Windows XP update moves ahead

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Hypnotic Persuation

``The service pack has a number of security updates aimed
at preventing exploitation of "buffer overrun" flaws, an
increasingly popular avenue for hackers to use in launching
remote attacks on PCs. ''

You mean that they 'have fixed' the problem but they
cannot test themselves the effectiveness of their solution?
Why? Do they just work at random? Can't they test if the
buffer overruns are exploitable? Besides, they need to
release the code to hackers to try to exploit it.


`` It also provides more support for wireless networking
and for short-range Bluetooth wireless connections, along
with a new version of Microsoft's DirectX graphics library. ''

Big deal of technologies to require beta testing. They must
have very little confidence on their work...

``The first beta version of SP2 is aimed primarily at IT
administrators, whose comments will help shape the final
form of the update, according to Microsoft. ''

How the IT admins can help out here? By testing if the
wireless s/w works? Or that the crammy bluetooth can talk
to the pen on the desk?

``The Windows XP SP2 beta includes a subset of the
technologies that will ultimately ship in SP2, and the final
feature set will be based largely on customer feedback
generated during the beta process," the company said in a
statement. ''

So is this 'customer feedback' that they are looking for (ala
focus groups) or beta testing?


``Microsoft has said it expects to have a final version of
SP2 ready by mid-2004 for all Windows XP users. ''

Why does MS need 6 whole months to let outside testers
find out if the wireless/bluetooth works, or the 'security'
settings are set 'properly' by default?

The meat is here:
``Service packs typically bring together bug fixes and
patches previously introduced in piecemeal fashion. Service
Pack 1 for Windows XP, released in May, combined such
patches with a handful of tweaks required by the
settlement of the government's antitrust case against the
Redmond, Wash.-based software giant. ''

That is, SPs are FIXES for EXISTING s/w deficiencies -- as
expected -- NOT a TENTATIVE ATTEMPT TO FIX something
that you know that is broken. Any responsible company
does its own quality testing for the solution (fixes) before
releasing them out as such. It only tells me that they pretty
much DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEMS
PROPERLY! Do you contest that a fix is TO FIX things? Do
you understand the procedure? Obviously not.

``But Microsoft has been under increasing pressure to
improve the security of its products, after a number of
high-profile attacks this year. It has made security a key
focus in the development of the next version of Windows,
code-named Longhorn. But with Longhorn not due to hit
the market until 2006, the company has to rely on Windows
XP service packs to address immediate security issues. ''

And here lies the answer: MS is trying to keep the whetting
the appetite of people for some 'very beautiful' and
mysterious version of their os that is not slatted for release
until at least TWO YEARS (SEE FOUR) in the FUTURE.

I am sure that the hypnotic persuation by the MS center has
increased the level of anticipation of this future s/w. And
looking at the past history, the product when it comes out
it will be a big dissapointment with all the promissed
features defered for yet another future release. Naturally,
the GUI will be different and the menues will have different
effects... as usual.

Beta bug fixes .... astonishing incompetence


-m

Posted by: michael-t   Posted on: 12/18/03 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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