Posts by W. Anderson

Microsoft to build 'transparency centres' for source code checks

Microsoft gimmick exercise

This move by Microsoft is purely a "Smoke and Mirrors" gimmick.

There is "no way" for any of the governments attending this farce meeting to know with any certainty that what Microsoft is showing them is exactly what the company is shipping, precisely because these nor any government, business, organization or individual has access to the Microsoft Windows "Source Code", which could then be secured and compiled by the customer.

Such a "fantasy" prospect would still not guarantee any substantive level of "rock solid reliability and high level security" from Microsoft Windows however, since those technical characteristics have never been hallmarks of Windows OS.

Why IBM's server sell-off is a lightbulb moment

Unique opportunity for Lenovo

One business and technology tactic that could help propel increased sales of Lenovo over HP in the midrange X86 Server space, while also allaying some fears of Western governments about Chinese cyber interloping, is for Lenovo to "fully embrace" the Linux and Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) software platforms as an equal or even higher level partner than for Microsoft Windows.

This step is prudent and logical since most of the enterprise and even smaller business and organizational Virtualization and Cloud Computing Services growth explosion taking place are predominantly Linux based, and with Linux and FOSS, Western Governments would have much less or little concern about Operating System (OS) "back doors" or networking botnets (if using Linux networking gear) in protection against (Chinese) Cyber attacks, as compared to the well known and documented Microsoft serious cyber vulnerabilities and possible OS back doors.

This move is very unlikely to take place though, as Lenovo has consistently shown to be a Microsoft dependent and obedient OEM just like HP and Dell – albeit up to now in the PC Desktop and very small X86 Server arena, that could not therefore adequately differentiate itself from it's Windows siblings, or be as attractive to many European Union and South American large technology purchasers who are now established as and increasingly "Open Standards and Open Source" only adopters.

Yes, Google can afford to lose $9bn in Motorola sale. But did it really?

Value of Patents & Copyrights

Neither Wall Street,the average citizen nor any of the ranting Microsoft dupes on TheRegister, ZDNet or TechTarget have any technical or legal knowledge about the 17,000 patents that came as part of Google purchase of Motorola, nor would they have any expertise to value such patents.

Therefore, it is just crude speculation to surmise whether Google' transactions between buying and selling Motorola is good or profitable or not. Intellectual Property Experts, specializing on Patent and Copyright Law at an established Law firm in Bermuda recently told me that outright owning 'legitimate' Patents on Software or Networking protocols and designs can be worth up to $billions, depending on the business of the patent owners, as a slid protection against competing technologies.

I recommend the peasant technology experts to sit quiet for a while.

Microsoft to Australian government: our kit has no back doors

Trust but Verify -- from Ronald Reagan, US President

First of all, the Australian Parliament do not deserve any reprieve from NSA snooping if they use Microsoft servers as their back end. No sane organization or body should even consider a technology platform that has proven extremely vulnerable and unreliable as Microsoft Windows by every credible technology security organization, every Financial Stock Exchange, International banking system, The US NASA Space Agency and Dept. of Defense departments, as well as several cities and countries in the European (EU), countries in South America, especially Brazil and many other entities.

Furthermore, how does the Australian government know " with any certainty" that Windows does not have back doors, unless Microsoft provides the AU Government with the Windows "source code" which the government can then have their experts carefully examine, and if found "fairly secure", then compile the provided code themselves into a working Operating System (OS), much as can be easily done by professions with Linux or any of the BSD UNIX-like OS.

Unfortunately, many Australian Parliamentarians, like other politicians and business executives around the world are enamoured by Bill Gates' Wealth and the "legend" of Microsoft, and therefore accede all logical thinking and critical scrutiny practices of such matters as technology decisions to their love fest of fame and fortune.

Lenovo chops up biz groups after gobbling IBM x86 servers

Lenovo could distinguish itself from HP and Dell by partnering "fully" with RedHat or Ubuntu Linux vendors, as examples, to provide superior - more reliable, powerful/scalable and secure - solutions and services, but with greater profit margins than comparable Microsoft Windows based kit,

particularly for the high demand for Linux Virtualization and Cloud Computing Services.

The company could only execute such program successfully, if all server, other hardware and support services offerngs were provided to the exact same or higher level of "completeness" as those provided for Windows. A "half-baked" or not fully committed approach would inevitable fail quite miserably.

This is unlikely to happen however, given Lenovo's past positon of falling inline to the Microsoft drum march, much the same as HP, Dell and others, and therefore could not setLenovo apart from the OEM hardware "me-too" crowd.

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Microsoft loses cash on each Surface slab – but core biz strong as ever

old tactics that fail in 2014

Microsoft obviously does not comprehend that the old 20th century business tactic of losing money on a product for the long term just to hurt the competition won't prevent Apple, Samsung, the other Android vendors and Google's ChromeOS from continuing to "gain" greater market share to Redmond's detriment, and these very wealthy competitors certainly cannot be priced out of the market, like the Microsoft sorry practice of yore.

