Does ComScore know simple arithmetic? Those tables are weird: 20.5 to 20.9% is a change of -0.4%?
How about 4.3 to 4.5% being a -0.4% change?

Now that's creative accounting - did ComScore hire the 'creative accountants' involved in the Enron scam?

Hey - therealiman.com is still available... Why not start a blog? I am sure it will be hilarious.

Like I said, some people have no other recourse than to lie and cheat people out of information.

"The Real I-Man" needs to be known for what he is: an impersonator with no way of arguing a situation other than to imitate and ridicule.

I'm really astounded none of you readers can take on the language of the patent Microsoft used to build Sharepoint as a powerhouse (notice Sharepoint's major features are only now becoming visible after the July 25, 2008 settlement in VCSY v MSFT).

But you folks go right along following the blind.

Watch that ditch up ahead.

Speaking about cashback/refund
The Microsoft tax needs to be abolished
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/08/29/lenovo-imposes-nda-vista-refund
Quoting:
A CZECH PUNTER who bought a Lenovo PC didn't want the preloaded copy of Windows Vista, but Lenovo demanded that he sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before he could receive a refund.
Despite having invested significant time negotiating with Lenovo to obtain a refund for the Microsoft operating system he didn't ask for and wouldn't use, Kamil Páral decided not to accept the money if that meant he would have to submit to Lenovo's high-handed demand.

Instead, he wrote a complete account of the barriers Lenovo forced him to hurdle in order to negotiate the refund in the amount of CZK 1,950 (about £65, €78 or $130) that he believed he was due.

The Czech Linux enthusiasts' website ABC Linuxu published his story, and its editors and owner decided it was only fair to compensate Mr Páral with an author's royalty equal to the amount of the Windows Vista refund that he had declined to accept from Lenovo under the gag order it sought to impose.

ABC Linuxu rewarded Páral's perseverence in the hope that more PC purchasers will follow his example and that a growing number of buyers' refund requests "will lead to an improved relationship between IT manufacturers and end users, so that it will be possible to order any computer without a preinstalled operating system from Microsoft."

We agree that would certainly be an improvement. The Microsoft tax needs to be abolished. µ

Hi Joe willcox;

Now even I am tired of the VCSY chatter, hey the court case is over. But, is impersonation again to be allowed? This is far worse than the VCSY chatter, which to some very small extent is acceptable.

Bet this is the same softie that did the other impersonations? You did warn them once that you would do something next time. Can you block this type of behavior Joe? A Quote below from Portuno;

portuno :
"The Real I-Man" needs to be known for what he is: an impersonator with no way of arguing a situation other than to imitate and ridicule.
----------------------------------------------------
Its one thing to make a point, another to use identity theft.

While I am on this subject about impersonating;

@portuno, Iman, and other VCSY spammers;

Hey guys, while I do not support those who use impersonation against you, you guys should know that the VCSY court case is OVER! Done, finished. Move on, the VCSY already had its stock increased, and its all over now. Who cares even if you were right that Microsoft can now use those patents? Big deal, they were already using them, wasn't that what the whole court case was about anyway. Move on, cause nothing you have said since the court case is over is relevant anymore.

As in relevant not, which in this case, is starting to make you guys look like spammers. This is bad, cause you guys actually once in awhile how something good to say sometimes, which gets lost in the long posts.

chips;

I don't know if your comments will stop the troubling situation here with the VCSY crap. It might even encourage these people, you know, "Feeding the Trolls..." as someone already mentioned in another article.

In the past, I don't usually comment on these forums, I just come and read Mr. Wilcox's commentary and may scroll down to read the reactions of some of the readers.

Though, I find very little noteworthy of late that I can draw from, especially reading about the IE beta topic and find this VCSY spam and Linux spam -- What does marco's comments made on Linux have anything about IE 8.0 beta?

yet people like him accuse everyone else of being a "shill?"

I also believe that these accusations, vile attacks against others, and things you and some other people mention is diversely affecting this site overall.

Does this site have any moderators, administrators, and some sort of policing?

What the heck is going on here? I'm just afraid that if I see the letters vee sea ess why together again, I am going to lose it.

