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Unless you are prepared for the effort in not using MSFT products, articles like these are more inflammatory than useful. There are many article like this and it isn't news. This is not directed at Zanth for pointing out this article, but to the tech journalists that trod out these well worn exposes everytime MSFT unveils a product.
IMO the users of MSFT OS's and products get themselves into a bind because it isn't possible to have an OS that basically takes care of itself (call it OS maintenance automation if you like) without the software keeping track of it's own usage so it can deduce what to update. I don't view this software tracking from the point of view of Big Brother. The users of Microsoft span the gamut of humankind, likewise the permutations of hardware running it are virtually limitless. It's no wonder the EULA is completely open-ended in MSFT's favor, with 10's of millions of users, how could they do otherwise? Call me naive, but I'm not that paranoid.
A user doesn't buy a MSFT software license and is done with it The business model is built not in providing a customer with a functional computer but in using the computer as a channel to the consumer for the selling of goods and services. This is nothing new as far as MSFT practice and it will continue with Vista and anything else they churn out.
I am not an apologist for MSFT and their dubious business practices. Don't like 'em much but they are who they are.
I know computer people that are not MSFT-centric. The gap of understanding and usage for them as compared to the average computer person is not much different than the gap between a head-fier and the average i-Pod user. The learning is out there if there is motivation and desire to do so. Or just get a Mac.
I don't mind bashing MSFT, more for sport now than for news. They almost always deserve it.