Microsoft slices Azure prices just days after Amazon's cloud shave

Lower price for lower quality of Microsoft solutions

Microsoft is acting like the only consideration differences between choosing their Azure Cloud Services over Amazon offerings is the (lower) price. Unfortunately for all those gullible and naive Microsoft customers, the reality of greater reliability/flexibility, scalability and robust Security of Amazon services - which actually accounts for and should account for choice between the two is lost in their worship of Redmond popularity and 20th century prominence.

FreeBSD 10.0 lands, targets VMs and laptops

shewed perspective on FreeBS and non-Microsoft technologies

This article on new FreeBSD 10 Operating System (OS) by Simon Sharwood portrays an unflattering image of FreeBSD in this particular case, and the regular downplaying Microsoft shills in TheRegister, ZDNet and TechTarget forums of any great features/advantages of Linux or any software and technology service that is competitive to and possibly superior to offering from Microsoft.

For whatever ill conceived reason, he refers to FreeBSD as "legacy" here: …. " which hints strongly at the OS being considered a legacy environment by some users." - which is a rather asinine characterization given that FreeBSD is the core OS for “new” Sony Playstation 4 Gaming console, underscores - even today - a good percentage of the Apple Mac OS X OS via Darwin framework, and whose adoption elsewhere, particularly for multimedia and latest networking infrastructure is expanding exponentially.

For example, Netflex recently chose FeeeBD - over latest Windows 2012 Server -for thousands of Applications Server installs within AT&T, Comcat and other Internet backbone providers to stream millions of movies to subscribers each week, and Verisign upgraded it's network infrastructure with substantial FreeBSD Server deployments - against Windows - for it's superior reliability, stable network foundation and security base in their expanding Certificate Authentication services operation.

There are many other factual reports of substantial adoption increase in FreeBSD that belie any false notion by Mr. Sharwood and his ilk of any redundancy of demand and use of the BSD UNIX-like OS as well as Linux OS, or any “inevitable” displacement by Microsoft Windows and the company's virtualization, Cloud Computing ventures.

It has become rather distasteful to read misleading and deceitful technical stories, many of which contain a gross amount of 'factually' incorrect reporting, most times that accrue to the advocacy and promotion of Microsoft technologies and services. (sic) I do hope that TheRegister addresses this malady.

Microsoft to RIP THE SHEETS off Windows 9 aka 'Threshold' in April

MS till ducking critical questions on it's new Gee-Whiz OS

The one critical topic that is never breached in all the years that new versions of Microsoft are announced or hyped is that of "security". Will Windows 9 desktop still require installation of bloated anti-malware to order to maintain a 'minimum' level of security protection?

The other topic is that of 'standard' Operating System (OS) file system for new Windows 9 OS desktop. it is my clear understanding from Microsoft representatives that .the Windows 8.x "desktops" still use a modified version of venerable (meaning old and cranky) NTFS file system, albeit integrated with Bitlocker upgraded features, but a tired 'anachronism' none the less. How can Microsoft expect to be taken seriously as an effective technology company, particularly in 2014 ,when all this Gee-Whiz! gibberish about new desktops omits critical technical improvement needed to compete successfully with the very modern and powerful Linux based Android, ChromeOS, the upcoming Samsung/Intel Tizen Linux computing devices and the Apple OS X Maverick OS?

Loyal Microsoft Windows purchasers and supporters are unfortunately very ignorant and naive about the serious shortcomings carried forth in every new iteration since Windows NT, and this dilemma will not help the company adapt successfully to the new but still very dangerous Internet age where the vulnerabilities of Windows remain a serious stumbling block.

Thought sales were in the toilet before? Behold the agony: 2013 was a PC market BLOODBATH

The consequences of substituting lack of innovation with Oppressive behavior

These stats are hardly good news for Microsoft or their minions on TheRegister, TechTarget and ZDNet forums, although the substantially lower sales figures of 70 million in 2013 represents good news for these folk as an excellent base for their heroine in Redmond to advance the Windows 8 Mobile challenge for replacing both Apple and Android as the "No.1" position that Microsoft can then use to revive the diminishing PC sales marketplace.

However there are several credible reports of large school system, organizations and governments - the latter mostly in Europe, Asia, and South America, replacing Windows PCs with Google ChromeOS, Ubuntu/other Linux and/or Android for more agile and "secure" clients to connect to their overwhelming Linux and BSD Unix infrastructure and Internet foundations. That would nullify any Windows long term hopes.

Plus there is the pending - in April/May 2014 time frame, of Samsung/Intel Tizen Linux based mobile and possibly hybrid devices, to accompany the fast and widespread adoption of FirefoxOS devices.

There is, unfortunately very little encouraging news for Windows PC recovery in reality.

Report: Prez Obama kicks Healthcare.gov contractor to curb for web disaster

Replacing one doofus with potentially a worse one.