I am only afraid that by me (and other legitimate posts) just mentioning it is giving it credibility. I shouldn't say credibility, I mean worth. Worth that we legitimate writers even bother to bring it up. But I just think it is really getting out of hand. We have I-Men, fake, real, unknown. It's like an I-Man army out there.

I love this site. At least Joe's articles. They keep me informed, they are well written, and they are thought and conversation provoking. But I am again getting tired of scrolling through the garbage. This article is about Microsoft purchasing Greenfield Online, not about vee sea ess why (sorry, I wasn't ready to lose it!).

Please. Stop the pain. Keep on topic.

Tom Berber says:
What the heck is going on here? I'm just afraid that if I see the letters vee sea ess why together again, I am going to lose it............

Are you sure you have not "lost it," already Tom? What I am asking in a polite sense, is: is it you doing all the impersonating? Or is it you Doctor Doug? Whoever it is, please stop it, so we can have a grownup conversation here. Thank you.

It is more than just obvious that Microsoft Live is almost a complete failure, still losing market share to Google at a fast rate. Will Microsoft purchasing Greenfield Online help them retain or gain market share?

My guess, and it is a guess, is not going to help them one little bit, and may even hasten the slide. For the simple reason that price comparision software, is most likely just another vehicle for Microsoft to use to past on cost by way of giving select sellers (who have to pay MS) more links and sales. This is most likely not the best, or the least inexpensive sellers at all. Most users will find that out right away, and just find another reason not to use Live.

Just as Microsoft continues its steady downward diving spiral of Microsoft Live, so does the Xbox360 continue to lose share to Sony, and the Zune is a total joke compared to even Scandisk, not to mention the Ipod which is light years ahead of the Zune.

Microsoft needs to give up on these products, cut the loses and sell off the remains of these products to some other company that has the talent to make them sucessfull. They (MSFT) need to concentrate on their core products, Windows. If they did so, maybe Vista would not be such a pig.

Quoting TinaG : "Though, I find very little noteworthy of late that I can draw from, especially reading about the IE beta topic and find this VCSY spam and Linux spam -- What does marco's comments made on Linux have anything about IE 8.0 beta?"
----------------------------------------------------
Actually TinaG, the same thing could be said about your comment, or mine. Once you start down the road to censorship of the comments, almost anything is fair game.

Furthermore, it is the softies that really want to censor the free open speech here in the comments section. As Microsoft cannot stand one bit of competition and free speech as per their poorly written and engineered software products. Which is why I don't support censoring the VCSY spam totally. As far as Marco's comments, his Linux support (and mine) are not irrelevant at all to the discussion. Linux, Apple, and most Operating Systems, are the flip side to Microsoft Windows, as Google, Yahoo, are to the flip side of MS Live/MSN. To discuss one, is like discussing another.

Learn from your competitors, MS has in the past. What Marco is writing about Linux, the softies don't want to hear. Is it because they have vested interest in Microsoft itself? I maintain that competition for the MS Windows operating system, is a good thing for users. The competition is forcing MS to perhaps fix their product. At least I hope so. Cause I do not believe that Windows is going away quickly, at least in the next few years. Same way with Internet Explorer, competition, without it, it would still be stuck at IE6. Relevant part, mentioning IE, LOL.

To Joe: We can have discrepancies about some issues, but your personal honesty was never in doubt-and is not now-but it is impossible to fail to realise that you are neglecting your blog. Your articles are not delivered within your usual time line. Impersonators are rampant in the forum. Therefore I would like to ask you-what's happening?, maybe are you having other duties now?.

I-Man : Even though I consider what you write about VCSY to be excessive and ill-timed, nobody has the right to impersonate you. You've got my support against those who impersonate you. But please help both us and you and write only from time to time (concisely) about VCSY.

chips, The Hand, sam: we can remember that there are 300 millions worth in advertisements here (I am NOT speaking about Joe). Ms' idea is to make them into billions, cheating people to buy the sheer garbage that is Vista. I'm afraid that we'll start seeing attacks against those who dare dissent with Ms and criticise it. I'd like to be wrong, but I think we are already seeing a nascent anarchy here.
BTW: thanks sam for: 'but does not disagree who him either'
Although
Why would anybody think that you uncover your own Alias if you had one?
This is simply 'somebody' manoeuvre in order to minimise his own disrepute (we all know who is him)

Chips; 'Marco's comments, his Linux support (and mine) are not irrelevant at all to the discussion.'
Thanks!.

