The real reason for the delay is simple Joe. Its about what the EU is going allow as far as the Internet Exploder bundling, which is now due on the 28th of April.

So its the legality of the situation here, that has delayed the RC, and not anything else.

What Microsoft calls a “Release Candidate” is what everybody else calls a “beta”.

HUZZAH.

Sorry couldn't help it.

*Waits anxiously*

Over on http://distrowatch.com/
is an advertised ASUS Eee PC 900 16G (8.9" Display, Intel Mobile CPU, 1 GB RAM, 16 GB Solid State Drive, Linux) Pearl White
for $247

These types of deals will mean the end for M$ and its vast inflated profits.

They could hand them shit's out free on every street corner and no one would want them.

Or they'd end end up getting returned for windows netbooks that actually work,

Now let's pretend that shit didn't already happen once. I dares ya.... I double dawggy diggety dog dog doggggg dares ya.

Lawrence D'Oliveiro :
What Microsoft calls a “Release Candidate” is what everybody else calls a “beta”.

Unlike DesktopLinux which is ALWAYS BETA.

What Microsoft calls an RC release every body else calls a pre-Alpha.
Vista production SP2 is actually an unfinished Alpha release and will never be finished. Windows 7 is definately PRE-ALPHA code that also will never be polished at all.
Linux RC is stable and efficient code that shows microsoft what software is and what can be achieved by good software coded for security and reliablility. All you get with Windows is a nightmare of spyware hack attacks and malware.

And if came to pass that windows suffered from hacks and spyware and all kinds of malware that did nothing but get a root kitting from pirates , but alas came a white knight that did not know the ways of root kits and malware and none of the spyware, but was good and clean and performed admirally on the internet and gave children a good clean wholesome computer operating system. And that was call LINUX. And on the next day god rested and the children were safe in their tent, in endless enjoyment of the internets under LINUX.

I just finished tea-bagging half a dozen Linux fanbois and I'm getting ready to start in on a few more after a quick break. Anybody wanna join in?

And lo tho many free-tarded morons did harken the clarion call of the fall of my kingdom, after one score years of pathetic gnashing of teeth and pulling of pud, (Furiously) they found themselves in the land of 1%.

Beaten senseless by a 6 year old buggy, virus ridden OS that's still better than any retribution of loosernix ever compiled.

Bow down and relinqusih your Free-Tardation. Resistance truly is futile.

Na na na na nahhhhhhhhhh, na na na na nahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

@Mustafa Jones.

HAH. I Tea bag more Linux Fanbois before 9 AM than most people do all day.

Maybe you Andre types should just tone it down a bit? But then, maybe thats how I know I stuck a nerve with M$, when the shills go nuts.
BTW, its Amazon selling this one, read the comments and reviews on it, lot of people buying the linux one, and a lot of people loving it.

Over on http://distrowatch.com/
is an advertised ASUS Eee PC 900 16G (8.9" Display, Intel Mobile CPU, 1 GB RAM, 16 GB Solid State Drive, Linux) Pearl White
for $247

These types of deals will mean the end for M$ and its vast inflated profits.

BTW, I'd dig it if Mustafa and Colnel Panic would treat me to a couple of teabags. As you can see by my posts, I LOVE Pearl white! ;-)

@Joe Wilcox
here they start the impersonations again, the last post is not mine.

But then again, maybe the last post wasn't mine...

I'M SOOOOOOO CONFUSED.

It's just amazing how sometimes all it takes is one simple link to draw out such childish spam in these comments.

I think its more that the MS faithful have no real argument and the only way they can distort the message about alternatives to Microsoft is by foul spam or impersonation.
-
I see all the impersonations as a victory since I dont think anyones ever put a compelling argument forward to NOT try an alternative to Windows or Microsoft products.

Goblin:

I'd think we Linux faithful would find something else to do with their valuable time than following Windows developments. Of course we know no one gives a flying phuck about anything going on in the freetard universe. That's why we're over here bashing an OS we supposedly don't care about. We're suffering in quite desperation you see, as our OS is still the domain of "who gives a fuck" and is largely ignored by those who want to just use their computers and not configure it ad....fucking....nauseum. At least we can take comfort in the fact that one day the OS won't matter anyways. Everyone will log into the web to get their Apps, and the OS under the browser won't mean jack shit. Then at last Linux has a chance..... It'll be hidden. Where it belongs.

Please god let it be so? *whimper*

To the Goblin imposter:

Shouldn't that be "we Linux faithful would find something else to do with *our* valuable time"?

Windows 7 RC on May 5... Booooring!

I just don't understand why all these technology writers and bloggers like Joe and Ed Bott get so horny about releasing of some pre-version of Windows 7. Most of us already know that it is gonna be the same Windows shit inside new wrapping.

"We are taking a quality-based approach to completing the product and won’t be driven by imposed deadlines."

http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2009/01/30/our-next-engineering-milestone.aspx

Wow - how convenient that their quality-based release date matches up exactly with the release-for-Christmas deadline AND their fiscal end of year!

I am confident that if there are any problems between now and late June, they will not hesitate to delay the release in the name of quality.

I remember a time, not long ago, when Micrsoft supporters sounded sober and solid like the Linux "fanbois" here and the Linux "fanbois" sounded like a bunch of toons. This role reversal is most troubling. My how times have changed.

Well maybe Jerry.

Maybe we got fucking tired of the Free-Tard morons high jacking every fucking thread.

Every single last fucking one of them.

Every......last.......one. Without letup. After a while you just say fuck it and let stupid reign.

Tell me sober, at what point did 0.4% of the installed user base out-number, out-grammar and out-etiquette 98% of the installed user base?

Google's CEO predicts strong year for Android
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=knowledge_center&articleId=9131719&taxonomyId=1&intsrc=kc_top
Quote:

Thursday predicted good times ahead for Android, the company's mobile phone operating system and software.

"Overall, it looks like Android is going to have a very strong year," he said during the company's first-quarter investors' conference.

New announcements of Android-related products and partnerships with mobile phone service providers and device makers will be "quite significant" this year, he said.

One new area for Android will be in netbooks, the mini-laptops that have become popular over the past year.

Companies have started putting Android into netbooks and other mobile Internet devices largely on their own, not at Google's prodding, he said.

Taiwan's Asustek Computer, which pioneered commercial netbooks, is rumored to be working on an Eee PC netbook that uses Android as its OS, while other Taiwanese companies are also reportedly developing such products.
Android could become the first real challenger to Microsoft's Windows XP in netbooks.

Chip giant Intel Corp. expects Microsoft to release at least two versions of its new OS, Windows 7, for netbooks later this year.

Taipei-based High Tech Computer developed the first smartphone around Android, the T-Mobile G1, or as HTC calls it, the Dream.

HTC Magic available for pre-order from Vodafone

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/04/18/htc-magic-available-for-pre-order-from-vodafone

With an expected release of 5th May, fans of the HTC Magic will now be able to pre-order it, and be the first to receive the device when it launches in Europe. The handset will be free for 18 month contracts at £35 per month or greater, and £195.74 or £293.62 for 18 month contracts at £30 per month or lower from Vodafone.

Here is the feature list from the Vodafone website:

* HSDPA
* Built in GPS navigation
* 3.0 - 4.0 megapixel
* 3G
* GPRS
* WiFi
* Triband
* Bluetooth
* Built in GPS navigation
* Touch screen
* Vodafone Mobile Internet
* Email
* Games
* MP3 player
* Camera / Video
* Alarm clock
* Calendar
* Handsfree headset
* White
* Touch screen

Specifications:

* Screen size: 3.2 inches
* Dimensions: 113 x 55 x 13.65 mm

Fans around the world, keep your fingers crossed.

DOJ wants extension of Microsoft antitrust judgment

The antitrust agreement has already been extended once
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9131680

Department of Justice has asked a federal judge to extend her antitrust judgment against Microsoft Corp. by at least 18 months in order to give the company enough time to fix problems in technical documentation required in a communication protocols licensing program.

