Christopher Wigginton said:

 

Microsoft is just making sure that they will have the ability to refute any results by being able to determine the exact configuration and providing their own test results, that and it appears to target competitors providing benchmarks. It gets a little twisted if it's an independent study. In regards to Microsoft's web site changing in the future, I'm guessing that if you grabbed a PDF of the site in question and stored it locally in your filing cabinet at the time you published your results, you would probably be safe.

However, it would be interesting to see what could actually happen if a competitor breaks that part of the EULA. Most EULA's call for TERMINATION, which means you must remove the software from the system and destroy all copies. I suppose there could be issues with other purchased licenses of the product.

As long as the competitor didn't out and out lie about the results there shouldn't be any libel involved and if the competitor didn't break any parts of the EULA that could be considered criminal (copying, etc.), no criminal charges. I'm not sure if any civil penalties could even be applied.

Most companies doing this type of study would just consider it marketing dollars, buy the software, do the test, and the EULA's broken, uh oh, oh my, better delete the software and return it to Microsoft. As Mark Twain said, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics".

 

Jimmythe geek said:

 

Vista rocks and thats all that there is to say about it... I helped develope it- and am proud of MY controbution . Do this!!!! Have the right hardware and then, and only then will you be in MY world- The Vista!!!!!! See you on yhe other side!!!!!

 

Dave Shuck said:

 

I certainly don't mean this in an insulting way, but when I can have functionality such as you see in this video http://youtube.com/watch?v=YkyKIyNvZTM (only using my mouse instead of fingers), with an environment that surpasses all the needs I have for my development environment, without the need to pay for licenses and waste space with bloated add-ons that I not only don't want, but can't even get rid of, plus the fact that I can do so on a modest machine with 1GB or memory, how could someone possibly justify going to "YOUR world"? What is it exactly that you feel that I am missing? I must need more kool-aid. :)

 

Jimmy the geek said:

 

Ok Dave, all I am saying from a geeks view is this... Just as people who play instruments, they all play music- they can even all play the same song. But just as I might be able to play the drums and perform well at it I don't do well on another instrument. Computer users are the same. They have tasks to carry out and some people perform those tasks better in a differnt enviorment per say Windows or Linux or whatever. I am a MS fan that is not a secret. How could I not be? I have worked for them for more than 12 years. But as a geek of sorts, I try and have an open mind when it comes to ALL software. I do go for the Opensource stuff, In fack I use Open Office instead of MS Office 2007 which I have more than one disk for and I have never installed... I also have a computer in every room of my house- some rooms have several. I have everything running from Windows 3.1 to date. I also run Ubuntu and several others. Good for you that you found a setup that you have mastered. Computing is an art and a talent. Mabye you should some kool-aid, spend some time with something differnt and see if you can master that.

 

Dave Shuck said:

 

heh - I have lived on both sides of the street. I was actually an NT4 MCSE and have worked with nothing but Microsoft until early 2006. It is certainly not unfamiliar territory to me, but I have just found something that feels much more comfortable. All zealotry aside, and no matter what your particular view is, I believe that is what it boils down to.

 

Jimmy the geek said:

 

It is good when you can find anything that your not only comfortable with but is productive. I believe that is supposed to be the goal when developing. I also think that Open source has so much more to offer in this sense because you can contribute to its development and cater it more to your needs. I am enjoying my current configuration but that is always subject to change. Compiz Fusion is tempting and I think that I might play around a bit and do an install of 7.4 and take it from there. Maybe this weekend I will do it and blog about it and share the experience...

 

jimmy kolo said:

 

Well, well, well, I did an install and got Compiz Fusion going. I must say it is pretty cool- for about 5 minutes. I mean I asways needed an app so I could write my initials on my screen with fire and lets not forget how productive I will be now that I can make my windows wobble. Yes there is the finger prints all over the screen that is a big plus when trying to see my work. No thanks, I will stick with the ever so wonderful Vista VISTA ROCKS AND BY YEAR 2010 there will be 600 million users.