The disaster that was the initial development process of the healthcare.gov website portal is sure to repeat with the Obama Administration replacing CGI with Accenture, a consulting firm that has an almost equally dismal record for inefficient and costly technology consulting projects, and more disturbing - as a very close business ally of Microsoft- to the detriment of all competiors, will push to "replace" any of the Open, Internet Standards based and indisputably proven Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) with Microsoft Windows and Azure technologies, which then guarantees a nightmare in poor reliability, limited scalability and calamitous security issues for the future ACA Web portal.

The Federal Government are potentially replacing poor project preparation, inadequate quality control and rushed delivery from CGI with the world's record champs for enterprise class technology that in reliability, scalability, performance security and Return on Investment (ROI) could not be worse than in Microsoft. The factual records should bear this out.

Tizen: We have ignition! Smartmobes will come to fruition in spring - reports

Microsoft most vulnerable to Tizen and FirefoxOS ventures

In the recent past when I commented on pending arrival of most probable Tizen Linux smartphone and tablet technology from Samsung/Intel venture, as well as FirefoxOS products, there was very strong negative feedback from the servile Microsoft Windows fans in support of their company's mobile efforts to stay relevant and not become unimportant, or only gain a miniscule market share. This reaction may have been fair to some degree, since there was little credible public information on these new mobile ventures, at least enough for the automatic Redmond naysayers to accept as real.

Now that the information flow on Tizen products is forthcoming, with 2014 product ship time frames and noted for having additional backing of behemoths of NTT docomo, Huawei and Fujitsu - who between them (combined) have probably more than three times the financial funding power and considerable market presence than all of Microsoft, it makes sense that Microsoft and it hordes of minion fans would be justly concerned about surviving relevancy in this new mobile technology age.

All media accounts of this type and on this topic can expect boatloads of vitriolic gibberish comment from the Windows crowd, but hopefully that will implode quickly.

Android will ship more than ONE BILLION mobes+slabs in 2014

These predictions by Gartner are borne out by official statements from both Huawei and ZTE of China, and several other large and small manufacturers in paces like India and South America of plans to ship “many hundreds of millions” more Android based devices in 2014 and beyond.

These announcements do not bode well, especially for Microsoft, particularly since Apple has just agreed with China Mobile, the largest Wireless provider in Asia for iPhone and iPAD distribution of additional hundreds of millions, as well as the recent FirefoxOS mobile agreements and the pending power house venture of Samsung/Intel Tizen Linux mobile devices shipments to start in 2014.

One can only guess the frustration, anger and bewilderment being experienced by the dozens of loyal Microsoft supporters on the TheRegister channels, ZDNet forums, TechTarget and other Microsoft focused and preferred media, who long for and dream hopefully of the reversal of Windows desktop PC sales from steep declines and advance to dominance of Microsoft in the mobile marketplace.

I just hope suicide is not in their thoughts.

Android, Chromebooks storm channel as Windows PC sales go flat

To Andy Prough, CCCP and all the other delusional commenters here - all the irrational arguments and vitriol expressed won't change "facts on the ground". Windows tablets and smartphone sales are weak and continually falling behind Apple and Android brands. That is "fact". By all means continue to chose, use and love your Microsoft devices as if your life depended on it.

However the world moves on, with recent Apple and China Mobile agreement to sell 600 MILLION tablets in Asia, the Samsung and Intel "joint venture" introduction of Tizen Linux based tablets in 2014, and the combined Huawei and ZTE (total one BILLION plus Asian, African and South American customers at present) flooding the world market with all ranges - in quality and price - of Android tablets soon, Microsoft will need all the help it can get in their loyal supporters shelling out for much less popular products. Windows PC dominance is a sad history.

In response to "Andy Prough". Your anecdotal experience - of satisfaction with Windows mobile , proves my point exactly, in that the "reality", or truth of the mobile sales status shows that you are attempting to connect "your" love of Microsoft tablet with some "fictionalized" great sales volume for Microsoft for their tablets..

Apparently Independent Research Reports (several) indicate most mobile tablet purchasers, for personal, schools, organizations and business "prefer" Apple or Android Tablets - by a wide margin, and therefore shows by math equations that the vast majority of tablet purchasers "do not want" Microsoft products.

How does this simple mathematical calculation seem to go over heads of Microsofties?

The dichotomy between the anecdotal references of (the few) commenters here on TheRegister, Zdnet and other Windows focused forums who love their Windows 8 tablets and the "actual" sales statistics for Apple iPAD and Android tablets by comparison could not be more stark, and should serve as a serious investigation tool for the incoming Microsoft CEO, as opposed to this new Redmond administrator listening to the company loyal fan club that surely does not represent the "reality" of uptake in Mobile technology for year 2014.

Heeding feedback from dyslectic focus groups and Microsoft supporters who blindly purchase anything the company offers was one of the mistakes made by Steve Ballmer.during his tenure.

F-Secure won't speak at imperialist lackey RSA's 2014 conference

Re: RSA acquisescense to NSA

It is noted that "anonymous coward" criticism of my comments completely neglected reference to NSA spying on governments, businesses, citizens (including cildren) and Heads of State of "close ally, democratic countries" of Mexico, Brazil , Indonesia and several other "non-European" countries, for which no one in the US administration has justified the NSA spying in regard the anti-terrorist program.

