[Am-info] Thoughts

[Geoffrey]

This whole issue reminds me of a similar conversation with Microsoft 
regarding moving Windows from one machine to another.  Initially, I was 
told you could not do this.  I then embarked upon an experiment, which 
started with, "What if I replaced my keyboard, could I still use windows 
on that machine?"  The answer was yes.  From their I went through 
replacing various parts of the computer always receiving a yes answer to 
continuing to use Windows on that machine.  You'll recall now where I'm 
headed, as I eventually built a new machine 'under' windows and then 
asked what was the difference between that and just moving it to another 
machine.  I was promised a call back, which I never received.

I think the whole registry thing with XP will really cause M$ a lot of 
grief, with folks often adding/upgrading hardware.

Gene Gaines wrote:
> ,
> 
> About a year ago, I took an afternoon and made a formal
> request of Microsoft to tell me where I stood with my
> ability to resell a copy of Microsoft Windows 98.
> 
> I stated that I had found it on the street, that it was
> an unopened shrink-wrapped box, and all labels appeared
> to be intact.
> 
> After a lot of low-level stupidity and blather, I was
> referred upstairs to legal, where I received a lot of
> medium-level stupidity and blather, then referred to
> a another person where I received (in my opinion)
> high-level stupidity and blather.
> 
> What it came down to was, yes, I "sell" the license
> for the copy of Windows 98 which I had "found" but
> only if I also had the entire contents of the box.
> 
> So, it appeared to come down to this:
> 
>  - If the box shrink-wrap had been removed, I could
>    still sell it.
> 
>  - However, Microsoft would require that the entire
>    contents be intact.  I asked about, say, an
>    advertising flyer for MSN which happened to be
>    stuffed in that box.  Answer was "legally you will
>    need to have every flyer, every label, every piece
>    of paper" before Microsoft will accept your right
>    to sell the license to the product, even though it
>    has never been used"
> 
> This is all nonsense, of course, but does begin me
> thinking about ways to attach through the armor, which
> cannot be perfect in all directions.
> 
> Following this line of reasoning.
> 
> Years ago, I was angry as hell at AT&T and my local
> Bell of Pa. telephone company for their refusal to
> provide reasonable private line service for a large
> national a network I managed.
> 
> For several years, we kept shooting verbal, written,
> political, legal bullets at each other.
> 
> AT&T opened a regional supply center just down the
> street from my office. Magnificent. Part of an
> integrated supply management system which enabled the
> local telco service technician to touch-tone an
> order for parts he had used that day, drive his truck
> up to the AT&T supply center the next day and be
> handed a box/pallet to replenish his truck with the
> supplied he had consumed.
> 
> Important step forward for AT&T and Bell of Pa.
> 
> Trouble is, Congress/FCC enacted new laws and new
> regulations, and it became illegal.
> 
> So, I just drove my private car into the AT&T
> private lot for trucks, backed my car up to a
> loading dock, and said I wanted to buy a balun
> (inexpensive load balancing coil).
> 
> All hell to pay.  Lawyers for multiple cities.
> AT&T offered to give me a gross, no charge.
> The legal proceeding here dragged on for several
> years.  Once I took the 30 minutes to drive my
> car up to their loading dock, my only expense
> and effort was to keep answering the phone from
> time to time and saying "No, I want to buy one."
> 
> Helped raise awareness that the basic tying
> activity between AT&T and Bell of Pa. was
> illegal and a component of an illegal monopoly.
> 
> I rush to say that AT&T and I became good friends
> after that.  (Bell of Pa. even bought the company
> I was working for, several years later, after I
> had moved on.)
> 
> Is there a parallel here?  I don't know, but
> somewhere there is a chink(s) in the Microsoft
> armor where a small jab can make a big difference.
> 
> Good to think about.
> 
> It would be the "right" thing to do.
> 
> Gene Gaines
> gene.gaines@gainesgroup.com
> Sterling, Virginia 
> 
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> 


-- 
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric@3times25.net

I didn't have to buy my radio from a specific company to listen
to FM, why doesn't that apply to the Internet (anymore...)?