Wow! talk about your m$ propaganda site, eesh! I still hold a preference for certain m$ products and I wouldn't exactly call myself an m$ hater but that Paul Thurrott guy is so borgishly brainwashed by m$ that it makes me a little queasy to read his reviews.

Besides the fact that reading it left a bad aftertaste in my mouth, it is still interesting to see what's coming down the pipe.

I wrote the author of the site an e-mail:

Hi,

Allthough I respect the fact that you like Microsoft product (after all many are good) I would still like to know whether you know the flipside of the coin. Did you read the comments on Palladium for this site http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/tcpa-faq.html for instance?

I'm very curious about his answer, how about you guys?
Anne

The article already mentioned what he thought about other opinions of Palladium.

Make sure to read my soon to be released article and maybe participate by contributing information before it hits the press.

true, this is his answer:

"Yep. Completely bogus.

TCPA and Palladium are not the same thing.

Lots of good speculation and opinion on this "FAQ," not facts."

Well, let's hope his mp3's won't get deleted as soon as he hits the internet with his brandnew longhorn installation

Anne

I wouldn't have much of a problem with losing mp3's and other software that I downloaded for free. The problem that I have with the Microsoft OS is that I'm not in control at any time while using it. If Microsoft wants to change something than I am forced to accept it. It's not a research operating system like Linux, but instead it is just for consumers, even if you are a programmer, and that is because the implementation is closed. I find that Microsoft programmers feel that they are in control through Win32. Yet it's just an interface. If Microsoft undocumented that interface in the next version of the Windows Platform, than you would be locked out.

The one thing that encouraged me about that article is that I don't have to use Longhorn. I can stay with Linux.

Be carefull though, if indeed it's true that a server can block-out those computers (under the pretext of them not being trustworthy) that don't have the Fritz-chip activated then you might just find yourself cut off from a major part of the internet.

Anne

I don't think they will be able to do that, they would have to much of a fight on their hands.

hey guess what?

this sucks.

Hi,

I seriously doubt anything like that could/would happen. Im not doubting the technology but the human side ability. Like Edward78 said, "they would have to much of a fight on their hands."

Microsoft is getting in trouble because they made their MSN/Hotmail site act up when Opera browsers hit their site and they were called on it. I doubt they could pull something this big. At least, I hope not.

I agree, but at the same time I acknowledge the fact that allthough we might seem a large group here on sites like this, we are but a minority.
Most computer users (including companies) are very happy using Microsoft products and either don't bother with what Microsoft has cooked up or just swallow it b/c they feel that Microsoft makes such great products and therefor it must be a good company.
I've had these discussions with several people including colleagues and my dad and they just say that they don't understand at all why I make such a problem out of Microsoft's monopoly and why I don't like their marketing strategies.

Anne

Even if it is the case that all of these security features will be set but the user and not Microsoft, I don't think it will end there. People are basically stupid, if you try to take away a lot at one time they will complain, however, if you do it little bits at a time and then tell them it's for their own security, they don't mind that.

Benjamin Franklin said it best- Those who will give up a little freedom for a little security deserve neither freedom nor security

I know the quote isn't exact but it's the exact same meaning.

Also, what's to stop the software companies from using this to screw the public out of a little more money. For example.. you no longer buy the software, you have to purchace year leases on it. Or after 2 more versions come out and you haven't upgraded it stops working because of "security features" This is the stuff that really concerns me.

People are entirely too gullable..especially when it comes to their 'security'. They go ape sh*t and will do just about anything to feel secure and believe whatever they are told. Grow up and do something completely moronic and utterly unamerican... think for yourself. Use a little common sence.

Thuis is not to anyone in particular here, just the general public. We all know how they are.

they already do this - look at the new intuit scheme for the current turbotax (lots of articles at cnet if you're interested) - basically m$ product activation for a consumer-level app.

at least they didn't go so far as to say it's for 'security' reasons, but like you said that's a very effective ploy, so expect that soon.

and expect m$ to play that angle as a main strategy to dupe people into palladium. maybe a few helpful alerts about 'cyber-terrorism' in the media to add momentum near the release date might help as well...

The most frightening thing (well, its all frightening really) about "security" patches is that it is then in the companies best interests to make an insecure or buggy interface that has to be patched.