Comments on: Ballmer sees squeeze on Longhorn deadline

Microsoft's CEO lends some insight into the 2006 release date of the slow-moving next version of Windows.

Longhorn named to be changed...

Not sure if this is legit, but someone released a secret Microsoft
plan which outlines changes for Longhorn, now scheduled to be
released in first half of 2005...

http://www.mac360.com/index.php/mac360/more/
microsofts_secret_plan_to_defeat_ipod_itms_os_x/

Microsoft also plans RIAA style legal attacks against Linux users.

It was a joke

A little early for April Fools pranks, but the article was written as
a joke. If you read the end of the article, it says, "Damn those
mushrooms. It all seemed so real."

Ballmer is laming out...

Wow... how can this guy be in charge of such a huge company?
How completely embarrassing.

http://www.tarmo.fi/arc/monkeydance.mpeg
http://www.tarmo.fi/arc/developers.mpeg

Microsoft might have a chance if they got somebody new...

[Aphelion]

Automatic Isolation = NGSCB lockdown

Ballmer said: "The company also has plans to create a
technology that will automatically isolate machines with
vulnerabilities."

This of course refers to the Next Generation Secure Computing
Base (NGSCB). Formerly known as "Palladium" which will lock
down Longhorn and isolate it, and it's users, from "machines
with vulnerabilities" which of course will be ALL non Microsoft
Longhorn equipped computers. (even Windows XP).

Pressing the need for legislation to make this "lock-down" Law
of the Land and lining the pockets of the lawmakers who will
support this is the hidden agenda that will deliver all computer
users to Microsoft and thus achieve 100% ownership of the
computer using Public.

Initiatives like buying support for software patients in the EU and
the associated anti Linux FUD are part and parcel of the
overwhelming desire by Microsoft to "own it all".

Mr. Ballmer's comments about the iPod and "stolen" music are
just prelude to the effort to isolate Microsoft from any
competitors legislatively.

Resistance to this is futile, since your lawmakers are already paid
for.

Conspiracy theory

If you can even a bit of time to start reading this:
http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html#mspath
http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html <-- for the full
background

...you might see a real conspiracy already in operation with
90%+ of the world's computer users. The article is long, but is
fully backed-up by hundreds of links to independant sources.

Of particular note are these sections (although it is helpful to
read earlier sections first, which is only a quick choice from
among many):
http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html#palladium
http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html#owner
http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html#home

A related article from the same site:
http://aaxnet.com/editor/edit033.html <-- MS 'security'

Love to hear what anyone else thinks after reading any of the
above.

[HuggerMugger]

MS to isolate machines with vulnerabilities?

That means 90% of Windows machines will drop off the Internet
within 20 minutes.

Microsoft, Longhorn, and accessibility.

If anyone from the offices in Redmond reads this site, I would like to say to them, as kindly and firmly as I can, in the process of developing longhorn, please...*PLEASE*...don't forget accessibility for the blind. In the past, Microsoft has rushed to make changes in the Windows OS that has turned Windows into an accessibility nightmare for the blind/visually impaired computer user. Microsoft even (unintentionally) made the blind/VI community angry with them for not consulting the blind on how to keep Windows accessible. So, please, to the longhorn development people, if you aren't already working with screen reader manufacturers like Freedom Scientific and GW Micro, you'd better start now. Why have to go back and fix it later.

Free screen reader in a better OS ...and sooner!

You don't have to depend on Microsoft 'possibly' meeting your
needs, when there is a free and better alternative just around the
corner in 2005:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/voiceover.html

The current version of Mac OS X Panther, already "goes beyond
the requirements of the U.S. federal government?s Section 508
Accessibility statute to provide smooth, elegant features to
those with difficulties using computers. You?ll find technology
that aids seeing, hearing and using the keyboard and mouse."

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/universalaccess/

If you ever need advice on the switching to Macs, or the massive
additional benefits, there are plenty of facts to debunk any anti-
Mac myths, plus hundreds of thousands of testimonies of people
who have stated that they will never go back to there problems
with Windows etc.

http://www.apple.com/switch
(there are plenty of independant sources I can e-mail you if
you're interested as well - [e-mail]).

Planning vs. Doing

One way the company plans to do things better is through
research: Microsoft invests $6.2 billion in research and
development. "Only the automotive industry spends equivalent
amounts," Ballmer said.

Unlike the auto industry that produces new products annually,
Microsoft has delayed Longhorn?s release for 10 years.

It is comforting to Windows user to know that Microsoft only
?plans? to do better. I reckon that this must be the first step
before Microsoft actually ?does? something better.