@ Chips

In fact, the full impact of the news has not hit about the MSFT settlement. The settlement was confidential and the characteristics represented by the license MSFT paid for is something that was not at all fully fleshed out in past .Net or Sharepoint versions or the 2007-2008 infringement case would have been open and shut.

What you're about to see in .Net, Sharepoint and Oslo (to mention only three efforts) will revolutionize the way web platforms are put together.

What's fascinating is the reaction by Microsoft competitors, particularly open source. Full use of the patent will open up Sharepoint and .Net to become dominant living software platforms for the web and for Microsoft's new operating system strategies ... something that will show the true inadequacies of Linux efforts under the next generation profile.

If the Linux discussion is relevant on this board, so is the discussion about the importance VCSY technology will play in Microsoft's ascension to a truly functional place on the web; something they have not been able to accomplish until only recently.

If you've really been watching, you will notice the change in voice and attitude in MSFT after July 25. Before: inadequate and stunted internet performance and vision. After: renewed web capability and confidence. What happened? Arbitrary objects, massive affiliation, and granular virtualization across all platforms to name only a few qualities.

The MSFT settlement is quite noteworthy, but it is a threat to so many MSFT competitors I can easily see why no-one wishes to talk about it. Fine by me. But, don't whine you didn't have a chance to compete when the opportunity came your way.

Microsoft wasted years in reputation and billions in treasure when they had to scrap their XML efforts in Longhorn in 2004. Now, at least they can roll out some useful software.

What will open-source do? They will face reality and act or they will be absorbed into Red Hat and Novell as the dominant proprietary software houses create what IBM calls commercial communities. These will be bulletproof and interoperable across all systems and platforms... as long as you can perform according to the capabilities described by the two patents.

It's a fact and a natural result of the advances offered by 744 and 521. If you've read those patents you should be able to see the full implications. If not, "relevance" will become a pointless discussion for your open-source friends.

Marco wrote :

"The Microsoft tax needs to be abolished."
----------------------------------------------------

I agree 100% and the way to do that is to have a free operating system preloaded onto a computer. The computer would come with a Microsoft operating system disc and Windows drivers but Windows cannot be activated until the consumer pays for a license key online to Microsoft. The consumer would have to install the OS themselves.

One very positive aspect of this (regardless what

side of the fence you stand)...is that crapware on new machines would be eliminated.

Also the computer should come with other alternative operating system discs that the consumer could install themselves if they decided not to purchase a MSFT license or go with the free preloaded one.

Of course this would never happen (well maybe in the E.U. or France.....) as the Redmond machine is way too powerful and would fight it tooth and nail. (Embrace, Extend and Extinguish)

Of course this has absolutely nothing to do with the current discussion. But since you bought it up... I figure I would throw my worthless two cents into the mix.

Joe, maybe you might want to do a blog on this subject sometime in the future..."The Microsoft Tax". Seems this subject never really goes away and its been talked about for a number of years. It might bring a lot of traffic to your site. It would be a interesting "free for all".

Now back to the topic on hand.....my apologies for the interruption

"The Hand :

Tom Berber says:
What the heck is going on here? I'm just afraid that if I see the letters vee sea ess why together again, I am going to lose it............

Are you sure you have not "lost it," already Tom? What I am asking in a polite sense, is: is it you doing all the impersonating? Or is it you Doctor Doug? Whoever it is, please stop it, so we can have a grownup conversation here. Thank you."

No Hand, I am not any I-Man whatsoever. I prefer to have intelligent conversation here, but the garbage being spewed is ridiculous. I have been in may forums and there are usually moderators to keep the conversations relevant and on topic. And also to ban the spammers and trash talkers. I am surprised at the number of people here who feel that is some sort of infringement on a person's right to free speech. Joe needs to determine when things cross the line. Suppose someone came on here and blogged all about gardening. Would some here would think that is ok and Joe should allow them their right to free speech. However, this is Joe's forum and he has the right to filter out irrelevant posts and what he considers graffiti or spam.

