Comments on: Windows 7 knows where you are

A new interface paves the way for more software makers to more easily make use of location information, although the move also raises potential privacy issues.

[cablephil]

Maybe it's me, but for me, the question is: Who asked MS to do this? I think that they should just focus on a STABLE operating system, and offer all the CRAP that they bundle in as an option. If I want it, I will decide and download it. How much simpler could that be. They have to realize (or maybe not) that the more they bundle in, the more they drive the hackers to disable it. I just can't understand how they're missing this. After the "Vista Fiasco", MS has to understand that "We" are tired of the control they think they have to provide to us. I understand that for most users, the power button is like magic. Push it, and you can get mail, browse the net, and download that recipe for dinner. But for the people who really want to do stuff, MS is making it harder by the day. They need a "WINNER", but by the looks of things, they're trying hard not to have one. Just my 2 cents.

[Heebee Jeebies]

I can see Microsoft and other companies using this as part of the software activation routine to locate illegal users. Sure they will say they won't or they will say it doesn't work that way or they will say it can't be used that way or they will say you can turn it off... all of that is a bunch of crap! Don't trust Microsoft or any company. I use only legitimate software that I paid for, but I would not touch an OS with this capability especially from such an untrustworthy source as Microsoft. Just for all of the Mac lovers, I wouldn't trust Apple with this either.

Robert

[monkeyfun14]

Isn't this kinda like saying if you steal a laptop from best buy they don't have the right to locate you and sue?

[jtaylorhoopla]

Uhm... My laptop doesnt have gps, or cellular, and i dont use wifi... i just dont see why they cannot use your IP Address, like every other ad in the world does. I mean, a Banner ad can do it, why cant A Simple computer program?

[jandler]

Ah someone with a brain.

Unless we go through a bunch of proxy, people most likely know exactly where we are.

[solitare_pax]

It's 1984 come around again. Only Big Brother was more cuddly than Microsoft.

[ThePrairiePrankster]

A very nice feature for those who travel with their PC. But even better if you can control it, turn it off and on when you want. I want my personal computer to be MY personal computer, not what some programmer or marketing drone thinks it should be.

[dirty55409]

As long as I'm not required to use Windows Live(which I'm NOT a fan of) I'll be happy. I want an OS that is geared towards intelligent users not an OS that holds my hand and trys to impress me with useless and graphically intensive fancy screens that do nothing for an archaic OS Layer

[ferretboy88]

I want to buy a Mac so I can be like everyone who is cool. We can all have silver laptops and look like clones.

[nonaste]

Yeah, the MS os sucks and Linux is a pain in the ass. What the hell is a computer user to do?

[mikeburek]

It would be "funny" if it would also get your location by your ip address. And if you were to connect to a proxy or the onion network, then Windows would think either your computer was stolen and so Windows shuts down, or if Windows tried to enforce some of those international exportation limits on programs with certain encryption algorithms, and so some programs stopped running.

[Fil0403]

That's probably one of the reasons it doesn't work like that, I would say.

[Fil0403]

Just as it happened with UAC in Vista, now it's time to forget all the advantages of such technology and hide the fact that you can turn this feature off (if you are that paranoid with privacy, as most people seem to be nowadays) as much as possible, and start spreading the FUD (such as claiming Windows 7 always knows where you are and your life is followed 24/7 at Microsoft's headquarters); IMO, in the end, it's one more valuable feature from Microsoft making the best OS today even better.