Does President Obama think that the President of Mexico is engaged in or supporting anti-terrorism? Or could this spying benefit USA in diplomatic and more probably industrial espionage?

Exactly what is “exceptional” about the USA in regard to any and all other countries on this planet, other than military might and technological spying abilities, that would make the President, most members of Congress, Christian religious leaders and “flag waving Patriots” constantly use term of “American exceptionalism”. Is it the education system (sic), per-capita murder rate, percentage of citizens incarcerated in federal and state prisons, the highest credit card debt combined with lowest saving rate of any industrialized country? What about childhood diabetes, or recent report from US/International social scientists that showed “adult” Americans scored substantially below their peers in other developed nations in Math, Reading and comprehension as well as Problem Solving/Analytical Skills, even for non-complicated issues? Please explain anonymous,

The mere fact that defenders of this crass NSA spying do not respond honestly and cogently or factually by always making reference to Europe, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela or some other so-called enemy or theoretical threat to the USA well being confirms the severity of Paranoid Schizophrenia that is manifest in the national mentality.

RSA acquisescense to NSA

The response to Mikko Hypponen's comment from RSA and other "American" security firms is not surprising given the long standing negative attitudes held by most Americans toward all other peoples of this earth, and for which the USA feels "superior", even in their declaration of "American exceptionlism".

No authority in the USA has been closely or strongly questioned on, or have voluntarily submitted any reasoning of NSA spying on personal communications of Heads of States (Presidents Prime Ministers or Premiers) of other close ally, "democratic" counties as a viable or rational tactic in fighting International terrorism. Many of the technology professionals and others in technology and various type firms and organizations - large and small, suspect that such vile practices are for purposed of industrial and diplomatic espionage. (sic)

While it would show a collective act of integrity and backbone for most of the other security firms -particularly the arrogantly proud Americans to boycott the RSA event, it probably will not happen, especially as noted by Mr Hypponen of their "multi-billion dollar" status, which is the most revered and respected materialistic and capitalistic quality in this society.

Official: Apple hooks up with WORLD'S LARGEST MOBILE OPERATOR

This certainly has to be bad news for all the Microsoft worshipers who frequently comment on The Register forums, particularly since they have been claiming for some time now the eminent replacement of Apple by Microsoft in the mobile devices - smartphones and tablets as the No.2 company in that space worldwide.

It also certainly will make it harder therefore for Microsoft to move to next planned step, according to their minions, of toppling Samsung and all the other Android device vendors to again be the "largest (and greatest?) technology company in the world" ,aka circa late twentieth century. (sic)

Relax, Obama! Former Microsoft exec tapped to save sick healthcare.gov

If people in the Obama Administration have no clue as to the idiocy of the appointment of a "Microsoft software" executive to oversee healthcare.gov, then for the first time since he became President of USA, I would cast an opinion as a strong anti-politics individual and consider Barack Obama a more naive and stupid person than most other leaders in 2013 with all the data available to him regarding this website debacle..

The sad facts of Microsoftie Stephen Elop at Nokia, and results of several other (supposedly) ex-Microsofties leading technology ventures should give pause to any sane decision maker to look elsewhere - in desperation, where there are several excellent candidates for that responsibility.

The Obama administration has finally proven to be a completely doofus group.

Tube be or not tube be: Apple’s CYLINDRICAL Mac Pro is out tomorrow

While the price points of the " New" Apple mac Pro will keep most Apple fans away from this hardware, it is indeed a different level of thinking on Apple's part as compared to any offering thus far from HP, Dell or even the gaming machines from Sony and Microsoft.

It would also be exceptional as a Media station for streaming (with large external USB/Firepro or NAS devices) music, videos and photo albums to a "professional" Home Threatre environment.

Apple out innovates the Wintel guys again.

If only Samsung would use all their creativity and ingenuity to produce a very "competitive" Linux or FreeBSD based box, which would certainly keep the Apple vs Samsung sparks flying.

Red Hat snuggles up to Dell with 'enterprise grade' OpenStack offer

Those responses to my comment titled "Dell Trojan in OpenStack Cloud Services " did not address my main premise - that Dell could not survive with Microsoft, and is also "beholden" to Microsoft for several billions of $$dollars the Redmond firm invested in a "private" Dell corporation with several 'exclusive' technology services agreements to boot.

Even when Dell was selling tens of millions of $$dollars of Servers in an Oracle-Dell arrangement for enterprise Oracle Database clients - which was steadily growing, Dell contemplated and announced possible severing that connection, unsaid - at the behest of Microsoft with 'some' compensation. Any other hardware manufacturer, would have told Ballmer to go fly a kite.