The DOJ today filed documents asking Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to extend her oversight of the Microsoft antitrust settlement. The antitrust order, originally scheduled to expire in November 2007, has already been extended by two years because of complaints about the state of the technical documentation.

The DOJ's request comes after the agency asked for an extension of the part of the judgment dealing with technical documentation in 2006. The DOJ, in 2007, opposed an extension of the entire judgment, even though two groups of states that had joined the DOJ in suing Microsoft had asked for a five-year extension.

So, do we as Vista users get the new version for free? After all it is just a Vista uodate.

I'll get back to you when 98% of the user base starts posting on this fucking forum. I'm betting that 99.9% of that 98%, don't give a fuck one way or another.

Please ignore my nonsense comments. I hate Lunix and I post here just to cause trouble.

Firstly I think its obvious that the above goblin post is an imposter. The use of Nknow/CC.Torment terminology such as "no one gives a flying phuck about anything going on in the freetard universe"
Stands out a mile.
-
That being said, the poster of that little remark should look no further than right under their nose on Microsoft Watch and see that the majority of posters (mostly regular) are all talking about alternatives and not the sacred Microsoft.
-
Maybe they should consider that freetard or not, the universe we are in is being joined by many diverse organisations/individuals in the IT world. I know that Microsoft isnt in this universe and thats fine (IMO) we are better off.
-
@Sober
You didnt need to post that comment. That fact is painfully obvious and a dire testament to the counter argument to Linux and other alternatives to Microsoft.

Seems to me that anyone sticking with M$ft products is either stupid or cowardly or both. Why pay money for garbage when sleek and secure is free?

I think that's part of the problem. These days, between OSX and Linux, the only real cards Windows has left to play are either:

games (a legitimate, but diminishing factor for home users and irrelevant to businesses)

or

Windows lock-in factor (and after the Titanic that was Vista, everyone should be thinking hard about whether chaining themselves to a single ship is a wise idea)

@Will:
You forgot viruses, worms and spyware. Microsoft Wormdows TM is such great platform to run malware and your toy OS Lunix just can't compete. You fanboys are just afraid to admit this but it is a scientific fact.

If people want to spend their hard earned money on a expensive, bloated, over-hyped, proprietary "Virus Magnet" ...so be it.

@Sleech:
You are just jealous because Ubuntho doesn't have any malware at all. I am takling 0% virus market share. Take that freetards!

Not sure if I'll bother trying the RC. Still have the beta installed, good enough to learn about Win7. Just hope they don't rush it to market too fast just to end the "Vista Nightmare". I guess they are under a lot of pressure to release before their next quarterly results to give an indication that things might get better. But if they push it out too fast and just rely on Windows Update to fix problems, then they just re-create the Vista mess.

@Will,
The gaming factor and windows. I usually agree with what Goblin says, and still I respect his opinion. But I do think that the gaming "batton" has passed from Vista to Linux and Mac. Linux with Wine or crossover and cedega are able to run more windows games than Vista can. Software Compatability is something that MSFT just shot themselves in the foot with Vista. Gaming is not for Vista, despite the DirectX 10 claims, Vista is a gaming dog. Am I saying that Linux will run everything that Windows cannot? No. XP is still a little better than Linux/Mac/Wine at running games. But why would any gamer run out and shoot themselves in the foot and buy Vista Seven?

@Sober,
Viruses and worms, oh my. Yes, but if you can just wait long enough, (or more likely live long enough) MSFT will fix the malware problem in Windows. Or maybe just drop Windows and make something else, not compatible.

Now Operating Systems should not be about religion. Therefore I think to change my handle. Maybe something based on an old soap opera, but still sounding the same, somewhat.

You people are fucking morons.

"fix the malware problem"

Guess what FUD slingers. EVERY OS HAS VULNERABILITIES. When your platform is the most targeted infections are going to happen. You losers should be happy with your shit status as tea bag recipients for the Win/Mac community. No one bothers hacking your shit because

A. Only a handful of mouthbreathing parent's basement dwelling, fat assed, never saw a woman's genitalia outside of a porn site, losers even use that grabage.

B. Being losers, none of them have anything worth
any value to steal in the first place. You have no money, which is why you want everything "free" and you're fucking retarded so no one would want to be you even virtually. That rules out Identity theft.

To the latest Goblin imposter:

If you are going to post drivel like that, could you at least not use the handle of one of the regular posters here to do it?

Did you know that:
100% of perverts and sexual predators use Windows only.

@Gartner, that's true, I can verify that from my own personal experience, me being one of those people and Sickdows user as well.

@Gary,
is that one of the "sickdowws" users or what??? Tell us about it?? Come on, do you have a brain or only what M$ tells u about????

I still say the official launch will be on the 7th July - Windows 7 on 7/7 has a great marketing ring to it!

Who cares if Windows 7 is released at all? I am sick of virus and malware and spyware etc. Please leave me alone so i can enjoy my computer and program it so i can actually use it. ie GTK+ c and a bit of python. I actually use my computer for meaningful things like contact data base and database of customers etc. I make my own programs for these purposes and believe me they work better on linux than windows.

I am not going to stop repeating this. I never got a virous on my Windows and I don't use Antivirous software (cause they suck). I use only common sense. To people complaining about virus on their windows (besides exaugurating the problem) , I would suggest that they stop installing every crapware they find on the internet and openning documents from unknown senders. It's that simple.

Evan, I have loads of friends who get spyware and viruses.

Can you please write a concise explanation of how they can tell crapware from non-crapware.

Also tell me how to explain to them that sometimes they might receive an email from a known sender which contains a virus. They need some easy way to tell between a photo of them in an embarrassing position and a virus.

They installed the virus scanners, but they have no effect because they keep opening crapware and opening attachments from known senders. Quite often they have virus checkers but they were free trials that expired a long time ago.

I tell them not to install anything and they nod, but 2 months later their computer is back in the same state. I think they do not even understand what installing means. The answer to "did you install anything?" is always "errr, I don't know, maybe?".

This is where you blame the users for being too stupid to run the operating system that is so easy to operate.

Evan:"I never got a virous"

Of course, because virous has not meaning.

Now, virus sure your PC has.

If more users were exposed to a good Linux distro with Wine, it would be devastating to M$. That is why they will do anything and everything in their power to keep that from happening. The garbage bloated malware-magnet compatability-challenged Vista will cause history to forget about WindowsME. And all these mentally challenged Windoze shills are all ready and willing to shell out another $400 for VistaSE (Windows 7). You can't get through to them though. Even if they experienced Linux with Wine, they would lie and say it sucks... just to save face. And Joe needs to somehow block the imposters, especially the ones that mimick a regular and serious poster like Goblin.

Tobey, most users that got a netbook with linux installed, returned it. That says it all.
billybob, I doubt that people are getting viruses from emails sent from people they know. The vast magority comes from unkwown senders. My answer for those users is that they need some basic education of how to protect themselves.
Other than that Linux and Mac are safer from viruses and spyware, bc nobody targets them, due to low market share not bc they are more secure.

Most of users that bought a netbook with Windo~1 installed, replaced it with Linux version. You see, "evan", anybody can make outrageous claims without any evidence to back them up.

@ evan

" bc nobody targets them, due to low market share "

Yup. It's call the "Security by Obscurity" model and is the mainstay of OSX and Linux security.

Neither of these systems, especially OSX, has been tested in the real world against an onslaught of a hundred thousand malware programs written against them over a decade. Instead, the OSX team cross their fingers and hope no group of organized cyber criminals takes them on. Crossed fingers - that's all they have.

Windows, on the other hand is basically hardened from a huge security and code review in 2003 and all those things the Windows engineers have learned fighting organized crime directly over a decade. Let Windows do its auto-updating and it is very unlikely that an even only somewhat cautious user will have any problem with malware.

Now-a-days people get anything only because:

1. They choose to run it themselves either by clicking on and then saying OK to the running of email attachments or by saying Yes/OK to the ActiveX prompt from the disgusting hotmovie.mpeg.exe they downloaded with file sharing software.

