[ba-unrev-talk] Fwd: [PORT-L] Windows XP warning
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>Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2002 12:14:10 -0500
>Reply-To: INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSION GROUP <PORT-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU>
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>From: "John F. Sowa" <sowa@BESTWEB.NET>
>Subject: [PORT-L] Windows XP warning
>To: PORT-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
>
>If anybody is using (or thinking of using) Microsoft's latest
>Windows XP operating system, please note the following words in
>the EULA (End User Licensing Agreement):
>
> "You acknowledge and agree that Microsoft may automatically check
> the version of the Product and/or its components that you are
> utilizing and may provide upgrades or fixes to the Product that
> will be automatically downloaded to your Workstation Computer."
>
>In other words, every user must agree to let MSFT have access to
>anything and everything on the computer. For further discussion of
>this point, see an article in InfoWorld:
>
> http://www.infoworld.com/articles/op/xml/02/02/11/020211opfoster.xml
>
>Following is the conclusion of the article:
>
> Both corporate and individual customers can choose to turn off
>Windows
> Auto-Update, the Microsoft officials pointed out....
>
> Well, swell. But if it is indeed Microsoft's intent to continue
>giving
> users the right to decline downloads, why has the company written its
> XP agreements to force users to explicitly surrender that right? Are
> customers supposed to ignore what the licenses say and just hope
> Microsoft won't ever do what the terms say it can do? That's not a
> concept that will make anyone other than Bill Gates feel very secure.
>
>Bottom line: If you have or are thinking of getting Windows XP, do not
>ever register your system with MSFT, make sure that you turn off the
>automatic update feature, do not use Microsoft IE to access the WWW,
>do not use Outlook to handle your email, and do not ever access any web
>site that is owned or controlled by MSFT.
>
>Even then, you can't be totally sure that your computer will remain
>invisible from the great tower of Mordor.
>
>John Sowa (01)