__/ [ [H]omer ] on Saturday 28 April 2007 09:51 \__
> Verily I say unto thee, that Roy Schestowitz spake thusly:
>> __/ [ [H]omer ] on Tuesday 24 April 2007 06:49 \__
>>> Verily I say unto thee, that Linonut spake thusly:
>
>>>> The pricing for Vista seems a lot like that. Almost $100 in WalMart to
>>>> purchase an /upgrade/ to Vista Home Basic.
>
>>> Is that the version with the Genuine-Advantage® of no networking, no
>>> drivers, no access to backups, and no Aero, but the same industry
>>> standard bugs and bloat that Microsoft customers have come to love and
>>> respect?
>
>> I'm not sure about lack of networking (maybe it's something more
>> specific),
>
> As Mr. FUDenbunch (or was it FUDenbunch Jnr.?) very nearly pointed out
> to me in another thread, it is actually "Vista *Starter* Edition" that
> has the "advantage" of this "feature". He didn't *actually* point it out
> though, he just "corrected" my mistake. He really wanted to tell me the
> correct version that has this "feature" though, but somehow couldn't
> quite bring himself to type it.
>
>> but no machines out there (not even $3000 business laptop) are delivered
>> with Ultimate, based on something I read last month. It's all just Teaser
>> Edition with a hidden cost. The functionality is there, but it's locked.
>> 'Functionality hostage' would be a nice term here...
>
> "Bait & Switch" would be another.
>
>> it's right there saying you can do /X/, but you must pay /Y/ for /X/.
>> It's like subscription/use based payment for software, which is
>> something Microsoft tested/patented, IIRC. Even access to your backups
>> (which are there) can resort to extortion.
>> It's like a draug dealer/addict affair.
>
> Holding backups hostage ... hmm, reminds me of this story:
>
> .----
> | A woman from Greater Manchester has become a victim of an internet
> | scam in which hackers hijack computer files and blackmail owners to
> | get them back.
> |
> | Helen Barrow, a 40-year-old nurse from Rochdale, is believed to be
> | one of the first victims of the con in the UK.
> |
> | Criminals encrypt files with complex passwords, leaving a ransom note
> | telling victims not to contact police.
> |
> | Ms Barrow's note said that she would have to buy drugs from an online
> | pharmacy to find out the password.
> |
> | The new phenomenon, known as Ransomware, means victims cannot access
> | any of the files stored in their My Documents folder.
> |
> | Ms Barrow, from Littleborough, discovered her computer files had
> | vanished and replaced by one 30-digit password-protected folder.
> |
> | She also found a new file named "instructions how to get your files
> | back".
> `----
>
> - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/5034384.stm
>
> There's a whole page of "Ransomware" stories here:
>
> http://flyinghamster.com/tag/ransomware/page/2/
>
> So basically, Microsoft have sunk to the level of criminal extortionist
> hackers. Or should that be *risen* to that level?
>
> "If you ever want to see your files alive again, you must give us the
> money by midnight tonight. Place $500 in used bills into a brown paper
> bag, and put the bag into the dumpster on the corner of Avenue and 5th!
>
> Come alone!
>
> Sincerely, Steve."
I remember this one story very well. I believe she attends the same
university as myself. The effects of this can be more severe.
Your data or your life
,----[ Quote ]
| As unlikely and alarmist as this sounds, it could really happen. Intracare
| is the publisher of a popular practice management system called Dr. Notes.
| When some doctors balked at a drastic increase in their annual software
| lease, they were cut off from accessing their own patients? information.
|
| This situation is completely unconscionable. There can be no truly
| open doctor-patient relationship when an unrelated third party is the
| de facto owner of and gatekeeper to all related data.
`----
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/node/1709
Mind you, Gutmann spoke about the nasty effects of Vista DRM and how this
can/will cost lives. The original (plain text-formatted) essay is worth
revisiting.
--
~~ With kind regards
Roy S. Schestowitz | "ASCII stupid question, get a stupid ANSI"
http://Schestowitz.com | Free as in Free Beer ¦ PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
Cpu(s): 35.2% user, 4.3% system, 0.6% nice, 59.8% idle
http://iuron.com - semantic engine to gather information
|
|
