Zane Gilmore wrote:
<gormless> oaooaoooaoh </gormless> ahem
I will ensure I actually read the page next time :-/
But it is very funny.
The Feng Shui motherboard is hilarious.
Since this thread still has life, I have some recent experience to share.
I run an XP laptop (with GNU/Linux as well), and last week 'something changed'.
I think the posted satire may be aimed at XP's latest patch. This was an automated virus detection & removal utility, targeting Sasser, Blaster, and just a few other recent devastators. With Automatic Updates enabled, it was downloaded before I knew anything about it. My only option was whether to activate it or not. Like every other gorMles$, of course I said yes ;-)
No problem; unless a) you're a business, and b) you read the EULA:
"8. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY. THE SOFTWARE IS LICENSED “AS IS” AND WITH ALL FAULTS. WE GIVE NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES, GUARANTEES OR CONDITIONS. YOU MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL CONSUMER RIGHTS UNDER YOUR LOCAL LAWS WHICH THIS AGREEMENT CANNOT CHANGE. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER YOUR LOCAL LAWS, WE EXCLUDE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
[No problem with that either.. just like the GNU GPL.]
9. LIMITATIONS ON AND EXCLUSIONS OF DAMAGES. YOU CAN RECOVER FROM MICROSOFT AND ITS SUPPLIERS ONLY DIRECT DAMAGES UP TO US$5.00. YOU CANNOT RECOVER ANY OTHER DAMAGES, INCLUDING CONSEQUENTIAL, LOST PROFITS, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES.
This limitation applies to
• any matter related to the software, services, content (including code) on third party Internet sites, or third party programs, and
• claims for breach of contract, breach of warranty, guarantee or condition, strict liability, negligence, or other tort to the extent permitted by applicable law.
It also applies even if
• repair, replacement or a refund for the software does not fully compensate you for any losses, or
• Microsoft knew or should have known about the possibility of the damages."
Hey!! "I'm relying on this piece of junk!" (not). And I paid good money for it! Does business ruination by software get included with "natural disasters" as insurance exclusion, or are a lot of peoples' livelihoods truly at risk here?
On the 'plus' side for M$, the update shows that they _may_ be starting to get a handle on product (in)security, and this _may_ therefore make Linux advocacy that little bit tougher in future.
Of course the main objective in the development will be McAffee, Symantec, et. al's income streams, reading from past 'expansions of service'..
Have a good day,
- Rik
-- Mozilla 1.7.2 free open source email client & browser
