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Issue 158 - October 24, 2001
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2001
==== 2263 Subscribers in 60 Countries ====
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Welcome to the 158th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN
consists mainly of news and tips. There is something for everyone,
and if this is your first issue, I'm sure there will be something
for you.
You can reach me at editor@pcin.net
with any suggestions or comments. If you give me two or three
issues, I know that you will come back for more!
Recommend PCIN at http://PCIN.net/recommend.shtml
Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.shtml
CONTENTS
OPENING THOUGHTS
This is a special issue of PCIN. As I mentioned last week,
I asked my subscribers to send me their opinions on whether
Product Activation of Microsoft's software was a good idea.
I had quite a few people send in their thoughts and feelings.
You will find them below, as well as the regular PCIN sections
(although they are shorter than normal).
Return to the top
MICROSOFT PRODUCT ACTIVATION
OPINIONS
Below are the comments from PCIN subscribers regarding Microsoft
Product Activation. If you'd like to read Microsoft's spin
on things, check out http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/
windowsproductactivationtechnicalmarketbulletin.doc or
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/xp_activation.asp
kezeli
I dislike it, I will not buy XP because of it..it's a ripoff..bigtime.
Mike Rewa
k, here's how you do it. First get youself a handsome case.
Then, a power supply is in order. Next, a motherboard is a
good bet ; ] Soon you will need a harddrive, floppy and memory.
And then of course an OS to boot that sucker up. You can do
it with 3.1 with only floppies! Crazy, huh?
Better have the CDRW, soundcard, video card, DVD player perhaps,
USB card if it's not on your board, SCSI card, those kinds
of things, you know. Let's hope if you have decided to use
XP you haven't exceeded 7 items in all, since once you upgrade
to a better HDD or CDRW, or sound or video card, or perhaps
USB or SCSI card, you may have a little problem. Does a new
monitor get recognized as an item? What happens if you want
to upgrade your motherboard, as I have. Does memory count?
Now, I don't know anyone who has XP, and I have no interest
in it, (preferring to avoid reasons to sit in front of my
PC except of course to read cool stuff like PCIN), but I trade
and upgrade hardware pretty often and I don't want anyone
telling me I have to stop it! It's how I learned about PC's
in the first place fer Crissakes! What is this, a conspiracy
against people like me understanding how to use computers?
Whew!!! Ok, sorry. I just had to get that off my chest.
Cameron C. Cook
I am against Microsofts new "Product Activation".
Will I use the new XP Windows? Probably. I'm getting ready
to buy a new computer, as my Fred Flintstone Pentium Pro 180
is getting VERY long of tooth, and it will make much more
sense to get XP from the beginning.
But with Product Activation looming I just wonder if Microsoft
has learned anything from the major lawsuit that is hanging
over its head. While they have always been quite ruthless
in dealing with their competitors they have been quite good
to their customers. Now they are beginning to get heavy handed
with us. I guess if they figure they can throw Product Activation
at us they can also raise the price of Windows to unheard
of levels.
And use it we will. Because actually we have NO OTHER CHOICE!
There is no other alternative. Oh, sure, there is Linux, and
for the truly hardcore there is Unix, but for 99.9% of us
it is MS Windows. And, well, there is Apple, but...
So I guess I can see the campaign posters coming: "Bill
Gates for King, er, President in 2004"!
airstreich
I've already converted to Star Office rather than put up with
product activation. I currently use Win 2000 and will not
upgrade to XP because of PA and the anti competitive activities
of Microsoft. I manage a network and we switched to UNIX last
year for our network server and we do not plan to upgrade
the workstations either. We paid way too much already for
Microsoft products and they want us to shell out again. No
Way!
Mike Kratz
I am a fairly knowledgeable computer user, having owned a
computer for 20 years, being on the Internet for 9 years and
being a system builder for 7 years.
The idea that Microsoft is giving it's self the right to take
specific information from your computer without your knowledge
has got to be the biggest attack on personal privacy that
I have heard of so far. They say that this is only for prevention
of piracy but this type of thing could be used for any number
of applications that we do not even know about. Look at PCIN
Issue 156 for the Recording Industry's idea's that they would
like to look into your computer to see if you have pirated
music. Microsoft wants to look into your computer to see if
it has changed. The only way that information can be gathered
about my hardware is by using a software program that Microsoft
has made. They use this program to look at my hardware and
software. How is the information on my hardware obtained?
Where are the looking in my computer? What are they looking
at?
This is the exact same thing as the police stopping by while
you are not home and doing a search of the premises just to
see if you are breaking any laws. While you may say, "I'm
not breaking any laws. what's the problem? You only have to
worry if you are a criminal." The law says that this
type of intrusion is illegal. Even if a police officer did
find something, they can't use it against you because it was
found illegally.
Information is Power.
When the worlds biggest monopoly wants to look in my computer,
I get a little, no A LOT worried.