While I mentioned Dell poor and erratic support for Linux 'desktops and small servers', their behavior in enterprise technologies like the Oracle business deal was equally bizarre, and there is no reason for any astute professional analysis to not consider a possible Dell sabotage of their RedHat-OpenStack cooperative to satisfy Microsoft, especially when Dell jointly advertises and promotes the Microsoft Azure cloud Services every day in many types of media and technology presentations to tune of tens of millions if $$dollars so far this year 2013.

Their actions do not engender any trust or credibility from the open source community, or even in their moves within the Linux Foundation for Enterprise Open Source technology , as hinted by several member corporations..

A snake cannot become a butterfly.

Dell Trojan in OpenStack Cloud Services

Dell has always been a pariah in regard any "real" Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) support, particularly in regard to Linux which the company only accommodates on 'one' laptop (no desktops or pre-install servers) , and for which information on their website is many layers deep, if can be found at all. Several small businesses and organizations attempting to successfully implement a Dell/ Linux solution have been frustrated at the apathy and ambivalence expressed toward them from Dell for any support services , including "paid" technical support programs.

It therefore behooves RedHat to be very cautious, even suspicious of Dell's outreach for joint OpenStack Cloud Services, particularly since Dell's very close, almost incestuous relationship with Microsoft could incite them to pass along any technical knowledge or innovative practices gained to their Redmond partners, and probably even attempt to move their RedHat-OpenStack clients to the Microsoft Azure Cloud Services as a planned intention.

Microsoft's cloudy chief: Azure reliability knocks your own kit for six

hapless Microsoft followers

Microsoft's Azure cloud chief is obviously joking by stating that " Azure reliability knocks your own kit for six" when the service has crashed twice in the past two months, or gone "tits up worldwide" as 'artfully' reported in TheRegister.co.uk recently, and four times in 2013 alone..

Fortunately for Microsoft many corporate executives who worship the Microsoft brand and personally admired Bill Gates as the world's richest technologist, will fall for this factually baseless hype and pour all their trust and data into the Microsoft botnet cloud hole.

Good luck to them, the sad, hapless ignorant fools.

Microsoft: Here, we'll make it easy for you Gmail lot. Meet our Outlook.com movers

Why trade a Toyota (GMail) for a Yugo (Outlook.com)

Since Outlook client software and subscription service have proven to be substantially less reliable and secure than GMail, with multiple outages in past two months and "numerous" security patches released for client just since August, who would any 'sane' person, business or organization want to swap out their GMail service - which has many more interconnect features to a broad range of other services - for the likes of Outlook.com, unless Microsoft was paying the switcher hundreds of thousands or millions of $$dollars to do so??

The significantly greater (and verifiable) incidents and reports of Outlook.com services reliability problems and security vulnerabilities are well documented, even at CERT.org security reporting sections.

I want virtualisation on my iPhone, and I want it NOW

Rupert Goodwins starts his article with references to 'virtualization' on " PCs and servers. " then proceeds immediately to mention "only" X86, as if the VIA chipset products as well as Sparc and IBM Power chip line do not exist, even though the latter two are admittedly only Server based chipsets. However that is not the point. Either discuss PC only chipsets, including VIA, or cover all server chipsets if indicated as part of the article..

It is imperative that that bloggers and tech journalists on TheRegister.com retain a high level of consistency and coherence in their writings, in order for readers to fully understand their inferences and story line.

Microsoft's licence riddles give Linux and pals a free ride to virtual domination

Formulas for Windows solutions still fall short

Liam Proven's story deals with various serious issues facing Microsoft, but proceeds to contradict his own logic and reasoning on a couple of points.

For example, he explains that Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) is generally without or with considerably less cost than comparative Microsoft virtualization and OS software solution, but appears to intimate that the only differences between the two competing technologies are in the convoluted and confusing system licensing model from Microsoft versus the clean and simple licensing model from Redhat FOSS, for example. Even if Microsoft had a substantially simpler licensing model, the overall costs of Microsoft solutions of same type from FOSS would still remain significantly greater.

On his point of Microsoft Server OS not having equivalent "scalability" of BDS UNIX-like and Linux, a Microsoft solution with Parallels or Virtuozzo based (or similar to) containerization would therefore under perform for that very reason, against which BSD and Linux 'container' virtualization scale exceptionally well. Netflix is using FreeBSD with their "Jails" containerization for very flexible and powerful deployment of thousands of Appliance servers to stream millions of movies to subscribers each and every hour. The latest Microsoft solutions failed miserably in their evaluations and testing.

If one has to "double" - at minimum - the quantity of Windows Servers for containerization scaling to a level even near to that of the *NIX solutions, then the Windows solution is not a viable proposition – in performance, reliability, critical security and particularly cost wise.

Microsoft teams up with Feds, Europol in ZeroAccess botnet zombie hunt

The continual catastrophe of Microsoft Windows

Whenever articles like this about 'worldwide' botnet attacks and very serious 'zero-day" security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows software are reported in various national and international technology media, the hundreds or thousands of fervent Microsoft supporters on 'theregister.com' and forums of ZDNet go conspicuously deaf, blind and dumb (quiet ) from ranting incessantly that Windows is more secure and reliable than Apple Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and the BSD UNIX-like operating Systems (OS), which according to their logic is therefore “the” reason Microsoft's OS are more "popular".

