Microsoft releases security-minded Windows code

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Why does Microsoft choose to...

... do whatever?

Some people stop at: because they're stupid.
They violate common sense or software 101 or the usual way it's always been done.
You'd think that after all this time and money they'd have hired at least one competent person to tell them the basics, wouldn't you?!

Others are only a small step up: because they're evil.
This is a step up because at least it says Microsoft is consciously choosing its strategies.
The problem is, the decision-making model is like the description of government in 1984: a boot stomping on a human face, forever. This means, the buyers of Microsoft products have to be stupid.
The customers intentionally eliminated all rivals in order to be "served" exclusively by a company that is out to hurt them financially and give them a poor quality product.
Does that kind of mass disfunction sound like rational analysis to you?

Then what's left is: Microsoft makes rational decisions based on the needs and wants of potential buyers, and its ability to be profitable in various markets.
Does that make them brilliant always? No.
Does that make them honest always? No.
But that conclusion does make it possible to draw reasonable inferences about their actions.


So, when you wrote:

If [customers install new features] because they saw MS as a trusted vendor offering a "freebie" that's a simple business choice. If it[']s because the option was get patches with bundled apps or run old unpatched OS without bundled apps then MS is on shaky ground.

"MS is on shaky ground" = MS evil. Notice you don't consider the idea that new features, if not security-related, might be removeable, let alone useful.
We're dealing with assumptions here because we don't know facts. You're characterizing.

Then you wrote:
Do you realize the reason MS never hits its development deadlines and has such a shaky quality track record is because it spreads itself too thin? They need to focus rather than try to own everything!

"[S]preads too thin" = stupid.
Actually, I think you might have a point here, depending on how much their development efforts in one area impact on another. But I don't have enough information.
Do you?
Maybe Microsoft can take on a large agenda, given the company's size and quality of staff. Subject to bad luck and simple human error.


Then you say:
Sorry, but that's [why Microsoft thought customer wanted capabilities] a supply side argument that says the customer is not capable of choosing what they need. It might work if MS was not a Monopolist, but, this is reality and they are!

Microsoft = evil.
There is one way to design software. Microsoft did not follow it. Therefore, they are abusing their monopoly and forcing something unwanted on the customer. Always.

and you repeated the point:
Certainly MS is free to make reccomendations, and make certain confiurations easy to build, but precluding customer choice is simply an illegal tactic that will eventually lead to MS's downfall.

Evil again. Stupid evil.


I know Microsoft is building the configuration.
They have a reason.
It may be because of customer request.
It may be because of how their software works.
It may be for marketing considerations about another market entirely. (This gets them into the legally iffy, so, with the way the company is monitored, let's call this one least likely.)

But I don't think coercion for the sake of coercion deserves to be on the list.

I think you end up with coercion because you think of what Microsoft is doing as intentionally bad software.
Software 101 again.
The basics can be changed. Get used to it.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 06/15/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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