « **Reply #19 on:** April 06, 2007, 08:48:09 am »

Quote from: gilshem ironstone

Even though I loathe Microsoft, not for their largeness, but for the tactics that helped them attain their largeness. Any producer of any product, knowingly putting sub-standard product on the market for the sake of a short-term dollar and then billing it as a quantum leap forward for your quality of life is so totally unethical that they should have their corporate charter revoked and thrown in prison. This includes hardware companies involved in intentional obsoletism, to Microsoft, to car companies, to pharms, to whatever. At the end of the day though, only the consumers of these products can hold vendors responsible, because all other institutions are systemically involved in propagating irresponsible behaviour. So although Dorg, you are right we should maybe just move on from Microsoft I also suggest that these sorts of dialogues create momentum to demand greater responsibility from our corporate citizens. So keep on being devil's advocate, and lets hope the angels continue to sing!

Ahh...yes...

This is a good, lucid and appropriate comment. And you're very right that this spans much farther than Microsoft, as they certainly did not invent certain business tactics, nor are they the only one's perpetuating their use. That's not an excuse for them by any means, simply a statement on the state of business in general.

On "knowingly releasing sub-standard products"...there are very few products that are without flaws. In a product as complex as a modern , commercial operating system, making one without flaws is unfortunately not really practical. The same could be said for any other popular OS out there...

Rather than release service packs, Apple makes you buy a new version when they improve/add features and fix problems. In the same span of time, Microsoft released Windows XP once with 2 free service packs and many free patches while Apple released 4 or 5 versions of OSX that you had to pay for. Think different! :rolleyes:

And Linux...heh...they're so ashamed of that product they have to give it away...

I don't mind calling Microsoft to the carpet for legitimate reasons, but let's all be honest with ourselves here and not just target them because they're Microsoft.