Discussion on:

Now it's final. I will NEVER upgrade to Vista.

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Found by Ed Bott of ZDNet (1):

"...Windows was deactivated due to a hardware change. You must activate Windows within 3 days or Windows will stop working. Click to start activation..."

I just found out that if Vista does not like a change you make to your computer, including merely installing software , and requires reactivation, that it sometimes will deactivate within only 3 days, not 30 days.

I greatly dislike but might have accepted 30 days. If this nonsense ever happened, I would surely not lose access to my computer. But, with only 3 days, it is very possible I might. What about 3-day weekends? What about being in a place without Internet access? Without telephone?


This is totally unacceptable

This is completely and totally unacceptable. This is the kind of nonsense I would expect from a shareware program, not from my operating system provided by the world's largest software maker, that sells $120 million in software EVERY SINGLE DAY, clearing $49 million in profit EVERY SINGLE DAY. I am (was) a paying customer. Microsoft does not need to willfully put my computer at risk in order to get more money from the cheaters. It's just pure greed and arrogance.

I will NEVER upgrade to Vista now. Absolutely, positively, NEVER, not even if Microsoft "fixes" this or calls it a bug. I don't care. It should never have been possible in the first place. This is the end of the line.

Hasta la Vista, baby!! It's Windows XP, Linux, and Mac now.



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(1) References

Vista WGA problems confirmed
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=221

Sequence to Vista pulling the pin on the grenade
http://content.zdnet.com/2346-12354_22-56084.html

What does Windows Vista reduced functionality mode look like?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=286

Vista reduced functionality mode - Gallery
http://content.zdnet.com/2346-12554_22-56027-3.html

Windows Vista Validation Issues Forum (Microsoft)
http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=1004&SiteID=25




edits:
3/6/2007: Added reference

I won't let anyone that I support use Vista. We are experimenting now with Unix/Linux in the hope that we find the right thing for all the competency levels in the family before it is too late.

This is the natural conclusion to a poorly played game. No one is fire proof. Not even MS.

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I've been using Windows as my primary operating system since Windows 3.1 in 1992. I've used every version of Windows since then (except ME of course ). I paid for every single one. This is very disappointing to see Microsoft self-destruct like this. They clearly just do not understand that this is so totally wrong of them. It's like if I miss a payment on my car and it stops running while I'm crossing the mountains during a snowstorm and says "Use OnStar to Reactivate. We accept VISA, Mastercard...".

On the other hand, it's been less than an hour and I am already feeling a sense of liberation while thinking about the possibilities of the good that will come out of this decision...

The car analogy isn't quite right...you already paid for your car in full and then you insert a metal CD and the car halts dead with a message on the dash "Are you sure you want to play this kind of music? Your CD player has been shutdown to prevent damage to your ears. Is it recommended you play Easy Listening whilst driving. Please contact your manufacturer to re-enable your CD player."
Vista is just one step too far in dumming-down (so-called "user-friendliness"). I am totally fed up with all the kid-oriented features they put into it now and the way MS think they have to wrap us all up in cotton-wool. Its just an operating system, damn it! I just want to do my work in the straight-forward way I always could do with previous versions of Windows.
MS, you haven't given us ANYTHING more useful, you have just tarted up the graphics (badly) and moved all the features around and changed their terminology so I can no longer find them.
What a waste of 5 years of development!

Actually I decided a long time ago not to give Micro$oft any money for Vi$ta. The type of behavior exhibited by them will continue until it becomes too costly to do so. Basically, once you have paid for the product and it has been verified and activated, micro$oft has no right or authority to question anything you do with your computer. It is a blatent attempt at restraint of trade. I am hopeful that a large number of state attorneys will begin a large, expensive class action against them but I am not holding my breath. Too much money has already changed hands and it would not be a sufficiently popular "political" decision. Oh well, *nix is better, after all.

Gene Y.

I do believe Microsoft deals with these all the time with just a "slap on the wrist" fine, which I believe they will be more than glad to pay with all the money they make.

