MS Bashing Rant

[Carl Martin]

Symantec has claimed some bragging rights over rival Microsoft by finding a vulnerability in Windows Firewall that backs up a warning the security firm made a year ago.

The company found a way to escalate network privileges via a smallish hole in Vista's networking stack - a potential problem the company predicted in July 2006 - that Microsoft patched yesterday.

Symantec told-you-so on Patch Tuesday - CBRonline.com

Sorry, I usually don't get into Microsoft bashing, but this article really got my dander up. How on earth did it take MS a full year to get this patch out??? In my mind this sort of irresponsibility manifests exactly what is wrong with MS (and much of the corporate world.) Who cares if the operating system works? Get it on the shelves and we'll fix it later. Who cares if there are security problems? There's no such thing a "safe" computer anyway. How much profit will this generate? None? Then to hell with it!

Consumers want reliable, safe products that meet their needs, and if MS doesn't meet those needs, an upstart will come along and knock them off their pedestal. I fear that if Redmond doesn't get its act together, it may soon find itself in the same situation as the US auto industry. (I say "fear" because I really don't want to see Microsoft self-destruct. If it weren't for them the PC would still be nothing but a glorified word processor and the internet nothing but a dream.)

Wake up Goliath, David's coming!

[gvblake22]

The problem here is that there isn't enough competition to keep Microsoft liable for these problems or motivated to fix them quickly. Same goes for developing new products. They know that people will still be buying the stuff regardless because there is really no other choice. Kindof like with the oil companies, they keep raising prices and making lame excuses. We bitch and moan about it all but there is nothing we can really do because everyone drives a car. Until alternative fuel sources and automobiles become more mainstream, we are forced to take it up the rear when we go to the gas pump.

So until someone/something comes along to knock them (Microsoft) off the pedistal, things will continue on their current course. Linux has great potential, but it still has a ways to go. I agree with you Carl, Microsoft definitely needs some competition, but it is going to take a lot more for anything to start encroaching on Microsoft's territory in the PC world...

[Carl Martin]

Maybe I'm feeling a bit rebellious today... I just copied all the files off my laptop (what few were there) and am trying Feisty Fawn again with a complete hard drive format. Think I may have found a solution to the wireless problem. Take that Bill!!!

(If it doesn't work I'll be kicking myself as I reload XP tonight.)

[gvblake22]

HAHAHA, good luck with the Ubuntu install. I'm running Feisty Fawn on my secondary system and it works quite well. I'm still very green to the whole Linux thing though, so there's still a learning curve for me.

[PackRat]

Aww go ahead and bash away Carl, it relieves stress and thats a good thing. It helps me when windows has trod upon my last nerve. Besides it's just plain fun.

One thing i know for shure about chairman Bill, he ain't psychic, back in the 70's when he said (" I don't see why anyone would need more than 64 Kilo Bytes of ram" )

hehe.... Windows were something people looked out of back then, were'nt they Billy Boy.

[Computer-Ed]

I am just cruious, has anyone actually seen anything that amde use of this exploit? I am not talking about tests, I am talking about an actual system attack.