2. They leave their computers completely un-patched. I've recenlty had customers coming to me saying their computer is slow only to find they are running Windows XP RTM - the original - with no service packs installed nor any updating done. No wonder.

quote (by retarded gamer / or 5 year old child):
"Neither of these systems...has been tested in the real world against an onslaught of a hundred thousand malware programs..."

And this is why NYSE runs on GNU/Linux. Not to mention 90% of top 500 supercomputers. Or practicaly every single piece of networking equipmnet in existence (routers, firewalls, switches...).

@Clump,
you see, sonny, there is whole world of different Linux appliances outside of your little gaming and porn usage.

Tivo runs on Linux. And Tivo is absolutely light years ahead of Microsoft Windows Media Center in stability. That I know from experience, both myself and of others. Sometimes the problem is with the WMC program itself, but many times Windows itself crashes. Never happens with Tivo/Linux. Never. Tell me what is most secure and stable. Of course it is Linux.

And let's not forget servers. Over 90% percent of all servers are running GNU/Linux. Google alone has over 1 million servers and each and every one runs Linux. So basically, Linux has monopoly on every other market except for desktop.

@Myfraudsoft

Cite please, 'cause your numbers are a stretch. I know that many of the banks here use Windows servers:

"According to research firm Gartner, the Windows share of global server shipments gained a percentage point to 66.8 percent in 2007 from a year earlier. Open-source Linux's share fell by a percentage point to 23.2 percent last year and Unix dropped to 6.8 percent in 2007 from 8.1 percent in 2006."

HP Remains HPC Server Market Leader
http://www.crn.com/hardware/206801414;jsessionid=JNSO3QXNNTIBSQSNDLPSKH0CJUNN2JVN
Feb. 22, 2008
IDC's Conway also said that his results in operating systems for the HPC market show that there's no question that Linux is the clear leader, taking 66 percent of the market. "In 2000, basically the market was all Unix," he said. "By 2001, Linux started coming into the market. "Linux is popular because it's low cost and ubiquitous -- it's everywhere and you have a large community where you can run and add features."
---------------
With the credit crunch the Linux's percentage
is increasing.

Clump and Evan say:

" bc nobody targets them, due to low market share "

"Yup. It's call the "Security by Obscurity" model and is the mainstay of OSX and Linux security."
----------------------------------------------------
So at last two Window$ fanboi's agree that OS X and Linux are not targeted by Malware. Which means that Mac OS X and Linux are much safer too on the internet. Glad we can finally agree to that. As far as "why," does it really matter? The fact that it is safer, is reason enough to use it.

"Security by Obscurity," may have something behind it. It would be safer to use OS/2 as there were only about 200 malware programs written for it, most floppy based. But I think you guys continue to miss the point. Most Linux distro's are setup to run as a limited user. As such a limited user cannot install software, with being asked for the administrator password. Malware is just basically software programs, and would need the same password to install. Windows users, at least ever home user I have ever seen, run as administrator, even Vista comes setup by default as an administrator account. UAC is not the same thing as a limited user account. Not that UAC is not a small step in the right direction, its just not good enough.

The reason windows is so easy to infect, is when running as administrator, software can install. And websites have the same "privileges" as the guy sitting behind the keyboard, in this case. Getting those "privileges" in Linux, is much harder than in Windows even when Windows is run correctly as a Limited user. Sadly when its easy to exploit, somebody will write it. The story of windows malware is that so much has been written now, that one has to be very careful of windows trojans. The fact that most linux users get all their software in an repo that is run by the distro, checked for malware and problems, also makes Linux even more secure than even Mac.

Jerry :

"I remember a time, not long ago, when Micrsoft supporters sounded sober and solid like the Linux "fanbois" here and the Linux "fanbois" sounded like a bunch of toons. This role reversal is most troubling. My how times have changed."

------------

Perhaps, when the true MS'fan awoke and realized that they were cheated and left.And the
replacement ...were only Shills.
---------------
Understanding those named Shills

Is there a manner to differentiate a Ms fanatic from a (Ms)Shill?
Yes, generally the fanatic exaggerates (eg: Bill is a God! or something like that) while the Shill has more control over him/herself, but simply attacks everyone who says something negative about her/his Boss-Ms- (well, that is their principal function, is it not?)
And are there intelligent MS's fans?
Yes, but they are not many- you recognise them because they are close to pragmatism, they defend the good and recognise the evil (really is hard defend to MS.)
Therefore, should we censor shills? Of course not, we should only recognise them to understand them and as to not to feel irritated by their apparent nonsense (answering them when needs be) Really, if we think about it, their situation is pathetic, trying to seem more stupid than they actually are to gain a small salary or present (laptop?) and all that because they do not have enough intelligence to be productive by themselves without the need to bend over.

Advertising : "nobody targets them, due to low market share"

Facto: "Linux and Mac are safer from viruses and spyware"

Question : could it change in the future?
Answer:Perhaps, but you could die as well (possibility).

Proof:Ubuntu last laptop standing in hacking contest
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/182703/ubuntu-last-laptop-standing-in-hacking-contest.html

An Ubuntu machine was the sole survivor of a hacking contest designed to find undiscovered flaws in Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

The competition at the CanSecWest security conference pitted hackers against three laptops running Vista Ultimate SP1, Leopard OS X 10.5.2 and Ubuntu 7.10 to discover which was the most vulnerable.

@Marco

Your cite is covering a subset of the server market and even there, that most favourable nook to you, Windows is growing [simply because it is better, of course]. To quote the concluding paragraph of your cited article:

" But Conway said not to count Windows out just yet. He expects Microsoft will gain more momentum in the HPC server market but it's still in its infancy compared to the leaders. Microsoft is making a big effort and is serious into getting into the HPC server market, Conway said and believes that there will be a lot more users coming into the market at a lower price point that Microsoft can provide. "

Facto: Linux is the clear leader, taking 66 percent of the market ....and now the credit crunch

Possibility: expects....Microsoft is making a big effort ...believes .....

------
Again:
Jerry:I remember a time, not long ago, when Micrsoft supporters sounded sober and solid like the Linux "fanbois" here...
------

Is there a way to differentiate a Linux fanatic ( linatic ) from a Linux user ( luser )?

Yes.

The luser is on his way down, the linatic has hit rock bottom.

The luser can be found confused and confounded, dirty and bothered in his parent's basement attempting to figure out his config files. Urping and Griping sorting and fussing he spends hours and hours trying to figure out how to change the screen resolution using his spotty knowledge of regular expressions.

The luser can occasionally be heard swearing and cussing about source code he can't figure out.

The linatic on the other hand gave up, left the thing at 640x480 and often can be found making a trott over to C.O.L.A. or Microsoft-Watch to bash an operating system he never uses ( he is unemployed ) or uses only at work where it runs the cash registers ( in the rare case he is employed usually at a low paying dead end job ).

The linatic is quite vocal and usually can be heard making fantastic and unrealistic claims about Linux - or - sometimes - swearing, and cussing about another more winning operating system every time it makes another win.

It is even worse with Wormdows fanatics. Here, take me, LeaRoy, for example. I am 40-something, fat and bold, unemployed, and living in my mother's basement. Never had a girlfriend. In fact, only women I've ever felt intimate with are on p0rn pages. I surf porn regulary. This is what I do in my life. Surf porn and play great Windows games in my mother's basement.

Again:
Jerry:I remember a time, not long ago, when Micrsoft supporters sounded sober and solid like the Linux "fanbois" here...

@LeaRoy's second post

LOL Funny.

But sorry to disappoint you, but I've had some very pretty girlfriends.

Once again the comments section is full of moronic people who hate MS making this section completely unreadable.

You'd think the same people would tired of this crap but no, it's not to be.

@Marco
"I remember a time, not long ago, when Micrsoft supporters sounded sober and solid .."

They're off busy prepping for Windows 7. Another success.

Too bad all my girlfriends were males. But such is life for Windows users.

