Monday, August 02, 2004
Microsoft wants you - and you might not be able to do a thing about it!
The future of computing, in the Microsoft vision, is that they have total access to your computer, and there's nothing you can do to stop them. (Well, actually there is, but will you be prepared to pay the price?)
The groundwork was laid when Microsoft introduced what it called "secure computing". What this actually means is that when you purchased Windows, and related products such as Word and Excel, you gave Microsoft the right to enter your computer and to decide whether you can use the programs you have bought. If you don't believe me, look carefully at the Terms of Agreement. You cannot use programs such as Word until you have registered them, and Microsoft can decide at any time to terminate your use. They do that by entering your machine and shutting down the program. I am not making this up!
The next stage in this Microsoft dream was unveiled today in this news story. "Microsoft, which is challenging market leader Google in the online search market, has demonstrated for the first time a search engine that looks for information on computer hard drives as well as information on the Web."
If that doesn't scare you, it should.
It's not just Microsoft, either. If you are an Xtra customer (ie, Telecom), you gave Telecom the rights to any digital material you produce. Yep, they can take anything you compose on your computer or put up at a website hosted by Xtra, and use it any way they want. You have already signed away your rights. (Did I say, you must read the fine print?)
There are ways to opt out of this, and surprisingly one option is free! But it comes at a huge emotional cost.
Option 1: Dump your PC and switch to a Macintosh. This is not free, but you get a far better operating system, which is almost virus-immune.
Option 2: Keep your PC, but instal the Linux operating system, which is free. Not only is the operating system free, but there are thousands of free programs, including equivalents to Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and the rest.
Freedom resides in your hands!
The future of computing, in the Microsoft vision, is that they have total access to your computer, and there's nothing you can do to stop them. (Well, actually there is, but will you be prepared to pay the price?)
The groundwork was laid when Microsoft introduced what it called "secure computing". What this actually means is that when you purchased Windows, and related products such as Word and Excel, you gave Microsoft the right to enter your computer and to decide whether you can use the programs you have bought. If you don't believe me, look carefully at the Terms of Agreement. You cannot use programs such as Word until you have registered them, and Microsoft can decide at any time to terminate your use. They do that by entering your machine and shutting down the program. I am not making this up!
The next stage in this Microsoft dream was unveiled today in this news story. "Microsoft, which is challenging market leader Google in the online search market, has demonstrated for the first time a search engine that looks for information on computer hard drives as well as information on the Web."
If that doesn't scare you, it should.
It's not just Microsoft, either. If you are an Xtra customer (ie, Telecom), you gave Telecom the rights to any digital material you produce. Yep, they can take anything you compose on your computer or put up at a website hosted by Xtra, and use it any way they want. You have already signed away your rights. (Did I say, you must read the fine print?)
There are ways to opt out of this, and surprisingly one option is free! But it comes at a huge emotional cost.
Option 1: Dump your PC and switch to a Macintosh. This is not free, but you get a far better operating system, which is almost virus-immune.
Option 2: Keep your PC, but instal the Linux operating system, which is free. Not only is the operating system free, but there are thousands of free programs, including equivalents to Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and the rest.
Freedom resides in your hands!
