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Windows XP assumes that you are doing something wrong unless you can prove otherwise.
  technofile
Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

Crazy things you won't believe: Microsoft's snitch fest and more


May 30, 2001


By Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2001, Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2001, The Syracuse Newspapers

   Crazy things are happening. Here are three of the most recent.
   You've got to feel sorry for Time Warner employees. They're being forced to use AOL as their official office e-mail system.
   Time Warner and America Online are merging into one company called AOL Time Warner. AOL's e-mail system is non-standard and causes countless problems for home customers. It was never designed for corporate use.
   Businesses need good e-mail software. Can someone please tell this to AOL Time Warner?
   Microsoft started offering prizes to anyone (in any company, here and abroad) who snitched on a coworker, but quickly canceled the contest when thousands of people complained by e-mail and phone. (No, I'm not making this up.)
   Microsoft offered watches, computer games and other inducements to employees who could prove that a coworker had installed the same Windows CD on more than one computer. (According to Microsoft, a Windows installation CD cannot be legally installed on more than one PC.) Among the prizes: watches and computer games.
   It's not clear whether Microsoft gave away any prizes in the week or two the contest was running, but it will have another chance this fall when it introduces Windows XP. Windows XP owners won't be able to install that version of Windows without permission from Microsoft. They won't even be able to add any device that changes the configuration of their computer -- a new hard drive, for example -- without getting permission.
   No, I'm not kidding on this one, either. Windows XP comes with a blocking system that requires an OK from Microsoft before the software will unblock itself. Windows XP assumes that you are doing something wrong unless you can prove otherwise.
   Windows XP won't install itself unless Microsoft gives it permission after checking to see if you've already installed XP on another computer. (No, I'm not ... you get the point.)
   Napster, Gnutella and Aimster users (they're file-sharing methods across the Internet) are in for a big surprise: Anyone who wants to -- the FBI, Microsoft, your neighbor Fred, the one who hates your guts -- can spy on you to see what files you have downloaded and uploaded.
   Programs to do just that are already available for -- get this! -- marketing companies, so they can target customers more directly. The next time you download that copyrighted bluegrass song, you might get an e-mail from a record company offering a deal on a CD full of favorite songs -- or maybe from a record company lawyer.
   No, I'm not making any of this up.