Again:
@Marco's antepaenultimus post:.....and as to not to feel irritated by their apparent nonsense (answering them when needs be) Really, if we think about it, their situation is pathetic, trying to seem more stupid than they actually are to gain a small salary or present (laptop?) and all that because they do not have enough intelligence to be productive by themselves without the need to bend over.

Once again the comments section is full of moronic people who hate Free Software, Free Speech and Freedom in general, making this section completely unreadable.
You'd think the same people would tired of this crap but no, it's not to be.
Too bad I'm one of those people.

Facto:Vista

Possibility:"They're off busy prepping for Windows 7. Another success(Another???)."

@Marco,
LOL, by another success he means success like Microsoft Bob, Live search, Silverlight, Wormdows ME, ME2 (Vista), Encarta...

There are just plain too many Windows winners for that to be the case. The reproductive problems are in the rainbow coaltion of OSX and Linux. Search high and low and one finds nary a Linux desktop. But then Lusers don't come about naturally, they are recruited.

@Myfraudsoft

No, I mean Windows and Microsoft Office, SQL Server and MSDN's Visual Studio. They're all successes for Microsoft and Windows 7 will be too.

Don't turn green when Windows 7 turns over the green.

There is a difference between windows victims and windows users. Victims really have no choice, they must use Wormdows at work, but use Macs of Linux PCs at home. Real windows users, who use MS Slowdows willingly are minority, just like their sexual preference for same sex.

At least Windows users have jobs. But hey, Linux is free as in free beer [and free since their time is worthless] so most Lusers can afford it.

BTW, Lusers don't usually use a Mac unless they stole it [or bought a hot one for cheap down at the pawn shop].

@ Myfraudsoft :WE could not forgot Windows mobile, Windows search, infamous Zune, etc etc

He, he

"At least Windows users have jobs"
Those poor thing Google's worker perhaps we make a collection for them (don't forgot IBM, Red Hat etc).

No, windows VICTIMS have jobs, windows users have games and porn. They are just too busy to work for pay (mommy pays their bills for them).

"Those poor thing Google's workers perhaps we make a collect for them (don't forget IBM, Red Hat etc)".

"Those poor thing Google's workers perhaps we make a collect for them (don't forget IBM, Red Hat etc)".

@Marco, hey remember London Stock Exchange crash last year (http://blogs.computerworld.com/london_stock_exchange_suffers_net_crash). Yet another Microsoft success story.

At least Windows users have bills. Lusers wouldn't know what a bill is, unless it's Kill Bill. That and WoW - WoW - xxonlyxxxx best game ever *cough*.

Linux users don't pay Bills or Ballmers. Unless they happen to use SUSE Linux variants. If they do, they are only fooling themselves pretending they are using Free Software (That is free as free speech or free as liberty, as opposed to free as gratis windows spyware).

Myfraudsoft : Do you remember? Microsoft gets a 'Blue Screen of Death' medal in Beijing. The Microsoft 'success' story are countless.
-----------

But after read to LeaRoy I am a little concern, that could be contagious. I recommend you take a break , I will take one.

@Myfraudsoft & Marco

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/16/alternative_os_flaws/

@Clump,

Thanks for the link. And after following your link and reading it and the comments, it seems that two of the commenters have said it better than I could; there are many others as well, but you can follow the link and read them for yourself if you wish:

1. "Er ...
By Geoff Mackenzie Posted Thursday 16th April 2009 12:44 GMT
You can't write /dev/mem unless you're already root. Not exactly very scary in itself - or new."

2. "Sigh - apples and pears
By Peter Posted Thursday 16th April 2009 15:32 GMT
I'm getting a bit tired of this, because it confuses the heck out of those who lack the skills to understand the difference between a drive-by infection and one you have to work for.
Sure, every platform has vulnerabilities, but AFAIK it's only Windows who can get infected by visiting websites with malfomed URLs, or by the simple fact of receiving an email. It's also only Microsoft code where it has taken until Office 2007 to get a feature in Outlook where you could check the difference between a URL (www.mybank.com) and the underlying REAL target (zap.somedodgysite.org/fakebank/hack_this_sucker.php).
The facts remain simple: it takes a lot of effort to infect either OSX, Linus or *BSD platform but it's not impossible, it remains, however, absolutely trivial to do so on any Windows platform except for the platform which nobody uses because it's crap (Vista). But it will, of course, allow MS marketing and fanboys to crow "Linux is vulnerable too".
So, no real news here. Yawn."

It is a yawner, especially for people who use Windows who know that all the supposed "security" that Linux has is a vapourous as morning fog in Halifax. As you say: "..every platform has vulnerabilities..".

Vista is not a platform nobody uses. It has huge install base, huger still compared to Linux, and this even though it is a bit of a consumer relations dud.

Anyway,

It hasn't been a "trivial" task to infect a Windows machine since Windows XP SP2. Yes, before then the odd drive-by vulnerability raised its head, but that's the past. Stop living in it. The problem now is the users of the platform who agree to things they shouldn't. But that would happen on any targeted platform. Imagine if Linux were popular on the desktop - I know it is a stretch but try - imagine: all those noobs running as root. It's almost impossible not to provide at least some root access on home and small business computers, and many people would insist running as root 24/7. At least Windows 7 has that problem solved while Linux/UNIX is still back in the 1960s.

So as it is now, it is Linux and OSX that are the security question marks. They've been getting by on the 'security by obscurity' security model far too long. As the article makes clear, Linux and OSX have as many holes as Swiss cheese.

Good-night.

Except for the fact that in Linux, users will spend 99% of the time as a non-root user, and that 1% will occur in brief instances, usually only doing one task (installing a software package from the package manager, for example), and then instantly dropping back to non-root.

Oh, and by the way, the context that I've heard "security by obscurity" in more often refers to keeping code secure by keeping it proprietary and therefore unseen by people. The idea is that no one can see the code, so no one knows where its weak points are... which has worked out so well, given Windows' previous and present security issues, don't you think?

I forgot to mention this is in the last post, but using sudo, one can also give users customized limited root access (only able to run certain programs as root, etc).

PolicyKit is even more fine-grained. You can specify that only a certain function in an application is run as root when the user wants to elevate. It is way ahead of MS technology.

Windows 7 is a joke and nobody can take Microsoft security seriously after they released Windows with the ability for any program to turn off UAC. It showed that they do not understand security properly.

This means that you do not need to bother with privilege escalation on Windows, you are always running as root. That's why it is so hard to protect yourself on Windows.

P.S. It is not just pre-XP SP2 - I have seen lots of borken Vista and SP2 machines. Your link about that Linux "exploit" is just FUD designed to stop people blaming Microsoft for terrible security.

Windows is reckless and easily hacked, this is due to the stupid design decisions by Gates. ie no separation of data and program code within windows code. This is basic, ask any computer scientist. You must protect running code from data changes and also you must sandbox data so noone can change running windows code. Obviously windows doesnt care for security.

Its Official, Australia is officially in RECESSION !!!. We are *u*k*d.
Thanks America and you American Wall Street bankers with your collaterised securitys. Man you guys should die.

Joe's comments section here is a joke. Totally hijacked by neanderthals. Joe, you may as well shut down the comments section. Actually though, there is some good here; it's just few and far between. What you should do is make madatory registration to help weed out the imposters. Most tech article sites with comments sections do this. Think about it Joe.

@Clump,

Re: "I know it is a stretch but try - imagine: all those noobs running as root. It's almost impossible not to provide at least some root access on home and small business computers, and many people would insist running as root 24/7"

You're right, of course. Which means that you agree that about 96% of the people who use PCs are noobs, and that Windows is ideally suited for noobs because they only care about application compatibility. Those noobs have long ago been convinced that security and stability are impossible, in the same unattainable category as world peace and a cure for cancer.

While running Linux takes lots more brain cells that most people wish to devote to using a computer.

And Bill Gates recognized that when it comes to computers, that vast majority of people are noobs. And so he never wasted any effort to solve problems that noobs couldn't understand until it was too late.

