Re: Win'95 handing our directories over to MS?????

[Glenda Jeffrey <jeffrey -at- HKS -dot- COM>]

Chet Ensign (Chet_Ensign%LDS -at- notes -dot- worldcom -dot- com) wrote:
: Has anyone else heard this story?

: I've been told that when you install Windows 95 and register electronically,
 or
: when you sign up for the Microsoft Network, there is a utility in the program
: that inspects your PC (and your network, if it can reach out and find other
: nodes) and then quietly passes your directory structure, the list of installed
: products, all your hardware configuration, etc. to MS in the background. This
: sounds so looney I thought it must be another example of the Urban Myth, but
: I've heard it from several different people.

I heard it on NPR (National Public Radio) last night. It seems that
Microsoft wants to determine whether some of the software on your hard
drive is outdated. With this information in hand, they can then remind
you that, for example, your copy of Word needs an upgrade, and gee,
if you send them $100 (or whatever), they'll send you the upgrade.

NPR (actually, I think it was on the Marketplace show) claimed that
Microsoft stands to make much more money on upgrades than they do
on initial software purchases. Hence, the vaccuum strategy.

Sleep tight...
--
Glenda Jeffrey                                     Email: jeffrey -at- hks -dot- com
Hibbitt, Karlsson & Sorensen, Inc                  Phone: 401-727-4200
1080 Main St.                                      Fax:   401-727-4208
Pawtucket, RI 02860