Comments on: Microsoft delays SP2 auto update

Delay will give big companies more time to hunt down compatibility problems, the software giant says.

[pietrodelai]

SP2 versus Windows lowest TCO

A simple OS update stops your applications. You have to patch a Service Pack (aka as correcting the correction).
How can anyone say that Windows has lowest TCO than other OS ?
Simple: account all the patch costs in the application budget. After all, is the application that has stopped. Then Windows has indeed the lowest TCO. It is called Enron SP2...

[Tex Murphy PI]

Please re-read that article before posting!

If you paid attention to the article, it clearly shows that the majority of the problems are related to the built-in firewall itself denying the apps network access.

Contrary to popular beleifs, most corporations do not have PC-level firewalls (it's handled on the firewall). The fact that many apps are having problems with connectivity means that the firewall is too restrictive for them to operate properly.

Microsoft could have taken the "easy" way out by having the firewall installed with relaxed rules, but they opted to secure the OS first, and deal with the problems that may bring out ahead of time. For that, MS SHOULD BE COMMENDED!

Consumers will have an even harder time once SP2 filters down to them, as a lot of consumers simply are not aware of the need (or care to run) a firewall on their PCs. So there will be a lot of complaints coming out on Wednesday.

This will only serve to highlight the fact that most users do not have firewalls on their systems.

[OneWithTech]

Why do consumers have to wait?

I've been with Microsoft since the beginning. Update after
update after update. Just recently did I get smart and buned
everything PC and Microsoft and went with a true technology
leader like Apple. This just proves how much control Microsoft
has on big business and the consumers alike. I've have
destroyed, rebuilt, destroyed and destroyed again the XP
operating system for the last 3 years and this I can tell you.

To this day I cannot explain to my clients; why there are 3 virus'
a day attacking a Microsoft Program, why there system crashes
uncontrollably after a "Critical System Update", and why they
have to wait and extra 9 days to patch the very same systems
that big corportate has.

Why, Bill Gates, do we have to wait? As explained before, I got
smart and don't own a PC. But I do care for the security and
maintenance of my clients and that's important enough for me
to care. Why Bill?

[wwoodfordnc]

You Do Not Have to Wait

Microsoft has released Windows XP SP2 to the public. It is a 250MB download designed for IT professionals to update systems. The link is http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3e90dc91-ac56-4665-949b-beda3080e0f6&DisplayLang=en to get the file.

[tOxiCwaSTe]

A scenario for you....

Here's one to think about. Let's say that Steve Jobs had decided 20 years ago not to keep his technology so close, and maybe he hadn't pulled back licsense agreements several times as he has. If he had made his computer platform and OS more available to consumers, we would most likely be asking these questions of him.

The answer to your "clients" question of why so many attacks is simple, and if you are in the IT profession it would be obvious; does 95 percent of the market give a clue? If Steve Jobs/Apple had achieved this, it would be him under attack.

No OS is safe from attack, the people orchestrating these attacks have one simple goal...create the most havoc, or cause the most damage. If that were your goal would you concentrate on only 3-5 percent of the market?

Just a thought.....

[arthur-b]

Yawn

As if this will be the last patch coming too late and breaking things in the process and not turn out to be the definite answer.

At least it'll keep some people busy enough to stop them from looking around.