What I don't understand, though, is why all those Linux-haters brag so loudly about being stupid lazy noobs?

Re: "At least Windows 7 has that problem solved while Linux/UNIX is still back in the 1960s."

Well, you know that this claim of yours is bogus. Windows 7 isn't even released yet, so nobody can state with any certainty what problems it will and won't solve.

The point is that this is Microsoft Watch not Linux watch. All these Linux lovers have the time to do is troll Microsoft themed sites and in a vain attempt think they can bring relevance to their pathetic languishing going-nowhere O.S. that does not matter. Linux is losing share on every front. Now no one even wants Linux on a netbook. I think Joe needs to weed out the Linux drivel. Delete it out and keep this post about Microsoft. It's just gotten to be too much. The site has become a war zone for Linux lovers to bash on Microsoft constantly.

There are a few key points I'd like to comment regarding Linux security which I see seriously flawed in Windows.

a) Linux cares to see what type of file you are seeing regardless of the extension. Take a JPEG file and change the extension to .xls on Vista and Linux. Linux still treats it like a JPG and opens an image viewer/editor. Vista opens Excel and shows garbage.

b) Corollary to the above if you change the extension to .exe Vista tries to run it. Linux still shows an image preview.

c) On Linux a downloaded file has the default permissions which doesn't include execute permission. Thus even if you download an executable binary you will not be allowed to run it unless you grant it permission. On Windows it can run if it has .exe extension.

Microsoft's inability (or lack of desire) to move away from the .exe paradigm and use file headers to figure out what you're looking at rather than file extensions are two of the reasons why I still find Windows far behind Linux. I'll concede it is superior in other areas, it does have more games, MS Office is a great product, etc etc etc. But these two basic square one issues still trouble me.

@Jerry

On the otherhand. If I take an .exe file and give it an extension of say .gif, it will not execute on Windows. Whereas in Linux an executable will run no matter what the extension is even if it is .jpg

So a Linux user can be tricked into running something perhaps malicious even though it comes with a harmless looking extension.

Hmm .. therefore it would be harder to trick someone who checks extensions into running an executable on Windows because it would have to have one of the known executable extensions applied to the end of the file name before it will run. A fake .jpg that's really a malicious program will not run until it receives the .exe extension.

So there.

@ Ridley:

So, you suggest that there be no attempt to correct the myriad misinformed statements and outright lies about non-Microsoft technologies that flood these forums?

@ Jerry:

Could you clarify something:

On your point (c), a downloaded file will by default _not_ have the execute permission activated, regardless of what the person who uploaded the file set the execute permission to. Is this correct?

@Will

So you Linux lovers think you are angels sent from God to do a great deed and save us from the evil Microsoft. Seriously, that is what you all are saying. That is your reasoning for being here. Well, we don't need it and don't want it on Microsoft Watch. We will be happy to stick to the theme of this site. Just go to Linux Watch or other Linux themed sites. We are just fine without your useless O.S.

Evan said:
"...most users that got a netbook with linux installed, returned it. That says it all."

Myfraudsoft said:
"Most of users that bought a netbook with Windo~1 installed, replaced it with Linux version. You see, "evan", anybody can make outrageous claims without any evidence to back them up."...

My statistic has been reported all over the Internet. Your claim is just baseless.

@Will,
Look man, I am a windows porn addict. I deliberately chose to live in an imaginary dream world where windows works and microsoft is not nearly bankrupt. You see, Will, I fear that my windows porn collection will not function properly in Linux, and because of that I choose to spread lies and missinformation about Linux. That and I really don't know much about computers. Sure, I know how to play WoW and Crysis, but when it comes to real technical knowledge, I'm utterly clueless. I even have to call Linux geeks to clean my porn collection from time to time (it is really embarrassing), because all I know about computers is how to double click those shiny windows icons.

First, I doubt that is the real Ridley responding, unless it is an attempt to discredit non-Windows people by making it look like they all go on about stuff like that and impersonate users while doing so.

Second, if it isn't Ridley doing that post, then to whoever did do it: stuff like that isn't necessary. There's no need to sink to the levels that we've seen from the worst of the shills. You aren't doing yourself or your argument any good.

evan said: "My statistic has been reported all over the Internet. Your claim is just baseless"
Reported by whom? Steve Ballmer, Rob Enderle, Gartner Group (MS ad agency), George Ou?
Name one serious source. Just one.

@Will
No Will, the previous post was not me. That is one of the problems with this site. Imposters are really ruining things here. But I respect you and your comments. Your comments are thoughtful and insightful, not crass, ridiculous garbage.

Myfraudsoft said:

"evan said: 'My statistic has been reported all over the Internet. Your claim is just baseless'
Reported by whom? Steve Ballmer, Rob Enderle, Gartner Group (MS ad agency), George Ou?
Name one serious source. Just one.

You want one serious source? Try MSN.

When I put up an argument that can't be denied, somebody posts pretending to be me. The last comment was posted by somebody impersonating my Name.

So, here is a creditible source for you, namely "Ubuntu".

Ubuntu Confirms Linux Netbook Returns Higher than AnticipatedUbuntu Confirms Linux Netbook Returns Higher than Anticipated

http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated

Evan, That article says that return rates are higher than expected, not that most people return them. There is a big difference since we do not even know the return rate.

You cannot deny that Linux is having an effect on the market though. Even if the user rate never gets very high, Linux offers buyers of Windows to renegotiate lower prices. That is the only reason for Starter Edition existing.

@billybob

Yes you are correct. We do not know the exact return rate. And we are not even sure if the reason for return is Linux. But we have to assume it is because of Linux. It is because users are used to the instability and malware they get with Windows. They do not get that same experience with Linux and are returning them for the experience they are more familiar with.

I think this is a good link relevant to the netbook argument:

http://blog.canonical.com/?p=151

Amazon selling this one, read the comments and reviews on it, lot of people buying the linux one, and a lot of people loving it.

Over on http://distrowatch.com/
is an advertised ASUS Eee PC 900 16G (8.9" Display, Intel Mobile CPU, 1 GB RAM, 16 GB Solid State Drive, Linux) Pearl White
for $247

These types of deals will mean the end for M$ and its vast inflated profits.

Clump and Evan say:

" bc nobody targets them, due to low market share "

"Yup. It's call the "Security by Obscurity" model and is the mainstay of OSX and Linux security."
----------------------------------------------------
So at last two Window$ fanboi's agree that OS X and Linux are not targeted by Malware. Which means that Mac OS X and Linux are much safer too on the internet. Glad we can finally agree to that. As far as "why," does it really matter? The fact that it is safer, is reason enough to use it.

"Security by Obscurity," may have something behind it. It would be safer to use OS/2 as there were only about 200 malware programs written for it, most floppy based. But I think you guys continue to miss the point. Most Linux distro's are setup to run as a limited user. As such a limited user cannot install software, with being asked for the administrator password. Malware is just basically software programs, and would need the same password to install. Windows users, at least ever home user I have ever seen, run as administrator, even Vista comes setup by default as an administrator account. UAC is not the same thing as a limited user account. Not that UAC is not a small step in the right direction, its just not good enough.

The reason windows is so easy to infect, is when running as administrator, software can install. And websites have the same "privileges" as the guy sitting behind the keyboard, in this case. Getting those "privileges" in Linux, is much harder than in Windows even when Windows is run correctly as a Limited user. Sadly when its easy to exploit, somebody will write it. The story of windows malware is that so much has been written now, that one has to be very careful of windows trojans. The fact that most linux users get all their software in an repo that is run by the distro, checked for malware and problems, also makes Linux even more secure than even Mac.

That's a nice unit chips. I can't believe how much PC you can get in such a small package at such a small price. Incredible. Too bad users will be returning it left and right because it is immune to malware and is stable enough to not have to reboot every hour. Windows users are used to that and will demand it. But a nice netbook anyway chips.