Yes, I am getting tired of almost all of Joe's articles somehow being transformed into something about VCSY. And the other I-Man or I-Men out there are now making it almost unbearable. As much as I despise the majority of the articles being transformed to VCSY related, these fakes are even worse. Joe, you must have a way to at least ban/block the fake I-Men.

To Portuno:
I come to this forum because I consider that the existence of a monopoly like Ms has disastrous consequences. Socially and technologically, they tend to destroy their competitors and thus they destroy innovation possibilities as well. This is blatantly obvious-only look at IE before Mozilla came around. That's why I support the options which currently exist-I'm referring to Open Source and, to a minor degree, Apple. I do not wish for Ms to be destroyed. I do wish, however, for the destruction of its negative qualities, like totalitarianism, opinion manipulation, trade of consciences and loyalties and destruction of rivals. I'd like it to be clean competition and for people to know there are other options, and some of them free (Ms tries to hide this). This is why I generally recommend the use of certain Ms products (XP) united to Open Source products (this'll help the learning curve to be less hard). This combination would benefit almost all, including Ms users. Those whom it would not benefit would be those who take advantage of the consumer in an excessive manner.

But what do you want? Besides what we know, that it is a better price for the shares of VCSY. Thing you got already after Ms agreed with VCSY. What is your next objective? Is it simply for a limited few to get rich-including yourself? Or is it something altruistic (a word which is being given negative connotations these days), and synonyms?

@ I-Man

I think he's already gone over the line. The indications are he's a hedge fund operative who's already pushed all the buttons both legal and non-legal, so, what's he got to lose? Same phrases, same key words.

Some people are too stupid to know when they're visible.

I wonder how surprised he will be to find his name included on a class action suit?

@ Marco

"To Portuno:
I come to this forum because I consider that the existence of a monopoly like Ms has disastrous consequences."

I agree.

"Socially and technologically, they tend to destroy their competitors and thus they destroy innovation possibilities as well."

Agreed. That's what they intended to have happen to VCSY. That's why VCSY longs have fought so hard to make this sort of activity known. That effort won't go away simply because MSFT was forced to settle by their own financial interests.

"This is blatantly obvious-only look at IE before Mozilla came around. That's why I support the options which currently exist-I'm referring to Open Source and, to a minor degree, Apple."

I also agree.

"I do not wish for Ms to be destroyed. I do wish, however, for the destruction of its negative qualities, like totalitarianism, opinion manipulation, trade of consciences and loyalties and destruction of rivals. I'd like it to be clean competition and for people to know there are other options, and some of them free (Ms tries to hide this). This is why I generally recommend the use of certain Ms products (XP) united to Open Source products (this'll help the learning curve to be less hard). This combination would benefit almost all, including Ms users. Those whom it would not benefit would be those who take advantage of the consumer in an excessive manner."

Again, I agree.

"But what do you want? Besides what we know, that it is a better price for the shares of VCSY. Thing you got already after Ms agreed with VCSY. What is your next objective?"

The litigation with VCSY was an effort to undo the crushing VCSY received from Ross Systems and later Chinadotcom (aka CDC) and Microsoft. It's the least a company can do for their shareholders and, as a shareholder, I share in the effort to the best of my ability.

"Is it simply for a limited few to get rich-including yourself?"

We (VCSY longs) have been giving away information to all who will read and study for 8 years. There are many who are already well off on paper becasue they bought substantial amounst of stock at 0.006 and below. They are waiting for the culmination of activites we've all been watching for years. The first stages of that have played out with MSFT settling. We now await the licensing of the technology to all others who appear to be infringing. That is the company's right in the United States and elsewhere and it's a right we longs take seriously.

"r is it something altruistic (a word which is being given negative connotations these days), and synonyms?"

Speaking for myself, I have always intended to educate others about the properties, products and potentials of VCSY becasue every small guy deserves a chance to become a big guy... ESPECIALLY if a big guy tries to squash the little guy.

My "philanthropy", if you will, is to hand for, free, information to the small guy that will enable that small guy (or gal) to buy into something at an extremely low price for a very large future.

If I manage to pofit from my giving, well, then, I am simply following Bill Gates' and Warren Buffet's own philosophies. How bad am I in that?

