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THE MICROSOFT DICTATORSHIP FORCES AN UPGRADE

Brian Grainger

brian@grainger1.freeserve.co.uk

It all started a couple of weeks ago. I have a Hotmail account. It was originally obtained because friends wanted to converse with me via the Microsoft Instant Messenger Service. I still use Instant Messenger, so I put up with the fact that I have to log on to Hotmail periodically to clear the 200 plus (and rising) Spam messages that appear each week. I also use my Hotmail address for those entities that insist I give them an e-mail address before I download their software or use their service.

Periodically I am told to upgrade my Messenger Client. I did a couple of times, but as the downloads got longer I ignored it. That was until a couple of weeks ago.

Microsoft demanded that because of their insecure software I upgrade the Messenger client. If I didn't I would no longer be able to use the Messenger Service, Hotmail and anything else that uses Passport. As usual I ignored it. That was until this week when it would not log me in to Hotmail. I was severely tempted to say b*gg*r *ff then, but only this last week I had found Messenger very useful to contact someone I urgently wanted to talk to. I phoned them and they were engaged. I tried later and they were engaged. I surmised they were on the Internet and, knowing they had Instant Messenger, I logged on and sent out an Instant Message. I was right. They were online and I was able to chat.

Well, I decided to download the upgrade. Of course, it would be good manners to tell you how big the upgrade was, but Microsoft are not well mannered. It started, the progress bar appeared and very slowly filled up. About 30 minutes later, (I'm on dial up), it was still there although almost complete. Then suddenly it was finished and the installation process was starting. A very quick message displayed and was lost and then a bigger message appeared. The installation cannot take place because my setup did not meet the configuration requirements. Why did it not check this before it wasted 30+ minutes downloading something that would not work then? The message also told me to update my setup and then download the software again. I am not that stupid. I was not going to spend another 30 minutes downloading it. I found the downloaded file in my temp directory and moved it to a safe place. Why don't Microsoft tell users to do that, rather than pretend the software is not there? I noted in passing that the file size was 6MB. This was no security upgrade patch. It was a complete new version. Anyway, the message also highlighted the basic requirements and it transpired my problem was that I do not use Internet Explorer 5 or later.

I have mentioned a few times that I have maintained IE4 as my browser because, being old, it guards me against some of the nasty viruses and hacks going the rounds. They don't write them for IE4 any more! I was in a quandary. Do I maintain my philosophy on IE4 or do I keep my Instant Messaging capability. What if I did not use IE at all. I am now being told by Microsoft that I have to install it.

Of course, the choice should not be this. Why should I have to get a totally unrelated piece of software upgraded because I want to maintain the usability of my existing software. Indeed, why should I have to update the Messenger software. It should be my choice whether I risk the lack of security of Microsoft's software. I have come to no ill with IE4 - indeed I think I have been saved on a couple of occasions because of it. This is another example of Microsoft telling us what to do. I want to be in control of my computer, not it and Microsoft in control of me.

I have now upgraded to IE6 and the new Messenger client. Things do not work quite the same way as before. Of course, Microsoft will say it is better and in time I might agree. However, I now have to give some of my precious time to setting up the new software how I want and learning its foibles so I can get back to working in the manner in which I am accustomed. Why? Just so I can maintain a service that was working perfectly OK for me before Microsoft stomped on me.

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