It's quite obvious that MS won't respond to the various "slap on the wrists" they've had in law. But they will respond to customers not upgrading en masse and they will respond to falling sales numbers.
Don't get me wrong, I've always been an MS fan right from the beginning when they were the little dog and IBM was the big one. I like the software style, presentation, documentation and developer assistance. BUT...they are going off in the wrong direction now. This big brother attitude to piracy and dumming down of the software is wrong and we have to tell them. After all its a lot more 'our Microsoft' than theirs because there's a lot more of us out here using it than them creating it. What happened to a bit of people power?
How should we go about telling them Vista is not what we wanted?

...the people power you are talking
about.

Sorry, the idea of Linux is good, but the execution is bad. Way too many features of M$ compatible software are not available in the Linux world. Trust me, I ran Linux exclusively for 4 years and finally gave up when things such as my Blackberry server would not run on it. Those were the most frustrating 4 years of my life.

You're kidding -- right?

There were tons of frustrations with Linux, but when I replaced my Treo with a Blackberry Pearl, that was the straw that broke the camels back. Blackberry + Blackberry Exchange Server + MS Outlook = get rid of Linux.

-John

It's like you've decided to replace the seat covers on your car, and because the seat covers were designed for different seats you replace the seats, and because the new seats don't attach properly to the car you replace the car.

. . . or maybe you bought new headlights without checking to make sure they'd fit the car you have. Now, you find yourself buying a Yugo to replace your Toyota.

What a total load of rubbish!

As it is we don?t know if you or maker are at fault
To easy to blame Linux for lack of support

Since Linux is open source, anybody could write the software to connect your Blackberry to a Linux computer. Since nobody has/had, you can equally well blame ... everybody, including yourself, who did not choose to write that software. For me, the question comes down to prioritizing control over my computer, and ease of use. The "convenience" of Windows isn't good enough for me.

edit: sorry GhostBrowser, meant to address that to john gooch. As for breaching your copyright, you used GhostBrowser as your screen name. Please, by all means, try to make that case in a court of law. It would be funny to watch, even as defendant.

Please read past posts
Be carefull you may breech my copyright
I have not given you permission to the GhostBrowser Company name

No just jokeing
Glad you Corected that mistake
Cheers

I'm crappy at both.

The others sound like toooo much work

What say ye, rascal?

I may not be back here
Its getting supid
Vista is the point
So far off topic in so many areas
linux v windows ?????????????????
IT pros ?
very funny

Blame is not the issue here. The issue ( or question ) is what platform gets me the desired result with the least amount of time/effort? I can use the software that is already written and known to work, or try to hack up my own solution on my own time. Since my goal is use my computer to complete certain tasks, and writing a Blackberry server is not one of them, switching to Windows was the easiest way to go.

So, instead of spending hour upon hour searching for an OSS solution, I spent about 2 hours loading up my BBerry server and registering my device...done. I wonder how long it would take to reverse engineer their software, design, develop, test, and deploy my own implementation. And that is just one of many programs that I would need to build on my own in order to stay on Linux.

In the meantime, I am missing dinners, movies, classes, sporting events ( I play soccer 5 days a week ), etc. And when I am old and gray, will I cherish the memories of developing these custom apps as much as the good times I would have had with my friends and loved ones?

To me the answer is clear. This is definitely a personal choice, so stop trying to sell "one size fits all, and its OSS".

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Where'd you learn to do that?

New feature: View all posts
http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=222970&messageID=2236469

I was replying by altering the URL in the address bar of my browser. I'll have to check into that "view all posts" thing.

Funambol

It works as a Blackberry server. It also works as a server for a whole bunch of other client mobile devices -- which means you'd be able to give your users more options in client hardware.

. . . but, y'know, you seem to like limits.

Well, not the part about soccer, but about blame. I was trying to make an ironic comment about your strange use of the word "fault". Oops.

TE2 seems to have connected the dots, or have I misinterpreted?