With all that is going on in the world today, Privacy verses
The need for Security, is going to be "The" issue
of the next century. We all need to learn more about these
types of things so that we can protect ourselves. I do not
trust Microsoft to respect my privacy.
Jack Carlson
I know I seem to have essentially re-built my pc a piece at
a time (financial considerations, ya know), and 20 seems like
a reasonable number. But what offends me about the whole concept
of restrictions placed on any product I pay for and properly
register (only as a means to activate the warranty). It's
a custom of American capitalism that once I pay the asking
price for a product, I own that thing. I wouldn't buy a car
if Chevy told me that I could only make 5, 10, even 50 modifications
to my vehicle then I would have to pay another fee for the
engine. I think it's a consumer-unfriendly tactic that should
be discussed and considered. More programmers need to be encouraged
to develop alternative OS's to lessen a chance of another
Microsoft. And Microsoft needs to concern itself with providing
the best product possible to it's users. We paid for it.
Rainer Ludloff
WPA: Hate it! Won't upgrade to XP because of it. Looking into
Linux...
Michael Nordstrom
My motherboard went sour.At first I thgought that Ihad A HD
problem or a system one. SoI reformatted, changed HDs between
PCs to get to the bottom of things. A lotof those things beeing
done at night time (no support time) How could I get a new
number?
If I buy a licence for a peogram (I´m a developer myself
and would never use XP as a courtesy nto my customers, I'll
stick with 2000.) I feel that what I do to my computer is
MY thing not MicroSoft's.
If I can find a good hacked version I MIGHT use that one and
pay for a licence that i will store.I WILL NEVER BUY A LICENCE
FROM MS THAT IS NOT MINE TO USE AS I PLEASE!!!
Robert Nelson
My understanding of the proposed XP activation is is 6 hardware
changes which probably inculdes the NIC card. If you don't
change the NIC card , you probably won't be required to re-activate.
However I'm still against it because every Home Networker
will be required to buy two copies.The reason being every
NIC card has a different hardware address.
Ray Ferbrache
No I do not agree with the current scheme. Once I activate
with my Name and Address, That is all the manufacturer needs
to know. I will not buy the XP Product in its current form.
Long live 98SE.
Stephen Green
In all the hoopla over product activation, I don't like it,
there's a much bigger problem and it's Passport, tightly intergrated
and a major security problem to boot! I can see XP users being
spammed to death by Micro$oft and its partners. For more details
see Brian Livingstons article, for the week of 10/8/01 at
InfoWorld.
David E. Beugler
I will not buy XP because it snoops. That's period. I love
98se even tho' it sucks.
George Kaposhilin
This scheme hits the home computer user the hardest. In my
household there are six computers. One for me, one for the
wife, and two for the sons. Plus two laptops that travel to
school and work. We are now forced to buy six copies of the
OS. Ridiculous! No wonder Apple is so well entrenched in schools!
I will rather switch to Linux than buy XP
U Belton
In response to Product Activation---I think Microsoft realizes
that people are simply going to stop upgrading and be satisfied
with their System the way it is.
I guess that's called 'market saturation'? So, in order for
them to keep profiting, they had to find a *new* way.....and
PA is that way.
Seems like these giant corporations are never satisfied...never
rich enough....always squeezing the customers for their last
buck.
John McGee
I am against it and will not ever purchase it. win2k for me
Clyde Vickers
I wanted to put my 2 cents in about this one. There are several
reasons that I do not support this "Feature??" and
thus will never leave Win98 for XP, or any other OS that would
choose to use similar code. I could probably hack Windows
to get around this, but the effort would be wasted in my opinion.
That said, there is ONE compelling reason for NO-ONE to accept
this extortion.
IF I PAY FOR SOMETHING, IT'S MINE, PERIOD!
Jumpin' Johnathon
I myself will not purchase anything from Microsoft that limits
the number of changes one can make to his/her computer. Product
Activation allows Microsoft one step closer to dominate what
someone can or cannot do with their machine. Also there are
many security issues revolving around the "XP" operating
system, not to mention that Microsoft's decision to include
full raw socket support for this version poses a serious threat
to be hacked in the form of "Denial Of Service"
attacks.
The inventor of the software application "SpinRite"
has documented such attacks on his site. If you want to know
how vulnerable your system will be with "XP", check
out his site.
http://grc.com/dos/intro.htm
http://grc.com/dos/xpsummary.htm
G. Perreault
I am concerned about the inability to install XP on more than
one of my computers without having to pay for a second copy.
It should be licensed to me not to the computer. The computer
didn't pay for it, I did!
I am concerned about the future support of WPA. Will I still
be able to use XP on the original computer on which I installed
it, say, five years from now? Will Microsoft decide to move
on to some other method to protect their copy rights and find
WPA to expensive to support and leave me with no alternative
but to buy another OS?
