Most Secure OS - Regurgitated

In a recent interview with CNET news, Jim Allchin, group VP of Microsoft stated "Safety and security is the overriding feature that most people will want to have Windows Vista for". I can't help but to roll my eyes skyward. Here we go again. How many times have we heard that before? With EVERY new release of Windows?

Wasn't Windows XP the "most secure operating system" MS had made? Oh how things change in 5 years. Here's a direct quote from Allchin - "A standard Windows XP computer can get hacked the moment it is connected to the Internet". He got that right at least. Does that sound like the most secure OS on the planet to you?

So now the push to Vista is ON. Microsoft is the only company in the world that can trash its own products to sell its new products. "Buy Windows 2000 and avoid blue screens of death". "Buy Vista because XP is insecure". I can't imagine the GM of Ford or Chevy going out to the world and saying "Our 2000 Cavalier / Taurus is a death trap - you need the latest 06' model". That's what you get when you have an illegal monopoly controlling your computing environment.

It amazes me that people still believe the pile of poop from Microsoft every time a so called new release comes out from Redmond. There have been many references on the web about Windows apologists acting like abused spouses. And in saying that I am in no way making light of a serious social issue. And NO I am not calling anyone at Microsoft a wife beater. But when I hear the people defend Microsoft, the parallels are uncanny.

The people who use Windows claim they are dependent on MS. They are reluctant to leave because MS and the Tech media have filled them with the FUD that life will be miserable if you leave them. They have all this "software" that will only run on Windows - the "hanging on for the sake of the children" excuse. They get spanked every time the latest worm / virus / spyware infestation hits their computer, but it is always someone else's fault. Or it is their own fault for not protecting their computer. They tout the redeeming features of MS and Gates - "He is such a wonderful guy, he gives billions to charity". And with every new service pack / bug fix / new release, you get the "things will be different from now on" excuse. Sounds exactly like a battered wife to me and for someone who has been in EMS for years, they sound like the same excuses. And if someone gets in their face about the truth, they will lash out at Apple or Linux. They will point out all the vulnerabilities in the other OS's. Never mind that there are over a 100,000 viruses/worms for Windows and zero for OSX so far. I call that the "my man may be a wife beater, but your mans farts smell" excuse. In fact, I have never met a Windows defender in this world - only apologists.

I used to spend my spare time fixing the malware infested machines of friends and co-workers. I find it hard to sympathize anymore with people that are deliberately willing to let themselves get abused over and over again. I find myself thinking that I am an "enabler" when I do that.

I am paraphrasing a quote on a website I read, but there comes a time when a certain company has crossed that psychological "screw you" line just so many times that you don't give a crap about "the next best thing" that comes out of their door.

I got myself out of this abusive relationship 5 years ago after having gone through all the iterations from DOS to XP/SP2. One fine day I decided I just had "had enough" and walked out of the MS world. And I have never once looked back. You can do it too.

Windows Server Source Code - Did anyone really ask for it ?

Recently, Microsoft announced that they are going "above and beyond" the call of duty by offering to license parts of the the Windows Server Source code. The press release can be found HERE.

In Europe, the EU Commission had ordered Microsoft to license its protocols to help servers interact with Windows Servers. This was to prevent a repeat of the way Microsoft had competed unfairly in the 90's. You know ... the Monopoly thing. The EU commission had to ORDER Microsoft to hand over CLEAR documentation regarding Server protocols. So, Microsoft hands over documents - 12,000 pages worth. But it is incomprehensible. So the commission threatens to fine Microsoft $2.4 Million per day unless Microsoft complies. So what does Microsoft do ? Instead of providing the documentation that they have been repeatedly ORDERED to provide, they throw a bunch of server source code on the table. Their way of saying - "Here, you figure it out!".

And they have the gall to say in their press release that - "Microsoft is going far beyond the European Commission’s March 2004 decision and its legal obligations to provide companies with the technical specifications of its proprietary communications protocols."

What a Crock !

I know some of you are thinking - "Hey, they offered the Source Code". Isn't that the "ultimate documentation" as Microsoft themselves describe it ? No it's NOT. It's a cute way of Microsoft circumventing the legal order. And no one is laughing.

Let me give you an analogy. Let's say I have a new car and you want to supply the fuel for the car. But you have no idea what kind of fuel is supposed to go in the car. For years, I kept this information secret and that's how I illegally maintained my monopoly. By making sure only my fuel would work with my car. But now I tell you I have reformed my ways. So once again, you ask me for documentation about the type of fuel, - and I supply you with reams of pages about the history and mechanics of the internal combustion engine. Doesn't help you one bit. So you threaten me with fines and I hand you the keys to the car. My way of saying - "Here you go, you figure it out!" Now tell me, how does that help you ? And to add insult to injury I will charge you rental fees for the car. Oh, and I will provide you 500 hours of free tech support. And all you wanted was for me to say "87 Octane".

These are the kind of games Microsoft plays over and over again. And the Tech media just eat up every word that comes out of the Microsoft PR department. It took Andrew Tridgell years of painstaking analysis of Windows Server packet transmissions to come up with SAMBA. Without SAMBA only Windows machines would be able to talk to Windows Servers.

This kind of crap from Redmond makes a mockery of the efforts of people like the SAMBA team and anti trust settlements around the world. But then again, I never did believe that Microsoft had ever reformed their ways.

First Post

So, I finally broke down and decided to join the millions of other bloggers around the world, and THIS is my first post.

I just watched KY eke out a 2 point victory against Arkansas after being down 18. We got hot with the 3's this game. But this team has NO offensive scheme, and all I hear from Tubby is about "taking people off the dribble". I think that is a recipe for disaster.

UK has gone steadily down over the years since Tubby took the helm. The time for excuses has passed. Rupp used to be a place people feared and KY used to win half their games just based on the intimidation factor. I don't think there is a team out there now that is scared to play KY at home anymore.

Only time will tell. But the 1996 - 1998 teams seem like a distant memory now. Will we have to go through another 18 year drought before we win a Championship? For a program the caliber of KY that was handed on a silver platter to Tubby, to be where we are now - not even nationally ranked - is a crying shame. And I have but one man to blame.