Its not a question of options...its a question of simplicity and time savings. It took maybe 2 hours to download, install, and register devices on the Blackberry server. I've never had to reboot it, patch it, or do anything else to it since. Oh, and it was free.

So, from my perspective, there is no compelling reason to switch to another product. I could switch to make you happy, but the ROI on that is zilch.

You complained about lack of open source options. I provided one. You changed your complaint. Is it your intention to be a moving target, or to actually discuss the issue at hand?

Also . . .
"Oh, and it was free."

How is MS Windows free? I'm curious.

"I could switch to make you happy, but the ROI on that is zilch."

Switch to make me happy? What are you talking about? I'm just pointing out that your comments about what is and is not possible with open source software are full of crap.

Linux is some of the answer but as for the
blackberry i use a HP Ipac6315 ( I had the 6515 and hated it and sold it after 4 days)I use Moxilla/Thunderbird for it is more secure than outlook,i also have 2 boxes running 2 different versions of Linux and love both of them ,as for the which is betterMS or Linux well if more people got involved with linux and the community .than they(me included) could fix the shortcomes that linux has with devices like the Blackberry and my Ipac,but microsoft has a lot of power/Money and vendors/hardware suppliers such as canon won't help,canon will not support Linux at all i own 2 of there multifuction device Printer/Scanner and the reason is ink is only $3.30 for each color.so i use them on my windows xp machine and complain to canon often and recommend that everone does the same for any company that does not support linux and mac also
microsoft needs more competition and complaints and hit them where it hurts MONEY....oh Epson supports Linux and now I will quit babbeling now.

I upgraded from 2K to XP with reservations. I got the feeling then that MS had shot itself in the foot with all the eye candy, the tangle of processes, and the alarming rate of exploits aimed at the OS. Microsoft's response to the problem only made things worse for the consumer. When a corporation deviates so much from the values of the society in which it is based, then something is drastically wrong. WGA is boderline criminal. It's insulting at best.
When Vista came out and I looked at the hardware requirements for running an OS that adds even more eye candy to XP and very little of substance I KNEW that MS had indeed gone over the edge. The answer- boycott their products. Take the plunge and learn a new OS whether it be Linux or OS X. As a system builder I am appalled at how much processor, memory, and graphics power are required to run what otherwise would be a screaming fast gaming system. Look at the marketing as well. MS has released an OS that is buggy as hell. Good luck to those who wanted to stock up on OEM copies of XP to future-proof their system building.
I just bought a Mac Mini with the minimal core duo setup. It's reliable and it's fast. It is also faster running on my wireless Windows network than Windows is. This is a huge opportunity for Apple to market rigs that are not crippled by proprietary hardware. I think the strengths of OS X would allow that kind of opening of their market strategy. I even considered a Mac Pro, but it's too pricey and too memory latent for a low low price of $2600. How about a workstation with core duo, DDR2, and generic memory, hard and optical drives. So many people are so very angry with MS that I think there would be a wholesale mutiny. If you can't bear to take the plunge, just run Windows along with OS X. I'll bet that after 6 months a substantial number of Windows users would completely jump ship altogether and delete their NTFS partitions.
MS is NOT going to wake up and say how sorry they are for disrupting so many people's lives. Anyway they're too busy dancing from having shot both feet with magnum buckshot otherwise known as Vista.

I am trying out several versions of Linux to see which one I want to use for this computer .

I have win 2 K Pro and the about 16 patches for it installed the reat are ignored as I do not have IE on this machine any more nor the other thing MS put out called Outlook . .

I am between Linux 2007, PClinuxOS, and Linspire 5.0 as the final contestants for this computer depends on which one I can get what working fastest . . The games are on Code Weavers ( got to have my 4 or 5 games ) to keep from going totally mad . . besides it exersize for my right arm ( got it out of a sling a few weeks ago ) I run them for 1 week and see what I got working and what does not work . . Winner will be posted hahahaha !

