The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Letter to the Editor Robin Howells

My view is that the piece is really nothing more than a blatant puff-par written by someone who appears totally unwilling to make a critical and unbiased examination of the latest Microsoft operating system.

Considering we are claiming to be the second or third largest user group in the world, I believe that you and the rest of the editorial team owe it to the membership to openly and fearlessly examine and comment on a new operating system. Even if it emanates from the firm with overwhelming market domination.

Surely you are aware that Windows XP is already the most controversial release of an OS by Microsoft because of its blatant invasion of people's privacy?

Consider just some of the facts which discerning users already know about it. XP tries to force you into signing up for MS Passport. Yet it has already been proved that it is possible to steal someone's Passport giving details of credit cards, MS Money Central and Hotmail accounts! The problem was so bad that MS were forced to disable the Wallet function in XP. Yet the "review" you published made the bold and extravagant claim that "Taking into consideration this convergence of friendliness, useability and reliability there should be enough reason for Windows 9x users to upgrade."

MS were even forced to issue a patch for XP on the day the OS was released.

You and the writer of the article must surely have been aware of the controversy which has surrounded the "product activation" feature of XP and the manner in which it attempts to "control" hardware changes which the average user may seek to carry out whilst using the OS.

The Naked PC Newsletter had this to say about the "product activation" feature: "Perhaps more worrisome than Passport is the "product activation" scheme that is a part of Windows XP. According to Microsoft the purpose is simply copy protection. They want $100 (for Home edition) or $200 (for the Pro edition) for *every* computer you install Windows on - full stop, end of report, and by golly activation is supposed to accomplish this. That may be and I'm sure Redmond won't be unhappy with the increased cash flow that copy protection of this nature provides (although the lessons of history regarding users and copy protection seem to be lost to Redmond). But it's my opinion that copy protection is only a smoke screen for the true purpose of activation, which again is forced obsolescence. Once Redmond decides to make everyone upgrade to the next version of Windows I think they'll stop issuing activation codes and just tell you to upgrade should you need to re-activate a machine that you've upgraded or changed the hardware on.

Frankly I thought it was disappointing to see the article finish by quoting Bill Gates himself on his own OS saying how great it was. All I can say is "Well, he WOULD say that wouldn't he?"

I believe that any review of a major operating system should look at it both critically and fearlessly. Surely you owe it to members to state the pros and cons and take an independent and unbiased look? I believe that PC Update should report frankly on any and all short-comings of what will be a costly upgrade for the average user.

Yours sincerely
Robin F. Howells 

Many thanks, Robin, for your opinion and for your comments. Your displeasure might have been shared by some but I was confident Daniel's offering would be widely recognised for what it was, and clearly it was not a review; certainly not a PC Update review. I have no doubt Melb PC members can tell the difference.

Your criticism about article selection is noted. I ran the piece because of its value as a brief overview. At the time we were about to be treated to a full Microsoft presentation of Windows XP at the November monthly meeting. After reading Daniel's introduction members would be better able to decide whether or not they wished to attend.

Since that day, reviews of both versions have been carried out and members can read them in this issue.

Gary Taig

Reprinted from the February 2002 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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