Hey chips. I heard a rumour. I heard that you were give a free ASUS Eee PC 900 16G from Linux Corp itself! No wonder you have such glaring reviews of Linux! You have been bought and paid for by the mighty empire called Linux. Bad chips. bad, bad, bad. But it still is a nice netbook anyway chips.

Evan : "When I put up an argument that can't be denied, somebody posts pretending to be me"!!!???

.... Which was the false post?

This one?:

"You want one serious source? Try MSN."

......Are you suggesting that another MS's fan was "pretending to be me (you)" or that..." You want one serious source? Try MSN."...was it such an insult to think that YOU would say something so absurd?

----------------------

The clear thing is that MS's shills (or rather, MS's terrorists now) in their despair, are trying to cause chaos, due to their impotence (thanks to being retarded) to respond with reasonable arguments.
And I am not speaking about you evan because although your arguments are poor you try to be coherent.

Well I have to change my words:
The clear thing is that MS's shills (or rather, MS's terrorists now) in their despair, are trying to cause chaos, due to their impotence (thanks to being retarded) to respond with reasonable arguments

Is Windows a Virus?

No, Windows is not a virus. Here's what viruses do:

* They replicate quickly - okay, Windows does that.

* Viruses use up valuable system resources, slowing down the system as they do so - okay, Windows does that.

* Viruses will, from time to time, trash your hard disk - okay, Windows does that too.

* Viruses are usually carried, unknown to the user, along with valuable programs and systems. Sigh... Windows does that, too.

* Viruses will occasionally make the user suspect their system is too slow (see 2) and the user will buy new hardware. Yup, that's with Windows, too.

Until now it seems Windows is a virus but there are fundamental differences:Viruses are well supported by their authors, are running on most systems, their program code is fast, compact and efficient and they tend to become more sophisticated as they mature.

So Windows is not a virus.

It's a bug.

I think this is a good link relevant to the netbook argument as well:
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS4958089290.html

Reason why Linux might to regain some of its early market.
Quote;
Looking forward, there are several reason to believe that Linux might at least start to regain some of its early market share if not increase it. These include:
* Growing awareness of Linux -- Consumer recognition of Linux's existing strengths in anti-virus protection, fast boot times, and for some users, modifiable, open source software, is likely to grow.
* Improving Linux -- Increasingly user friendly Linux distributions, including a new Moblin v2 for Netbooks, and more and more software and peripheral support should eventually get noticed.
Always Innovating's
ARM Cortex-based Touch Book
(Click for details)
* Android -- HP, Asus, Acer, and others are evaluating the Linux-based, Google-sponsored Android as a potential netbook OS with consumer appeal. Ovum, which like NPD, also noted a swing towards Windows XP in netbooks, believes that Linux can ride back to prominence in the segment with Android running on sub-$200 netbooks. According to recent reports, Acer is pushing forward with its Android smartphone, but believes that Android is not yet ready for netbooks. On the other hand, the same Acer executive who was said to be skeptical of Android (Senior VP Jim Wong), was quoted as saying he had similar reservations about the upcoming Windows 7.
* ARM appeal -- The ARM-based netbooks are coming, most based on Cortex-A8-based system-on-chips like the Texas Instruments OMAP3x and the Freescale i.MX515, and Cortex-A8-like Qualcomm Snapdragon. The vast majority are likely to run Linux, and at least initially won't run Windows, and will also offer clear-cut advantages over the Intel Atom and other x86 processors on battery life and fast boot-up, two of the keys to netbook success.

@Marco
MSN is a mainstream legitimite new source. If that isn't good enough for you, let's go 100% unbiased... MSNBC - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28627170/
I am telling you, no one wants a stupid O.S. like Linux that you never have to shut down or reboot. It is a waste of our natural resources. Windows is much better for the environment, as it needs reboots often enough to remind the user to shut it off and save some energy.

MSN was not my point, read again please.
(BTW: I have NOT good opinion about MSN)

Marco :

Evan : "When I put up an argument that can't be denied, somebody posts pretending to be me"!!!???

.... Which was the false post?

This one?:

"You want one serious source? Try MSN."

......Are you suggesting that another MS's fan was "pretending to be me (you)" or that..." You want one serious source? Try MSN."...was it such an insult to think that YOU would say something so absurd?

----------------------

The clear thing is that MS's shills (or rather, MS's terrorists now) in their despair, are trying to cause chaos, due to their impotence (thanks to being retarded) to respond with reasonable arguments.
---------------

I'm confused. Which fake Evan is the real fake Evan?

Re: "I think Joe needs to weed out the Linux drivel. Delete it out and keep this post about Microsoft."

OK. Then here's a post that is just about Microsoft. Specifically:

Microsoft: A History of Anticompetitive Behavior and Consumer Harm

www.ecis.eu/documents/Finalversion_Consumerchoicepaper.pdf

Of course, this is from the biased EU site, and not from one of the unbiased MSNBC, MSN, MSFUD, MSLIES sites, nor any of the other highly-unbiased MS* sites. But, hey, it's about Microsoft!

Good link Philosopher (it was save.)

evan says:
MSN is a mainstream legitimite new source. If that isn't good enough for you, let's go 100% unbiased... MSNBC - www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28627170/
----------------------------------------------------
Unbiased Source????? What part of MSNBC do you not read as Microsoft (MS) NBC, a joint venture of Microsoft Corporation and NBC? Evan you call that an "unbiased source"????? Shame on you Evan.

That Evan is another handle of Andre, that has long posted here I greatly believe. That Evan is another poster here that like to accuse, without fact. To accuse me of getting free laptops or netbooks from any organization is just wrong, and show a complete lack for the disregardful of the truth in general.

But since the Netbook link for $247 seems to have bought out every Micro$oft Shill/Troll and crazy out of the woodwork, to defend the Robber Barons at M$, and their profits, I repost the link:

Over on http://distrowatch.com/
is an advertised ASUS Eee PC 900 16G (8.9" Display, Intel Mobile CPU, 1 GB RAM, 16 GB Solid State Drive, Linux) Pearl White
for $247

These types of deals will mean the end for M$ and its vast inflated profits.

Now you're just posting nonsense. MSNBC is as unbiased as a tv network can be. Just like Fox News.

@chips:
read the whole post chips. I didn't want to spell it out completely but... tongue-in-cheek...

So the truth finally comes out: evil multinational megacoorporation called "The Linux Foundation" has bribed Chips B Malroy with $200 netbook! There goes your credibility down the drain, Chips.

Chips:
What I don't get sometimes is that some of us deign to answer to people like Ridley or LeaRoy , who have never given any input to any conversation. Its' something that we should keep in mind: give nothing to those who give nothing except chaos,

@Ridley
Yes Ridley. Can you believe the audacity of chips? He gives Andrea a hard time about getting a free Windows Laptop, but it is ok for him to get a free Linux Laptop. What a hypocrite. And just like Andrea, he does not deny it. And I bet chips leaves it running, plugged in, wasting precious resources. I am sure his electricity comes from burning coal. bad chips. bad, bad, bad chips. For more information on chip's free Linux Laptop, read this: www.chipsgetsfreelaptopfromlinuxmegacorp.org/free/laptop/hypocrite/justlikeandrea

@evan,
Yes, evan, those Lunix hypocrites. I bet there is some Gartner research showing Lunix powered computers use more power than properly licenced and fully legal microsoft ones.

Oh Ridley you know you are right. An O.S. that is as stable and bug-free as Linux must use more power. That is common sense. And it is also common sense that a stable and bug-free O.S. like Linux is going to be used more. No more shutting off the P.C. in frustration. That HAS to use a whole lot more power. So a Windows machine is a green machine. If you care about the planet, you will have Windows on your P.C. And buy the Ultimate version, or at least do the anytime upgrade. You will be able to run more than 3 programs at once, increasing your chances of a crash, which will lead to you giving up and shutting down your P.C. and saving resources. And at $400+ a copy, you are putting more money into Bill Gates' pockets, and he is an awesome philanthropist. Money well spent. If your netbook comes with Windows 7 starter edition, and it will in the near future, do the anytime upgrade!

evan,
With only 400 bucks per licence, windows is a bargain indeed. I'll take five licences, please.
One per each computer that owns me...
umm, I ment, one per each computer that I own.
Got confused there a little, due to clarity of EULA slavery contract to which I wholeheartly agree.

