OK... the fragrance companies may have weird marketing strategies, but none can compare to those of Microsoft.
As we all know, whether you like the product or not, Microsoft Windows is full of bugs, security holes, and vulnerabilities that make it targets for viruses and spyware.
However, Microsoft just came out with its own spyware in the form of a software validation tool for Windows XP. The tool, called "Windows Genuine Advantage", sends a response back to Microsoft every time your computer starts up for unauthorized or counterfeit software.
Need an antidote (no, not Viktor & Rolf's) for the spyware? Turns out that Microsoft now offers Windows OneCare Live... a "complete antivirus/antispyware solution for Windows XP". For $49 a year, the same Microsoft that was supposed to protect your PC for free will give you complete protection against Windows flaws.
In my opinion, Microsoft's new business plan is like McDonald's selling E.coli-laced Big Macs and charging you extra for antibiotics. Or like Philip Morris owning a chain of cancer treatment centers to treat your cancer from a lifetime of smoking Marlboros. IMO, Microsoft's latest tactics are dishonest, unethical, and Mafia-esque... it's time to evaluate alternatives (personally, I use a Mac).
As we all know, whether you like the product or not, Microsoft Windows is full of bugs, security holes, and vulnerabilities that make it targets for viruses and spyware.
However, Microsoft just came out with its own spyware in the form of a software validation tool for Windows XP. The tool, called "Windows Genuine Advantage", sends a response back to Microsoft every time your computer starts up for unauthorized or counterfeit software.
Need an antidote (no, not Viktor & Rolf's) for the spyware? Turns out that Microsoft now offers Windows OneCare Live... a "complete antivirus/antispyware solution for Windows XP". For $49 a year, the same Microsoft that was supposed to protect your PC for free will give you complete protection against Windows flaws.
In my opinion, Microsoft's new business plan is like McDonald's selling E.coli-laced Big Macs and charging you extra for antibiotics. Or like Philip Morris owning a chain of cancer treatment centers to treat your cancer from a lifetime of smoking Marlboros. IMO, Microsoft's latest tactics are dishonest, unethical, and Mafia-esque... it's time to evaluate alternatives (personally, I use a Mac).
