That's right...go and throw a whole box of cats amongst the pigeons.

In fact, given the consensus around here that MS couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery, there's probably that many cats amongst the pigeons there that the engineers, writers and coders are coughing up fur balls/choking on feathers.

Oh well, benevolent Bill could always open a refuge for stray cats, thus making it safer for the coding pigeons.

Which brings me to a point! I'm not so sure this relationship between MS and Stardock is such a good thing. Well we've all seen it... the "Egads, one of our coding pigeons, etc, etc...." message, and me thinks our page load issues can be put down to Brad and/or other Stardock employees visiting MS, feeling sorry for the cute kitty, and going: "Here puss, puss." and taking 'em back to HQ to wreak havoc on our forum pigeons.

Yup, I'm with Po` on cats... particularly when I could say: "I've been to Bali, too", in between page loads.

No it isn't, Windows 7 goes into the alpha/beta process in 09, Bill Gates made a mistake when he announced that it would be out next year. Windows 7 is not due out for a few years.. at the least. They say sometime in 2010, but knowing Microsoft's previous habit to delay nearly everything it will more than likely be around 2011.   

You are aware Vista calls home right?

good old tin foil hats eh?

Something like that...

I find it odd how people put their blind faith in a mythical deity who theoretically watches over everyone all the time from his/her ivory tower in the sky, yet laugh at the mere mention of a software company spying on it's patrons.

Not making any accusations about anyone here, just a general observation...

You must be talking about the Microsoft feedback panel I'm on!

If not, then your sadly mistaken.

WWW Link

Feel free to check your network. Yes, those are microsoft products, but they were not always (there's earlier versions around), and there's other products like it.

I always check my network connections for hackers, hijackers.

Now if you wanna say it checks for losers (ie, pirates), then please tell us why you'd be afraid of it sending info about you.

Because if you wanna know the truth, most internet places you go to 'phones home'. I don't consider it spyware, which intercepts everything you do. Esp. if all it does is collect personal data you've entered on THEIR product.

Most spyware I've seen collects everything you do, no matter what.

Only people who fear this are pirates.

Guess what kids? What happens when you do income tax? Your data on that gets collected. What happens when you go to a store, and buy with a CC? Your data gets collected. Why are you so afraid of people finding you out?

Places have a right to collect data on THEIR product if you sign a contract or agree to one/eula. Anything else is spyware.

Somewhere out there, some has been is playing pong on his top end DOS system. People who crap on Vista are just doing the "I'm smart" cliche' thing. Take a look at any open source OS and wonder why they try so hard to look and do what Windows does. Shave those pork chops. Disco is over. Not even a MS fan.

Poorly phrased.

However, People other than pirates do fear data mining.

I do not use Gmail.  End of story....

I'm with you Jafo.

As for Vista vs. XP...I have XP. I love it. My PC is setup to run Vista because I want the ability to upgrade. As much as I like XP, I'm getting (and installing) Vista at the beginning of next month......

I be afeared of nuffin, I tell 'e... 'cepts fer p'raps ware a spy might sneak aboard me vessel n' scuttle 'er in tha black o' night....

So when ye says 'spy', I says ware???



Arrrr, a bit o' ard wurk never 'urt nobody! Now, be this 'ere data minin' as profitable as minin' fer gold n' silver???

Well it's still happening: "Egads, one of our code writing pigeons has been snaffled by a cat we brought back from MS...."

Yup, it's happening all too often, and Stardock needs to reconsider its spending priorities. I mean, cosmetic enhancements for WC is all well and good, but me thinks, Stardockians, you need to do something about those damned cats. Putting collars with bells on (perhaps even a brick) would give those poor pigeons a chance... and feeding them properly might just stop 'em eying off the pigeon pie.

Oh, and get the buggers neutered...kittens are not cute!! They grow into coding pigeon eaters and leave the carcasses on your doorstep.

There is nothing "mythical" about God. He exists.

Zellio I don't know what weird world you live in but it has been proven both XP and Vista call home to MS. MS does collect data about all of us.

Starkers you crack me up. Just admit you were a bit off. XP will be around for some time as will XP support.

Keep your assumptions to yourself. There's no proof.


As someone else said...so do CreditCard companies, and the cable company about what shows you watch, etc. It's not a new concept.

It's called faith. The only reason I brought it up is because I found offense in someone saying God is mythical.



I was just pointing out to some non-believers that MS calls home.