Microsoft does have a right to protect themselves and their
stock holders from loss of revenue, because some people pirate
and others "share" copies of an OS.
I will probably upgrade to XP, when I can get enough drivers
to keep my hardware. I am not going to invest in a new scanner,
printer, etc. in order to move to XP.
Ali
Count me with the ones opposed to PA! I think it is arrogant
and only serves to challenge hackers to "crack"
it and at the same time, draws fire from the virus authors
which eventually plagues all of us at some time or other.
Can't M$ accept that to copy ones work is actually a compliment
to its utility (or imposed popularity anyway) and unlicensed
multiple installations are of necessity to the economically
strapped user whereas selling copies could be criminal. Even
as I write this, there are Warez sites hosting the non-WPA
versions of XP to the masses, at least to the near crashing
of their servers --ChiChi comes to mind.
I tried ME and didn't like it's snubbing of my legacy hardware
so I expect to be with Win98SE with patches for some time
to come. I too am a simple computer user altho I am building
an AMD 1800 XP $216 on an Epox 8K7A+ $127 and Kingmax DDR
256's at $39 each, WD 40G's at $80, we have reached the Age
of the Throw Away Computer.
Marlin
i am against product activation. i am considering going to
2000 because of it. i don't trust microsoft to protect my
information.
i also have 2 computers-a desktop and a laptop. i'll be damned
if i'll pay microsoft twice for the same piece of software.
my machines are not used for business, this is just a hobby.
i would much rather use the money for a new hard drive or
video card than give it to microsoft for two identical copies
of the same software? why can't microsoft offer a family license?
i am planning a major upgrade on my desktop machine--it will
be virtually new except for the case, keyboard, mouse. i dislike
the idea of having to beg microsoft for a license to use software
i've already paid too much for.
Mike Fitchman
Agree 100% with your commonsense approach-I dont know what
the hysterical whining from the others is about, except the
usual Microsoft bashing,which they enjoy doing like so many
sheep.
Jambly
I'm definitely concerned about XP Product Activation. Currently
I'm a WinME user, but within the last six months I've installed
an additional hard drive, upgraded to 128 mbs memory, and
partitioned my system to accommodate (so far) three OS's.
I don't think I can even count the number of times I've had
to do reinstalls and clean installs with all this going on!
So-o-o, if you have to reinstall or clean install, does that
mean another Product Activation? If you are dual-booting or
multi-booting between 2 or more OSs (even though it's the
same computer and the same user!), does that mean the hassle
of more Product Activation? And can they refuse?
Looming on the future, for me, will be new video drivers,
possibly a new CD burner, definitely a new printer. Nope,
I'm not going to stick my neck out at this point and take
on MS's new "very conditional" XP, not until I have
a lot more assurances that it won't be more hassle than it's
worth.
Just my 2 cents :-)
Bill Blackburn
I oppose Product Activation for several reasons, most especially
because it opens the door to worse such things to come...
Richard Holt
No. I plan to never upgrade any Microsoft product, to the
best of my ability.
Running Win98se / SuSE 7.2 dual boot.
I will be dual booting until I've learned enough to shift
everything and everybody to Linux.
Currently, influence 5 machines / 4 users.
I expect this to happen over the next couple of years, but
I'm not in a hurry.
I also plan to have at least one dedicated win98 box for the
legacy apps.
I actually like Win98 after so many years of practice.
I'm sure Microsoft will make money from WinXP. I'm just not
going to help.
Unlike you, I don't have to be up-to-date with Windows. If
I did, I'd probably buy a copy.
Return to the top
The NEWS
I know who you called last month
http://www.msnbc.com/news/643573.asp
Anti-Terror Hackers Seek Govt Blessing
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/171223.html
Governor Calls for 'Cyber Court'
http://www.wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,47676,00.html
Beyond Carnivore: FBI Eyes Packet Taps
http://www.interactiveweek.com/article/0,3658,s%253D605%2526a%253D16678,00.asp
Return to the top
THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF
Sound Effects
Whether you are looking for sounds (WAV files) to use for
Windows event sounds, or for other purposes, check out http://www.media-tracks.com/soundeffects.asp
for a nice supply of them.
Getting Off Junk Mailing Lists
One of the worst things about the Internet is SPAM (junk email). Although
it is almost impossible to stop it when someone is sending emails to a million
people, there are legitimate companies that send out unsolicited emails. They
often will be members of various marketing associations. Both the Canadian
Marketing Association (CDN) and the Direct Marketing Associations (US) have
web sites where you can request that you receive no material from their participating
companies. Check them out at http://www.e-mps.org/picklang.html or http://www.cdma.org/
Return to the top
DISCLAIMER and OTHER STUFF
PCIN is brought to you by PC Improvements. The opinions expressed
are those of the editor, Graham Wing. PC Improvements and
Graham Wing accept no responsibility for the results obtained
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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
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