Don`t buy it! Don`t use it! I have been using various distros of linux for years because I`ve been screwed by WGA telling me my legit copy of xp is pirated; I now feel pclinuxos is going to be my final distro, and it`s a live distro to boot (pun intended!).

Instead of buying from Dell, HP and the like you can even get out of paying for a Windows Install Disc as they cost more without a OS than they do with the standard one provided by the big makers.

Shaft M$ and The Big Makers at the same time and totally ignore them completely. Yea I like that Idea.

Col

I have put the same copy of Win 2 K Pro on about 20 or 30 computers and not one has ever been shut down but then I put a good fire wall
on them so MS can't jack with them . . Its only been lately I have sold computers with Linux on them as the people heard about "PATCH TUESDAY" and were not wanting any part of it ! !
The Linux I put on their computers did all the stuff they wanted to do .. the Big Open Source OFFICE does most of their work and connecting to web is easy . . So they are happy and do not need much else . .

pirating SW and selling systems to others in this way.
And especially bragging about it in an open forum. you should be ashamed.

Microsoft retains ownership and all rights over Windows/Vista including the right to demand it's papers at every interaction. They retain the right to approve or disapprove of how you use the software also.

I read that as Microsoft retains ownership and control of the product I purchases and put on my own hardware along with what I do with that software.

Even still, you don't pay for a product, you pay for a license to run that patented mathmatic formula as Micrsoft sees fit.

Further in th EULA you'll also find Microsoft absolved of any responsability for the software running on your hardware, future support of the hardware or any losses you may incure from using the software.

Lincenses should pretect teh user at the vendor's expense however Microsoft's EULA does the opposite in general. You have to buy the extended support contract from them and even then, it's only to get the crap running on your hardware; they're still not responsible for loss of data due to the quality of there product.

I'm very happy with my switch away from MS. I spend all day infront of Windows only to get home and find even the initial login at home like putting on confortable slippers. Windows functions (mostly), (my pref OS affixed here) functions in ways intended to actually benifit the user.

I agree with you to the extent that it is crap, however, just about any other piece of software, hardware, or for that matter virtually any other product made in the US is the same way.

That is an old argument that doesn't hold water.

Name me one piece of software or hardware that does claim responsibility for your data?

Does Linux claim responsibility for your data?

Weak argument...try again.

You keep saying that somehow you and your data are more legally protected under the MS EULA.

I don't really have anything to add to what jmgarvin said -- I'm just amused that, once again, you've contradicted your own reasoning and used hypocritical tactics to try to make dishonest points.

Please just post one instance where any company in the world has had any form of Legal Protection because they run Windows from Data Loss/Theft.

The honest people here will tell you or anyone who bothers to ask that it's the Companies Data and their responsibility to keep it Safe. Doesn't matter what OS they use or even if they just have all their book work in Accounting Ledgers where there is no Computer Company Involved.

What are you trying to imply that somehow the Ledger Makers are responsible when the books get destroyed?

Name me one piece of software or hardware that does claim responsibility for your data?

Much more importantly Name me one piece of Hardware that Claims that You don't actually own it after you pay for it. Lets see this is Microsoft were we don't own what we buy, are unable to get decent support when something does go wrong, and can not look at the source code to fix problems that are engineered into the code. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me but can you name me one other company who is capable of doing the same thing?

It's your argument that is old full of holes and finds it impossible to Hold Water.

Did you notice that when Symantec was taken to court over their Software License that judgement applied to everyone but Microsoft? Why is it permissible for one company to be allowed ways out when other companies who do a similar business are tied to different rules?

More to the point in the above Post where was there any inference to anything except Microsoft? Or do you just prefer to read between the lines and insert your own words so you are happy?

But just to make you happy here is a complete copy of a M$ EULA as supplied by M$ it's about 12 months old now so don't run crying foul to mommy when you find some different words to the latest ones that are available. This however is the latest available as listed on the M$ site.

Remember it's not a Book is the M$ EULA.

