From the windows update screen. " Note Windows Update does not collect any form of personally identifiable information from your computer."
I just don't buy in to the Bill Gates conspiracy theories. I am far more concerned with web site privacy policy and spyware then Microsoft Windows Update.
I didn't say that Bill is looking at my credit card info or looking through my cookies. But I don't believe for a moment that "none" of my info is being sent. By default some unique information has to be sent in order for windows update to work. The operating system also keeps track of the serial numbers of various components.
XP was originally slated to use these numbers to create a checksum that is sent to Microsoft when you register the OS (technically you are registering your product key). This number would change when you added or removed hardware and the number would be recalculated thus requiring re-registration. To prevent piracy of the Microsoft OS, users were only allowed to register the product key a certain number of times (5 I believe, but I'm not sure). -->
btw, this info was provided by Microsoft at a convention I attended for an "inside look of microsoft's upcoming operating system, windows xp".
Needless to say privacy advocates went crazy and microsoft changed the way registration worked. But that is not to say that Bill doesn't know how many different
pc's are using the same product key. Heck, even xp sp1 would tell you if you had a pirated key (I know this from the govt job I mentioned earlier - yes it was a big mess and I was glad that my contract with them was almost over).
I guess the key words are "personally identifiable". Sure they don't know who I am, but they know my ip and my computer (and 2+2=4(meaning they could find out who is using a
pc without personally identifiable info))...
The number of windows device drivers that are included in Windows XP and on the hardware install CD is incomparable to the number of Linux hardware drivers
I haven't tried to install any legacy devices, but everything I have have tried on new computers (all of them dell, laptops and desktops), I have had no problems with drivers. The only gripe I have personally heard about is my boss's TV card he has at home locking up every now and then.
the reason corporations and people buy computers is to run applications that they want to make use of. They want that new ERP package, they want to run the software they invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop, they want to plug in a printer or camera and use it right then, they want to produce those graphics for little John's school project with that $20 package from WalMart.
I don't know about other distributions, but the one I have came with software equivalents to ms office, outlook, money, 3d studio max, photoshop, internet explorer, SQL, Visio, instant messengers etc.
I guess it's more of an issue of jumping into the unknown as opposed to sticking with the norm.
Its not a mature desktop platform... yet and that may change quickly. All the signs are there for it to be a challenger.
I think so too. IBM is investing millions to provide free Linux training to companies looking to convert. I find that very interesting...
Anyways, I like linux. I think it fits most of the needs I have. Until it fits all my needs, I'll still have a 2k box somewhere. And I'll still download the newest weekly critical security update. And keep my Norton updates rolling in. And keep that firewall up and running. But that 2k box won't use internet explorer, it will use mozilla. And it won't use microsoft office, it will use open office. The less microsoft on my
pc, the fewer holes I have to patch...