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Windows XP source code has leaked

gizmodo.com.au

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Re: Windows XP source code has leaked

#391

Post by stjohnswarts »

Hackbraten wrote: post #81
jononor wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The amount of user data collected in Windows 10 for example. Next to no user benefits, just value extracted for Microsoft. Automatic updates on reboot. For example when someone giving a presentation or class has to restart their computer for some reason (quite common in Windows still, or one just ran out of power). Boot up the computer, people waiting impatiently - and then have to wait for 5-30 minutes for the compu…

Unpopular opinion but: telemetrics help developers prioritize stuff and triage bugs. From a user’s point of view, isn’t that a substantial benefit?

I haven't seen any benefit. Why should microsoft know everything and record everything I do with my computer. It could be opt in I suppose. But as it is, it is -extremely- hard for the regular user to opt out.

Re: Windows XP source code has leaked

#392

Post by stjohnswarts »

gigel82 wrote: post #353
themaninthedark wrote: post #304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many forced Windows 10 updates have bricked peoples computers? Just looking at the dates after googling has dates from '18, '19 and '20. So at least once a year. On an OS that has been out for 5 years now. Do I control my computer or not? If I do then I should be able to control what happens when.

You control your computer, turn off updates, get malware, then come back and complain how M$ / Windows is crap. I really don't understand why so many people in this thread are actively complaining about not being able to turn off updates. It's like once a month and they give you advance notice and "pick a time"; you have a whole week to choose a good time to restart and apply some updates...

Because the user should be in control, no microsoft.

Re: Windows XP source code has leaked

#393

Post by jodrellblank »

ce4 wrote: post #62
bisby wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yes. most of the things I see about windows vs linux involve "well you can just turn all the spyware stuff off, all you have to do is dive into these 10 menus and flip these switches" "Its easy to disable the ads in the start menu" etc etc. Even if you can turn the stuff off, the fact that you have to feels a lot like the OS working against the user.

And the next update may reset some of them. The Edge update comes to mind that had reset the browser preference presumably to be able to push edge again.

Because that's how installing software works on Windows. You install a new program which can open JPGs, it's not allowed to grab control of all JPGs unilaterally. Instead it registers itself as a handler of JPGs. Next time you try to open one, Windows prompts you "you have a new program which can do X, what do you want to use?" and you get to keep your old one, or choose the new one, once or every time.

Get a new browser installed, prompt for your choice of browser. This is an improvement to "get Edge installed, have Edge take over everything silently" and an improvement on "I installed a thing and it doesn't do anything, where is it", and an improvement on "IE 11 for eternity".

Re: Windows XP source code has leaked

#394

Post by stjohnswarts »

spdionis wrote: post #138
asveikau wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Windows 10 is a resource hog and contains adware. macOS ... Is special. Some of the most notable changes in the last few years have been to try to restrict what an app can do.

So you're telling me that macOS is more performant than Windows 10? Have you used both? Do you not feel the delay in every mouse click you do in macOS that is so maddening after coming from Windows? Both the UI lag and general performance in macOS is just a sad story. My windows machine runs 24/7 for months without needing a restart. I am forced to restart macOS weekly, usually because of system issues.

I have zero problems with my Mac and I use it all day long for work. I can put off updates for as long as i like. It doesn't get in the way or spy on me like Windows 10, or attempt to throw up shitty ads. It's also snappy. If yours isn't then there's something wrong with your Mac; some software that you installed or your hardware is buggy.

Re: Windows XP source code has leaked

#395

Post by stjohnswarts »

Hackbraten wrote: post #348
WorldPeas wrote: post #339

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used macos, I was forced to restart and update. I used windows, I was forced to restart and update. I use kubuntu now, and I haven't turned my computer off(unless you count sleep state) in a few weeks, sometimes i've gone months. Both operating systems feel slow to me now that I've used linux. I was apprehensive to use it at first, and feel kinda guilty evangelizing it, but if you have these problems, I think this…

I’ve been on macOS for 16 years. Never has it forced me to restart or update (not counting panics or other bugs).

Exactly. Having it ask you if you want to update is not the same as in Windows where you get forced.

Re: Windows XP source code has leaked

#396

Post by stjohnswarts »

tamrix wrote: post #8
enjoyyourlife wrote: post #2

https://twitter.com/RoninDey/status/1309275918943301636 https://anonfiles.com/Ffn8u2Yaoa/Microsoft_leaked_source_cod...

This is still illegal to obtain, right? I'm not sure if it's wise to post the link as it may encourage others to download it and might be against the ToS on hackernews.

depends on where you live.

Re: Windows XP source code has leaked

#397

Post by stjohnswarts »

dx034 wrote: post #112
Kliment wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Industrial equipment control computers mostly - the computer is part of the machine and cannot be upgraded. You see this quite a lot outside China too.

Honest question: Would using Linux have been a better idea then? An old unpatched Win XP has tons of vulnerabilities but so does an unpatched 20 year old Linux Kernel. Using Windows XP on those devices often gets very bad rep but is there a viable alternative for machines that are air gapped and technically won't be upgradable for several decades?

Not if Linux won't run the programs you want to run or you don't have IT staff to get it to run with wine or something. Average users will just "take their chances" if they're behind a firewall and not surfing the web then chances are very low for getting a virus if you glue up the usb ports.

Re: Windows XP source code has leaked

#398

Post by Trioxin »

Jaruzel wrote: post #208
kasabali wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn't prove anything. People said it was crap because it was. Then SP1 was released with 1+ year and it became pretty good. By SP3 it was rock solid because that's 7 years of bug fixes keeping other changes to minimum. That's what giving bugs does to software, no surprise here.

It's worth mentioning that WPA2 for WiFi doesn't work in XP unless you install SP3, regardless of the WiFi drivers you use. As this leak is only XP SP1, it will be missing a lot of the bugfixes and upgrades that XP added by SP3 (and beyond).

Think of how easily it will be though to reverse engineer the patches in the SP and apply them to the actual source.

Re: Windows XP source code has leaked

#399

Post by Kliment »

wheresmycraisin wrote: post #370
Kliment wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Industrial equipment control computers mostly - the computer is part of the machine and cannot be upgraded. You see this quite a lot outside China too.

No, there are tons of regular office computers and even home computers that run XP. Industrial computers in China would actually be running fairly up to date OS's compared to, say, US.

I visited a number of factories in China last year and saw lots of XP on measurement, production and test equipment. All the office desktops were on W7 or W10. I'm sure lots of XP desktops exist, but I didn't see any in the (quite many) offices I passed through. I can't speak about home computers, I only saw a small handful.

Re: Windows XP source code has leaked

#400

Post by m463 »

stjohnswarts wrote: post #379
m463 wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a lot of people have sort of backed their chair away from the table like you. I remember reading Matt Ridley's The Rational Optimist and it talked about trade. Basically it said with trust, trade is unlimited. But what's been happening with computers and software is that trust been going downhill so quickly that many people don't install anything ever anymore. Privacy, dark patterns, monetization, form over f…

I think you're talking about power users, programmers, and IT. Regular everyday users still don't care and install whatever they like.

and parents.
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