Col

END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR MICROSOFT SOFTWARE .


IMPORTANT: READ CAREFULLY - These Microsoft Corporation ("Microsoft") operating system components, including any "online" or electronic documentation ("OS Components") are subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement under which you have licensed the applicable Microsoft operating system product described below (each an "End User License Agreement" or "EULA") and the terms and conditions of this Supplemental EULA. BY INSTALLING, COPYING OR OTHERWISE USING THE OS COMPONENTS, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE APPLICABLE OPERATING SYSTEM PRODUCT EULA AND THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EULA. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, DO NOT INSTALL, COPY OR USE THE OS COMPONENTS.
NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A VALIDLY LICENSED COPY OF ANY VERSION OR EDITION OF MICROSOFT WINDOWS 98, WINDOWS MILLENNIUM, WINDOWS 2000, WINDOWS XP OPERATING SYSTEM OR ANY MICROSOFT OPERATING SYSTEM THAT IS A SUCCESSOR TO ANY OF THOSE OPERATING SYSTEMS (each an "OS Product"), YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO INSTALL, COPY OR OTHERWISE USE THE OS COMPONENTS AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS UNDER THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EULA.
Capitalized terms used in this Supplemental EULA and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the applicable OS Product EULA.
General. The OS Components are provided to you by Microsoft to update, supplement, or replace existing functionality of the applicable OS Product. Microsoft grants you a license to use the OS Components under the terms and conditions of the EULA for the applicable OS Product (which are hereby incorporated by reference except as set forth below), the terms and conditions set forth in this Supplemental EULA, and the terms and conditions of any additional end user license agreement that may accompany the individual OS Components (each an "Individual EULA"), provided that you comply with all such terms and conditions. To the extent that there is a conflict among any of these terms and conditions applicable to the OS Components, the following hierarchy shall apply: 1) the terms and conditions of the Individual EULA; 2) the terms and conditions in this Supplemental EULA; and 3) the terms and conditions of the applicable OS Product EULA.
Additional Rights and Limitations.
* You may only install and use one copy of the OS Components. If you have multiple validly licensed copies of the applicable OS Product, you need to reconnect to this site and download an additional copy of the OS Components from each computer on which you are running the applicable OS Product.
* You may also reproduce one additional copy of the OS Components solely for archival purposes or reinstallation of the OS Components on the same computer as the OS Components were previously installed. Microsoft retains all right, title and interest in and to the OS Components. All rights not expressly granted are reserved by Microsoft.
* The OS Components may contain technology that enables applications to be shared between two or more computers, even if an application is installed on only one of the computers. You may use this technology with all Microsoft application products for mufti-party conferences. For non-Microsoft applications, you should consult the accompanying license agreement or contact the licensor to determine whether application sharing is permitted by the licensor.
IF THE APPLICABLE OS PRODUCT WAS LICENSED TO YOU BY MICROSOFT OR ANY OF ITS WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES, THE LIMITED WARRANTY (IF ANY) INCLUDED IN THE APPLICABLE OS PRODUCT EULA APPLIES TO THE OS COMPONENTS PROVIDED THE OS COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN LICENSED BY YOU WITHIN THE TERM OF THE LIMITED WARRANTY IN THE APPLICABLE OS PRODUCT EULA. HOWEVER, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EULA DOES NOT EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD FOR WHICH THE LIMITED WARRANTY IS PROVIDED.
IF THE APPLICABLE OS PRODUCT WAS LICENSED TO YOU BY AN ENTITY OTHER THAN MICROSOFT OR ANY OF ITS WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES, MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE OS COMPONENTS AS FOLLOWS:
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, MICROSOFT AND ITS SUPPLIERS PROVIDE TO YOU THE OS COMPONENTS, AND ANY (IF ANY) SUPPORT SERVICES RELATED TO THE OS COMPONENTS ("SUPPORT SERVICES") AS IS AND WITH ALL FAULTS; AND MICROSOFT AND ITS SUPPLIERS HEREBY DISCLAIM WITH RESPECT TO THE OS COMPONENTS AND SUPPORT SERVICES ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY (IF ANY) WARRANTIES, DUTIES OR CONDITIONS OF OR RELATED TO: MERCHANTABLE, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, LACK OF VIRUSES, ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF RESPONSES, RESULTS, WORKMANLIKE EFFORT AND LACK OF NEGLIGENCE. ALSO THERE IS NO WARRANTY, DUTY OR CONDITION OF TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, QUIET POSSESSION, CORRESPONDENCE TO DESCRIPTION OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. THE ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE OS COMPONENTS AND ANY SUPPORT SERVICES REMAINS WITH YOU.
EXCLUSION OF INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL AND CERTAIN OTHER DAMAGES. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR: LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF CONFIDENTIAL OR OTHER INFORMATION, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, PERSONAL INJURY, LOSS OF PRIVACY, FAILURE TO MEET ANY DUTY (INCLUDING OF GOOD FAITH OR OF REASONABLE CARE), NEGLIGENCE, AND ANY OTHER PECUNIARY OR OTHER LOSS WHATSOEVER) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE OS COMPONENTS OR THE SUPPORT SERVICES, OR THE PROVISION OF OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES, OR OTHERWISE UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PROVISION OF THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EULA, EVEN IF MICROSOFT OR ANY SUPPLIER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND REMEDIES. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY DAMAGES THAT YOU MIGHT INCUR FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL DAMAGES REFERENCED ABOVE AND ALL DIRECT OR GENERAL DAMAGES), THE ENTIRE LIABILITY OF MICROSOFT AND ANY OF ITS SUPPLIERS UNDER ANY PROVISION OF THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EULA AND YOUR EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ALL OF THE FOREGOING SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL DAMAGES INCURRED BY YOU BASED ON REASONABLE RELIANCE UP TO THE GREATER OF THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID BY YOU FOR THE OS COMPONENTS OR U.S.$5.00. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS, EXCLUSIONS AND DISCLAIMERS SHALL APPLY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EVEN IF ANY REMEDY FAILS ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