I've been among those VCSY longs (there are many more doing the same thing besides me - you can get a taste of what they have to say on various boards and blogs) who have said for years VCSY methods would be adopted in the software (and hardware - you ain't seen nothing yet) industry and, lo and cornholed, they are; appearing in such stalwarts as IBM, Adobe, Microsoft and various others.

Have you compared Adobe Apollo aka AIR with patent 7076521? Adobe Apollo came to life shortly after VCSY built the Apollo smartcard system using 7076521 products. The offical name of the Apollo system is now Transtar.

What should we do? Lay down and take it? Should we simply remain silent and ignore being raped and robbed? I don't think so. Not this little cracker ass.

Microsoft is the first because they are the largest and the most devious (will ANYONE deny that?). Their past business plans have been fleshed out by infringement because it's a profitable activity.

MSFT built the Sharepoint franchise on the backs of VCSY investors. We simply want that known. The settlement may be confidential but that settlement doesn't reach the minds and fingers and mouths of those who know the story and are willing to explain to whomever will listen.

That's right, the same minds, fingers and mouths MSFT took food away from for years. Now, it's our turn to eat and eat we will. Anything that moves.

There's an old Cajun saying, "I'll eat anything that can't bite me first... and, if it can, I'll turn it around and eat it ass first." or words to that affect from the French. Pardon my French.

So, what do I want? Justice. What do you want?

A quote by someone, who know if fake or not:
"I would say that if Joe were to ban the fake I-Man, he would be doing him a favor by keeping him from causing greater liability to himself.".........

Perhaps, more than just banning needs to be done here Joe. If this is the same one you warned before, why not expose his IP address and Identity as well? Most of us would be curious to learn who this is.

Portuno:So, what do I want? Justice.

I think that you comprehend the difference between wanting justice for your cause (personal issue) and defending the common good (social issue). Also, you'll also comprehend that to flaunt your personal cause about (even though it may be with good intentions) can be considered advertising. Advertising eventually becomes spam if it's not controlled And spam does not win admiration, but criticism.

I'm with I-man 100% referent to the impersonation issues. But his excessive posts about something of relative importance such as VCSY should be controlled, if only for respect all forum-participants, and for his own cause.

I clarify that I am aware that the only people who can control and decide this are you-if you control it. And Joe, if he allows it. Mine's only amiable advice.

And what do I want? I could say I wish for world peace. But let's lower the concept a tad, and just wish some equilibrium for the rather volatile and conflictive human race.

I actually welcome iMan's VCSY crap comments

It actually buries the idiot Linux MS bashing comments between thick layers of crap so no one wants to read any of the comments period.

This is a notice to all commenters:

This afternoon I deleted some comments about VCSY, and I unpublished 22 comments believed to be from the Fake I-Man (based on the IP address). I have not removed comments from portuno as some commenters requested. I did remove links in some portuno comments pointing to blogs he wrote about VCSY.

There is no censorship at Microsoft Watch, but spam is deleted. The posts on VCSY are endless, and they should have stopped when the settlement was reached. Any future VCSY comments will be treated as spam and deleted. If they persist, the poster will be banned.

Douglas Taylor and Tom Berber asked for some respite from portuno. Again, I don't censor comments. If it were my choice--and it's not--there would be no anonymous commenting at Microsoft Watch. Douglas and Tom both identify themselves through links. Portuno does not. The weak often hide and from their secrecy attack those in the open.

Portuno is right when he says that I have his e-mail address. But that doesn't really identify who he is, although the information wasn't that hard for me to get. I strongly suggest that portuno clearly identify himself and his associations if he wants to attack the integrity of others.

As for the others, like Douglas and Tom, don't let portuno's insinuations and accusations bother you. He's looking for reaction, methinks. Why feed his need to bleed you?

I found the VCSY posts to be mildly assuming and somewhat annoying. I watched the banter with other commenters and portuno, who clearly sought reaction. Neither he nor either of the I-Mans is getting a reaction from me. I've stepped in because plenty enough time has passed since the VCSY settlement and enough regular commenters have requested action for me to do something. So I'm taking action and will step in again and again until all this nonsense stops.

I am posting this comment on the 10 most recent Microsoft Watch blog posts.

My thanks to all the regular commenters,

Joe