@Will, a downloaded file takes on the umask value of your system. Which is set with non execute privilege. If I download say the Java virtual machine from Sun's server. It will create a .bin file on my system that is not executable. I can click on it all I want. It will not run until I grant it permission to run.

Thus we see Clump's nonsense exposed. If I'm tricked to download a JPEG file which is really a Linux executable (and a trojan) it will not run. If I click on it, it will see it is an executable and will try to open it with an application fitted to it (for example a binary editor). But it will not execute it.

Wow, Didnt pay much attention to this thread, what with watching the chips imposter over on the other one.
-
They certainly have all come out at once havent they? Trying to cause confusion? So much so I think the Microsoft faithful have confused themselves.
-
So as not to offend our MS faithful who find the alternatives view rather uncomfortable and highlight the vulnerability of their cashcows, lets talk about Microsoft. Infact lets talk about Microsoft and vulnerabilities, heres a Microsoft only article in regards to one of their own websites being hacked and defaced.
-
Heres whats happened to: msn.co.nz
-
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/connect/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501833&objectid=10567751

These impostors are just getting way out of hand. I did not write the above post. I know and understand that Windows is definitely the superior O.S., especially when it comes to netbooks. Netbooks with Linux are useless and over 96% are returned due to the Linux O.S. That is why over 96% of netbooks are now shipped with Windows. The people have spoken. They want quality, compatibility, ease-of-use and lowest cost of use overall. The overwhelming majority want Windows.

@Goblin:
Yes, a lot of the posts are not mine. I have seemed to upset them. Wait till they read about the $100 laptop coming with Android and minus windows. The M$ shills have not figured out that all their tactics are failing and only encourage some of us to keep posting.

I am wondering if I am being too unfair on Evan? Maybe he too is a victim of impersonation? But somehow, I think not. Creating a bogus link that does not work, to accuse someone without any proof, as Evan did, or his impersonater, is very low.

ARM-powered Android netbook tips up

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/858/1051858/arm-powered-android-netbook-tips

"Fair enough, the guys from Guanzhou are only flogging the little lappie for $100 , but even for that paltry sum the Alpha-680 Google Android netbook is a bit naff.
Made from what appears to be very cheap plastic, the netbook sports a tiddly seven inch display with 800 x 480 WVGA resolution, has only 128MB of DDR2 memory, 1GB NAND flash and runs on an ARM 11 533 MHz 32bit CPU.

To its credit, however, the netbook does seem to have a swively touchscreen, Wifi, Ethernet, 3G, a couple of USB ports and an SD card slot bunged into the low-cost package."
--------------------------------------------------
So "Prepare to be underwhelmed." But consider this, its only $100. Thats right, $100. And no M$ touching it either. This is one of the first ARM netbooks available, there will be many others, maybe some that will not "underwhelm" the Windose fanbois. That fact that they can sell a netbook this cheap, has got to cause major concerns from those shilling M$.

As I look into the Crystal ball, Microsoft, laying off more people, maybe in a year or two, starting to lose money, maybe selling off parts of its business, like zune, Xbox360, other losers.
Stock prices dropping like flies. The core business Windows and Office declining by 50% or more.

HEY EVERYBODY! TAKE NOTICE!

CHIPS DOES NOT, HAS NOT AND WILL NOT DENY THE FREE NETBOOK HE RECEIVED FROM THE LINUX CORPORATION. HE IS A BOUGHT AND PAID FOR SHILL AND HAS NO CREDIBILITY HERE WHATSOEVER. HE ATTACKS ANDREA DECOSTA NON-STOP FOR THE VERY SAME THING HE IS GUILTY OF. CHIPS ACCEPTED A FREE ASUS NETBOOK (WHICH BY THE WAY IS A VERY NICE NETBOOK) FROM THE LINUX CORPORATION DIRECTLY! AND NOW HE HAS THE GALL TO CONTINUE TO DISS ON MICROSOFT AND WINDOWS, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS A BRAND SPANKING NEW ASUS NETBOOK DIRECTLY FROM THE LINUX CORPORATION (IT REALLY IS A GORGEOUS NETBOOK BY THE WAY). SO CHIPS IS TAINTED.

I am tainted because I got the EEE PC at Best Buy for $185. And did I mention that I once received a FREE computer from my Brother in Law? (It was a G3 Mac)....so I guess that makes me a Apple shill.
lol
-----

Anyway onto happier news..... MSFT fans ain't gonna like this one...read on "friends".

______

"The crippled version of Windows 7 that will ship with some netbooks may be a non-starter --- partners Acer and Intel have both said they don't believe that netbooks equipped that way will sell."

http://blogs.computerworld.com/acer_and_intel_crippled_windows_7_netbooks_wont_sell

"The crippled version of Windows 7 that will ship with some netbooks may be a non-starter --- partners Acer and Intel have both said they don't believe that netbooks equipped that way will sell."

Of course they won't. That is why they have to come up with an alternative. M$ must either cut a deal on a premium edition of 7, or go back to shipping with Linux. Or sell equivalent Linux and Windows 7 versions side by side. Then we will see what the users choose. I would think Linux would win that one.

@Ridley,
You Lunix fanatics never fail to make me laugh! Of course, users will choose windows. They are used to those cozy and familiar spyware and viruses. Why give all that up for security? I'd like some of that stuff you're smoking.

evan says:

"HEY EVERYBODY! TAKE NOTICE!
CHIPS DOES NOT, HAS NOT AND WILL NOT DENY THE FREE NETBOOK HE RECEIVED FROM THE LINUX CORPORATION."
----------------------------------------------------
Official disclaimer

Very funny. I think I have already denied that at least once. But here is another denial of ever getting a free netbook.

But I must make one declaimer, a relative did once give me an old laptop with a celeron 400mhz cpu in it, but it had a badly malware infested Windows 98SE on it. Does that make me a M$ shill? I did the right thing and formated the hard drive, replacing it with Linux.

Chips is not connected to any Linux group, and does not recieve and free hardware. Software is free to anyone however, at:

www.distrowatch.com

So, Chips, at least you admit recieving free software from FSF?

chips is a liar. chips received a brand spanking new Asus netbook (God it truly is a gorgeous machine however). chips is no better, actually in fact worse than Andrea ever is or could be. Because chips disses on Andrea about the free laptop all the while he happily takes a free Linux Asus netbook (that is absolutely awesome, I have to say). So who is bought and paid for? chips. So, for the record, chips is a completely unreliable source, with no credibility. His posts are for entertainment value only. Thanks!

1. chips is probably the most informed poster with the best links of anyone else.

2. The lack of enforcement of password-based non-anonymous sign-in is serious detriment to this site.

3. www.microsoft-watch.com is hosted on Linux.

Philosopher says :
"1. chips is probably the most informed poster with the best links of anyone else."
----------------------------------------------------
Merely I hope to contribute, as you and many other do as well.
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@Evan who says: "chips received a brand spanking new Asus netbook (God it truly is a gorgeous machine however)"
Free Laptop, I wish, but then so don't you. In your own words it is "truly is a gorgeous machine however" and the fact that it comes with Linux on it makes even better. Evan says "Because chips disses on Andrea about the free laptop" Actually its more about 2 laptops and one HP desktop computer system for Andre from M$ and M$ and HP. Further, the cost to buy those is a lot more than the average worker makes in several years down there. If you have read all my posts, I have told Joe Wilcox in the past, that I would have accepted free laptops from M$ myself, but that I would admit it right up front about it. We only asked Andre to do this, admit the truth, which is plainly shown. This he cannot do. Confession is good for the soul they say. It was an attempt to bring Andre back into the discussion in a meaningful way, without all his crazy talk. Sure, would his credibility suffer from the admission, yes, but its already destroyed, an honest confession could only help Andre now.
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Ridley says:
"So, Chips, at least you admit recieving free software from FSF?"