no one is invalidating your preference of OS by mentioning the EULA. I'm not looking for a Windows vs Linux debate because it's just futile; those who like linux really love it, those who like Windows.. well, they back there horse just as strongly.

I was just pointing out some of the finer points of the license. I can still remember coming to the full realization after years of simply checking "yes" and clicking "ok" to get on with my day. When I took the time to read it the real bit that caught me was paying for a product which I run on my owned hardware then being told I didn't have any ownership over that software or how I chose to use it. What can I say, it's the paradyme shift from thinking you own what you buy and realizing you own the peice of paper the license is on; nothing more. (Luckily, this being long after I discovered the world of Libre Software)

It was simply comisseration between two people who have chosen an OS provider outside of Redmond. I was going to continue on to comisserate about how Vista's license has been written even more hostile to the end user than previous versions but the comment was getting long.

It doesn't invalidate Windows as an OS or your choice for using it. You can keep using it and be happy with how it works for you regardless of my feelings about the license it's locked under.

I should clarify one point though in closing; my pointing out that MS takes no legal or moral responsability for your data locked into it's software running on your hardware.

This is in reference to the usual "well, we have to know someone stands behind the software we buy" which translates to "we have to have a head on a platter to sue if we lose data because of your product".

This is a false claim used usually to justify buying a closed source solution from a single vendor over a technically superior solution from a user community. It fails in at least two accounts.

(ie. "there's no support for Linux, we're sticking with Windows on the workstations")

- it wasn't supposed to go down in the first place. If your shiny new marketed solution went down then you already have the mess and lost data to clean up; sueing a service provider is reactive and of little help instead of proactive.

- if you think buying a single vendor's closed solution is better because you'll have someone to blame if it goes badly then your missing the "we're not responsible" clause in the EULA.