The time has come for these minions to address the "reality" of quite dangerous and poor software quality from Microsoft that is very negatively affecting millions of individuals, organizations, academia and businesses around the world, but primarily here in USA that makes the country substantially less competitive on a global stage. It also costs the US economy trillions of $$$dollars in lost productivity, theft of sensitive data and a growing national frustration that gets worse with each new release of broken Windows.

One can only hope that most Americans wise up to better quality alternative software available that won't break the economic bank.

What lies beneath Microsoft's Cloud OS?

A Chain is only as Strong as it's Weakest Link

There is one technical aspect of Microsoft's "Cloud OS" the article writer did not address and probably is not technically expert enough to address, which is that of the "core" software application of the whole Cloud OS stack - the Windows 2012 Operating System (OS) software.

No amount of completeness, tight or fluent integration of Microsoft Cloud OS services can compensate for the very real and critical weaknesses in Windows OS primarily, and IIS HTTP Server secondarily (along with SQL Server), particularly when compared in every detail of (Cloud Services Required) Robust Reliability, Scalability and Flexibility, adherence to the most critical Open, Internet and International standards Software protocols, and most importantly - an extremely high level of OS and networking Security that meets and or exceeds those set by the US Department of Defense, as one example , in their high security Weapons development operations.

In many comprehensive evaluations and comparisons reports between Microsoft Cloud OS Services and those Cloud Computing Stack based primarily on GNU/Linux and to a lesser degree BSD UNIX-like OS, whether on Amazon EC2 or OpenStack with VMWare V,Sphere, Microsoft has fared badly, which is why the majority of International conglomerates - and Countries' governments - not beholden to Microsoft, as well as entities like Netflix, Verisign, Cisco, all the financial Stock Exchanges internationally, NASA and other major Aerospace organizations, etc, chose and will continue to chose Cloud Computing Services technologies based on these *NIX OS infrastructure. The importance of having an extremely robust, stable and 'utmost' secure OS base cannot be over emphasized.

As one world renowned IBM Fellow and Watson Super Computer senior technologist recent explained, (paraphrasing) “If you build a fabulous "concrete" mansion on top of a "sand/sink hole" foundation, you might as well become a nomad".

Microsoft fears XP could cause Indian BANKOCALYPSE

Microsoft apolosits to the end

A few commentes mistakenly think that Indian Banks Windows XP users "can" upgrade to newer Windows OS. WRONG!

They would "require" considerably more updated hardware, with RAM - hundreds of $$millions, etc to use newer Windows, and for which most windows XP programs will not work - even with windows 7/8 Professional that supposedly cures that problem.

You guys are delusional Microsoft supporters, as one commenter said - throwing your good money after bad.

The mentality of those running any real "bank" that would rely on Microsoft Windows XP in 2013 should classify them for disaster as an automatic consequence of such ridiculous short-sightedness. First, depending on a very insecure and unreliable software for it's core banking operations in the twenty first century is tantamount to suicide, and second, not planning for and starting process - some years ago - of moving to a better technology infrastructure is crazy.

The bank owners and managers only had to look at developments, with results of such transition moves by banks in the UK, Italy, most of the European and high end Asian banking systems, as well in the USA.

Another very poignant consideration is - what about all the Windows XP “low end” hardware in place that will never handle the upgrade to Window 8x that Microsoft is advocating? Microsoft is correct, these banks face a disaster by needing an additional 3 - 4 billion $$dollars US investment in hardware, networking ans security infrastructure "over" the core software upgrade, just to remain loyal Windows users.

These Indian banks should heed the direction taken and promoted by former Indian President - Zail Singh who advocated for building a national business, educational and science/technology infrastructure on Linux. After all if "every” financial Stock Exchange on the planet, most of the Fortune 1000 financial services firms in USA and a good part of the European Union, Chinese and South American banking systems depend on Linux, why not India.

'It's a joke!' ... Bill Gates slams Mark Zuckerberg's web-for-the-poor dream

Quit meaningless emphasis on personal wealth

TheRegister, as well as Forbes Magazine and other Western societies addicted to accounting for and predicting the "most wealthy" persons on the planet, need to immediately stop this charade, since it is not possible for Fortune, Forbes or any other American or Western media to "know" the true wealth of many very wealthy people in other nations, especially in places like Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, South American countries or even in next-door Mexico, home of Carlos Slim.

It is an infantile and futile exercise in American posturing and self importance, particularly with millions of “truly needy” US citizens losing their food assistance.

Fed up with Windows? Linux too easy? Get weird, go ALTERNATIVE

This article is very interesting and brought back many memories of these disparate and (some) weird Operating Systems software.

However, if one wishes to "replace" Microsoft Windows XP with a fully functional, robust, easy-to-use and supported OS that can be used "at home" or in a business /corporate environment, then none in the article meet such requirements.