You just will not give up will you Ridley, the incessant questions, the guilt, its too much.
By FSF I expect you means Free Software Foundation? That was the one started by RMS? Ok, what if I admit to recieving free GNU/Linux software by downloading it from www.distrowatch.com?

I expect you will not give up unless I tell you the whole sordid story. It started back with Windows 3.1 and AOL dialup, I couldn't put my finger and why it always crashed, but it did. Not a big deal once I learned how to just reinstall everything about every 2 to 3 months. Then came Windows 95, and Norton,the very first version of 95 on floppies. It could even crash faster (about 6 weeks average) once I installed my very first cd burner. But that did find me a place to buy linux cd's and try them. I would try linux cd's about every year, they were not very mature back then, but as a computer user neither was I.

The Linux CD's were like candy. Sweet, you could just see that it was going become something great. The speed made Windows 95 seem to crawl. But still I could not get enough hardware, or know enough back then, to find help.

So then came Windows 98, the very first version, and it was better than my old crashie 95. But still, after about 3 to 6 weeks on the internet, it came to a halt. Thats when I learned about spyware and malware. But then came the yearly Linux CD's, and one worked easy with the modem, Linux flew on the internet, and did not need to be reinstalled every. But sadly, back then I did not know where to get help, or how to burn a cd. or how to get files off the linux partition.

The came 98se and learning more and more how to protect it. And it was good, better than M$ other systems. But still the candy that was Linux was now in my blood, and I was hooked without even using it. Every so often I would look to see where to try and find a linux cd, as the outfit I used to buy them found stopped.

Then came XP, and its was even better, maybe XP or 2000 was the best Windows ever. It still had major malware problems, but if you spent a lot of time maintaining it, you might get lucky and get by for awhile. But then I found distrowatch. Free downloads of Linux CD's. The hunger for the free candy came back, and I was helpless.

It started with a single download, and I tryed the CD. It was good, it was even faster than XP, but still there was a hardware problem at that time. But for awhile I had high speed internet. I forget the name of that distro, but a few days later, while I was so impressed with it I decided to try some other distros. I was a distro junkie without any self control. Yes while they were free, and I found several that worked well back then with all my hardware, without setting up anything, never a command line, I always wanted to look and download just one more. Why because they were so good, even better than my XP, which wasn't so bad. At least that was what I thought back then. and that was maybe 5 years ago, today almost every distro will support all the hardware out of the box in my computers. And then I found out that Linux did not have the Malware problems of Windows, or the DRM problems that plaques Vista/Seven.

I wanted to share the experience with others, to tell them there was a better freer way. And then I started commenting on MS Watch and ran into Andre and his gang. At first I ran XP and Linux about half and half. But it was Andre, more than anyone else, that convinced me to run Linux. As he does I think with many others here, by not by choice.

There was many things that Linux used to hook you on its candy. Where XP on my computer would run for about 3 days with programs going,before rebooting it, I was able to let Linux run for weeks, and its was still as I first turned it on. Only turned it off to save power. As stable as XP was, there were things you could not or hard trouble doing, like taking the hard drive with the OS out on one computer and putting it in another and having it work. Like flashing (updating) the bios rom and expecting them to work. But my linux distro I use will do those things, and its free. But theres so much more that Linux will do.

So there Ridley, you now have the complete confession of a Linux distro Junkie. Sordid and sad, but true. Ridley is like a Bulldog, he wasn't going give up without an confession.

chips, others please note, that somebody impersonates people that defend windows. Most posts have not been written by me.
billybob, all posts after i sited "ubuntu" as a source were not posted by me. The return rate by some reports is 4 to 1.

Whoever wrote the following (using my handle)
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"These impostors are just getting way out of hand. I did not write the above post. I know and understand that Windows is definitely the superior O.S., especially when it comes to netbooks. Netbooks with Linux are useless and over 96% are returned due to the Linux O.S. That is why over 96% of netbooks are now shipped with Windows. The people have spoken. They want quality, compatibility, ease-of-use and lowest cost of use overall. The overwhelming majority want Windows."
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Really needs to firstly grow up and secondly consider that this behaviour is going to be used to show the extent that MS faithful will go to so that they can distort the message.
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MESSAGE TO JOE WILCOX:
PLEASE COULD YOU DELETE ANY POSTS THAT DONT QUOTE THE EMAIL I USE AS A "PASSWORD" ANYTHING WITHOUT THE USUAL EMAIL ADDRESS IS A FAKE.

"The return rate by some reports is 4 to 1."

That is a ratio of XP to Linux returns. If XP returns are 1% and Linux is 4% then it is very good for Linux.

Even if it is 10% for XP and therefore 40% for Linux then it is still not most people returning Linux (which you claimed was undeniable).

Other reports I have seen show Linux on 33% of netbooks and with about the same return rate as XP.

"According to Dell, the the return rate of Ubuntu running Mini 9s are comparable to the XP rate, which we are told is “very low.”"

http://blog.laptopmag.com/one-third-of-dell-inspiron-mini-9s-sold-run-linux

If that is true then things are getting better for Linux, manufacturers are beginning to realise that they can use Linux to show off their hardware, rather than having XP reduce their customer satisfaction.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/acer_and_intel_crippled_windows_7_netbooks_wont_sell

Microsoft are being priced out of the market.

If most growth is in netbooks and they take 0-25% of the revenue depending on if it ships with Linux or XP, that is a massive cut in their revenue. No wonder they are advertising $1000 laptops.

Competition from Linux has also made businesses look at their contracts again so we are likely to see another drop in business renewals.

Tomorrow's figures should be very interesting. I am not saying they are going out of business, but maybe a reset (or should that be reboot) starting at a much lower level. They are not going to have billions to kill competition which is a good thing for everyone.

chips:
Hey, yes, I do think that netbook is gorgeous. Unfortunately for me, I will have to plunk down $247 of my own money for it (but I gladly will, because the specs are awesome for a netbook and it gets the best reveiws). So, yes, I am jealous that you received a freebie Asus. But I cannot in good conscience leave Linux on it. As I have proven in previous posts, Linux is overly stable, reliable, compatible and useful. Therefore, it is a resource hog. If I were to leave Linux on my Asus netbook, I would use it far too often, for far too long a session. Without the crashes, blue screens, freezes, malware and reboots, I wouldn't want to give up and turn it off. Thus is my proof that Linux is a resource hog. So I will buy that $247 Asus netbook and go out and buy Windows Vista Ultimate for $370. Then when Windows 7 Ultimate comes out, I will buy the upgrade for probably about $200 (a REAL bargain). So the end cost of MY Asus netbook will probably be about $820, but at least I will want to shut it off and do other things!

"Windows lock-in factor (and after the Titanic that was Vista, everyone should be thinking hard about whether chaining themselves to a single ship is a wise idea)"

Yah because the apps I buy for OS X are so easily used on a Linux flavor. get real. Apple in many ways is worse then MS ever was. As for Linux...yah whatever. When things go right it is a flawless environment...when they don't and you need to crawl under the hood, unless you know the ins and outs of Linux you are fooked.
Sorry but give me Windows. When something goes wrong generally speaking its as simple as a driver rollback, uninstalling an app, or doing a last known good restore. Getting back to X...tell me how I recover if a OS X update goes bad. No such thing as an easy rollback for that POS OS.

I remember reading round about 1996 in the Visual Basic magazine, a reporter saying that he doesnt like the single vendor. He was refering of course to Microsoft going around saying they could supply all the needs to business. Microsoft was saying, why buy from anyone else when you can buy it all from us and cheaper because you can get a volume deal. Everyone obviously did go to the single vendor and got screwed, and now the calls are starting again. Dont go to the single vendor anymore, you are gonna get screwed. Dont buy Microsoft anything. Get them out of your wallet.