return to I Love My Journal
A Little Closer to Center...
Musings about Life, Linux, and Latter-day Saints.
Pages
About Me
Links


Tags
PERSONAL 520
SPIRITUAL 416
LDS 312
BOOK OF MORMON 237
SCRIPTURES 154
STUDIO-JOURNEY 129
RELIGION 112
LINUX 79
COMPUTERS 65
LIFE 60
GENERAL CONFERENCE 46
GENTOO 39
MISCELLANEOUS 37
MUSIC 37
PROGRAMMING 33
CARS 29
MICROSOFT 23
FAMILY 23
AUDIO 21
I LOVE MY JOURNAL 18
FUN 15
CHILDREN 12
CURRENT EVENTS 10
NATURE'S WAY 10
VIDEO 9
DRM 9
CONEXM 7
BABBLINGS 7
PROVO CITY CENTER TEMPLE 6
FRIENDS 6
HEROD THE FINK 5
GAMES 5
COMPUTER HARDWARE 5
DRUMS 4
HAND OF GOD 3
ADVERSITY 3
KDENLIVE 3
AUDIO HARDWARE 3
GENERAL INSANITY 3
STUDIO 3
THANKS4GIVING 2
CATS 2
MY JOURNAL 1
POETRY 1
FOREVERGREEN 1
EVERYDAY THOUGHTS 1
GOSPEL 1
PARENTING 1
YOUTH CONFERENCE 1
CHURCH NOTES 1
POLITICS 1


RSS Feed

RSS FeedSubscribe!
Thu - Oct 25, 2007 : 11:13 am
angry
   rated 0 times
>>next>>
<<previous<<
Microsoft Makes Me Sick
I don't even know where to begin on this one.  Maybe I'll start by screaming in frustration due to Microsoft's complete incompetence.....  or is it incompetence?  Maybe, and more likely, it's completely calculated, thought-through, planned, and executed....

Apparently, Microsoft sent out an "automatic update" to all XP and 2003 machines which bypasses the configuration of the user and installs something called "Windows Desktop Search".  It doesn't matter if you want it or not, apparently, you're getting it because Microsoft thinks you should have it.

And what is the result?

Well...  As it seems by reading here and here and here and here and here....  Lots and lots of people, many of whom manage more than 1000 windows servers and desktops, now have to deal with an application which consumes large amounts of resources being automatically installed throughout all their machines - even if they expressly told the auto-updater to not install it.

It's slowing everything down and making a lot of people quite angry.

To tell you the truth, it makes me angry as well - and I don't even use Windows!

The reason it makes me angry is that a business AS FREAKING HUGE as Microsoft is has completely disregarded their customers' wishes.  There's only a few reasons I can think of as to why this could have happened:
  • Microsoft doesn't care at all about their customers and is doing whatever it wants, whenever it wants.
  • Sales for Vista have been crappy, so they're now taking measures to ensure that XP is slowly degraded so Vista appears better and faster.  (Did you note that this Desktop Search was only auto-installed onto XP and 2003 machines?)
  • Someone in Microsoft made a mistake and now has pissed off thousands of customers.

Which one do I believe?  Well...  I'm no fan of conspiracy theories, but in light of crap that has happened before, I'm leaning toward option 1 and 2.

Ya know...  This brings up an interesting thought, and people will think what they will of it, but in my life - it's as true as true can be.

Me and my wife have been using Gentoo Linux now for more than 3 years.  In a previous post, I tell exactly how I use Gentoo on the various computers I have through my home.

Yes, we've had momentary problems which ordinary computer users have when their 18-month-old child decides to climb on the desk and jump on the keyboard for 30 minutes straight, and when new programs are installed - causing the learning curve frustration, and hardware failures...  BUT!

During the 3 years we've been using Linux, we've never had any spyware, adware, viruses, trojans, or worms at all - ever.  Maybe we need to knock on wood, but I personally know 2 other good friends who are also using Linux, who also haven't had any of the aforementioned crap which is oh-so-problematic for Windows users.

Also....  Ya want to know what else I haven't had to deal with?

STUPID CORPORATIONS PUSHING CRAPPY, MEMORY-HOGGING PROGRAMS ON TO MY COMPUTER REGARDLESS IF I HAVE EXPRESSLY STATED I DON'T WANT IT!

When was the last time I had *anything* automatically pushed on to my gentoo machine?  Oh yeah...  Never.  When it's time to update, I do it myself, and I can pick and choose what's installed.

Oh yeah...  Another thing that has me confused is this whole notion that Linux isn't "ready for the desktop".  If that's what you think, you obviously have been using Windows for *WAY* too long.  My wife is far from being a "computer nerd" and she has been using gentoo for the past 3 years and never once have I heard her say "Man, I wish I was using Windows..."

People, in general, just don't want change in their lives.  Linux is just as easy to use as Windows is.

Stupid freakin' monopolies telling people what they need.  Bah.

Anyway....  I'm just in awe that people sit around and let Microsoft spoon-feed them this horse crap and people take it - and some even like it.  It really is quite baffling to me.

I'm done ranting now.
Comment by Daniele on Oct. 25, 2007 @ 04:46 pm
Touche
Comment by Anonymous on Oct. 26, 2007 @ 03:28 am
If Linux were as easy to use as Windows, then the world would be using Linux. Microsoft is in the top position for a reason, because for most people doing most things, it just works. As for Windows Desktop Search, simply don't use it. It should only be working when you folders that you need to be indexed. Otherwise, feel free to ignore it and use the standalone search.
Comment by JRB on Oct. 26, 2007 @ 03:36 am
Right ON!!!
but ppl/corp arnt going todo the sensible/smart thing and switch to linux. Sure they will bitch, sure they will moan BUT in the end they will just stick with windows and continue with their planned Vista rollout