I recommend consideration of Zorin Linux, which is a serious and stable effort to provide a more Windows like experience for Windows XP users. Being based on world famous Ubuntu Linux (Note: Ubuntu Factory installed on some Dell and other brand computers) , with" very close" Windows 7 look and feel (at least as legal as possible), and offering commercial upgrades and support, Zorin even includes the Wine implementation that can and does run dozens of "native" Windows (XP, 7) applications, including Microsoft Office - up to 2012, with similar stability to an "all" Microsoft setup.

Microsoft and their thousands of Microsoft technology (sales) Partners are attempting to paint the most bleak picture for XP users to continue on or for moving anywhere else except onto the ridiculously expensive, convoluted and just as insecure Windows 8x platform. XP users should not forget the many thousands of dollars “not” calculated in needed modern hardware and peripherals upgrades, and mandated draconian support contract policies.

Clear thinking and technically astute XP computer users or their knowledgeable and 'client orientated' advisors/ consultants will find the Windows-like or other slightly different User interface (UI) Linux solutions are exceptional good values and better choices as against the Microsoft as usual hollow drama claims.

Microsoft creates new cert to make VMware admins 'bi-lingual'

Simon Sharwood must be playing to a dunce audience when he says " (Microsoft's) Hyper-V has been going from strength to strength, leading to more and more organizations adopting this platform” and uses as verification for his statement that " The Reg has encountered 'PLENTY of OPINION" to back that up.

Opinion on one,repeat one technology blog post has never been and will never be credible or qualifiable for making definitive claims in regard technology adoption. If Mr. Sharwood is a paid or unpaid strong supporter or even a shill of Microsoft, then his misguided sentiments at least can be explained, even if not acceptable. Otherwise his lack of competent journalism without any degree objective integrity should be eliminated from TheRegister pages, once and for all.

Apple 'happy ending': BULGING iPhone WAD - but can it ever be enough?

Stupid criticism cant' stop Apple

No doubt the Microsoft dupes commenting regularly in technology blogs like The Register and ZDNet will be crying in their baby pens with the news that the new Apple iPhones that they trashed so often and virulently are selling like gang busters in US and around the world.

Hopefully now they will realize that illogically and without facts condemning (Microsoft's) competitors' products and services will not endear consumers to Redmond's offerings, no matter how many hundreds of $millions are lavished on ineffectual ads and paid subtle endorsements in the technology blog media.

Microsoft completes Hadoop U-Turn, trumpets HDInsight on Azure

Microsoft - Condemning Open Source while thriving from it

If Microsoft does not attempt to either control Hadoop by getting the development board of the Open source Project loaded with their own people or stealing the code designs to eventually bring out their own product -again, then it will be a new day - the end of the World as we know it?, and probably a new CEO at the company.

Microsoft has never accepted the reality that many if not a majority of the very best Internet, Virtualization, Cloud Computing and Operating Systems technologies and innovation emanated from the Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) world, therefore it will continue the pariah and draconian efforts to discredit FOSS while at the same time taking everything it can from the ecosystem, possibly without abiding by the legitimate copyright licenses or giving back to these communities.

Obama to Merkel: No Americans are listening to you on this call

ignorant banter

There is always some stupid excuse made when the USA is found to be unethically if not illegally doing something like spying into the e-mails of heads of States who as claimed by the US government "close allies and partners".

The NSA documented revealed by Edward Snowden show that the NSA spied on President Calderon of Mexico, as well as millions ordinary citizens and even children in Western Democracies. If those making ignorant and snide comments on this blog and nation wide do not comprehend the full implications of such arrogant and ill-conceived actions, then it proves the veracity of the recent international (including respected and prominent US social scientists) comprehensive study showing "adult" Americans scoring substantially below their peers in most developed nations "in Math, Reading and comprehension, as well as Problem Solving/Analytical Skills for non-complicated issues."

http://www.oecd.org/site/piaac/Skills%20volume%201%20%28eng%29--full%20v8--eBook%20%2801%2010%202013%29.pdf

Proof positive that (false) superiority complex based on ignorance and unintelligent banter is prevalent here in America.

Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2: Quick start guide for sysadmins

Re: Windows "Toy" operating systems.

Anonymous Coward - I did not say that "every company" is moving away from Microsoft. I did indicate what Netflix, Verisign, IBM Oracle, Yahoo, Google, Facebook,Amazon, NASA, most of the 27 governments of the European union - representing approximately 4000 million people, Twitter, Linked-In, Every, repeat Every, repeat Every financial Stock Exchange on this earth. most of the Banking systems internationally - meaning the world globe have decided in choosing Linux/FreeBSD overwhelmingly, and in most exclusively versus Microsoft Windows, even 2012 R2 release. Windows Desktop PCs do not count in this topic of Server OS software.

Exactly how many more of the top 10,000 largest corporations, organizations, governments and other planets in the solar system do you need to know about who prefer and chose FreeBSD or Linux, before you stop pulling a few small ISP and other entities out of your head in senseless denial of facts.

No one is talking about absolutes, and asinine, convoluted excuses and arguments just don't cut it.

Re: Windows "Toy" operating systems.

Those vulnerabilities you indicate on FreeBSD and Linux do not exist in mre modern, later than maybe releases from 2005.

Just recently" Netflix chose FreeBSD over Windows 2012 for securely and efficiently streaming millions of movies to subscribers each week. Their comprehensive Microsoft evaluations failed in every respect of reliability, scalability, flexibility and especially robust security. Verisign, one of the largest Domain Certificate authorities beefed up it's FreeBSD and core infrastructure Linux infrastructure to cope with substantially increased demand and Internet security concerns.

Both of these technology companies, as well as IBM, Yahoo, Fujitsu as well as all the Financial Stock exchanges and many more of the Fortune 1000 have specifically determined that these FOSS Enterprise OS were superior in functions indicated. Two industry respected companies - Juniper Networks and New york Internet have conducted comprehensive evaluations to report to the superiority of FreeBSD and Enterprise Linux over latest Windows in security, reliability and performance.

Your "opinion" compared to the technological experience and expertise of these companies is therefore of no consequence, and particularly without any 'verified, documented technical' supporting and independent reports

Windows "Toy" operating systems.

After reading a report, taken from the Snowden revelations that the US NSA was spying on "friendly, Democratic" nations, even e-mail of the President of Mexico, it would be incredulous that any government, business or organization in other countries who have any common sense and/or technological competence would implement "shiny new toys" Microsoft Windows 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1 desktop software, not only because these software applications are considerably less reliable, less robust/powerful and less secure (and a lot more costly) when compared to enterprise Linux or BSD solutions like RedHat Enterprise Linux, Suse Enterprise Linux or FreeBSD Enterprise Server solutions, but that Microsoft can still provide the NSA access to their Operating Systems' "back doors" directly, or notify the NSA of OS bugs and vulnerabilities - by which the NSA can surreptitiously' obtain client data.

As the article author noted, "nice toys" and nothing more.

Microsoft sharpens blade, slashes high-mem cloud prices in Amazon duel

Re: Why the extra Windows tax?

Who are the "widely considered" entities that say " Azure platform is widely considered to be equal to or better than the other major commercial clouds in performance, availability and scalability."

Unfortunately most of those commenting on these forums supporting Microsoft NEVER,repeat NEVER have any supporting "facts" to offer, just "most peoplesay" , or" I love their Clouds" and other baseless, stupid assertions.

IBM stated that Linux Cloud Services are superior to Windows, Netflix stated that FreeBSD infrastructure, used for Cloud Computing is far superior to Microsoft, with proof of implementation results, Salesforce stated that Linux Cloud technology is vastly superior to Windows cloud technology in every way.Even Dell and HP announced supporting OpenStack Cloud Services over Windows cloud Services, that is until Dell absorbed Microsoft $billions into it's private enterprise buyout.

What is about Microsoft dupes that do not respond to "facts" or "reality"?

Re: Why the extra Windows tax?

This commenter 'defiler' "assumes" that the competitive edge Microsoft would have over Amazon is lowest price to substantially increase Cloud Services revenue. He makes no case, nor could he on the capabilities advantages of Windows Cloud Services over Linux, such as Reliability, Performance, Scalability and particularly strong Security.

Plus, he is forgetting, or has no expert technical knowledge on other aspects of providing a robust Cloud service like the underlying Database infrastructure, proxy services and virtualization support for the many non-Microsoft front end access to Cloud Services required today like Apple and Android tablet edge products that are a nightmare for Microsoft to efficiently provide..

In most if not all apples to apples comparisons of Microsoft Azure versus Amazon, RedHat and/or IBM Linux Cloud Services, it take two to three times more Microsoft based infrastructure in place to come anywhere near the equivalent of the Linux performance, scalability and flexibility advantage.

these are technological considerations that 'defiler' probably has little or no expertise or professional experience with, and therefore makes very simple but uninformed comments about.

Bottom line - lowest price on lower quality, performance and less secure solution is no bargain at all.

critical compoent in Cloud comparisons

One critical aspect of this Microsoft versus Amazon Cloud pricing war is that no mater the paper specifications of Microsoft's Azure Cloud as compared the Amazon's EC2 offering, the underlying technology of Windows Server from Microsoft does not and cannot compare or compete favourably in any way with Amazon's Linux platform in Reliability, Robustness/Performance, Scalability and most importantly Security.

Two noted recent developments underscore this statement:

One, Netflix chose FreeBSD Software and networking services, over any Microsoft offerings, for thousands of 'Appliance' Servers for streaming millions of movies to subscribers every week. Microsoft performed poorly in evaluations.

Verisign, one of the largest Domain Certificate Authorities on the Internet, scaled up it's FreeBSD operations that added to it's Linux infrastructure. Microsoft is less than bit player there.

There are dozens, even hundreds or thousands more stories of small to very large scale technology projects - like two mentioned here, and that include IBM, Oracle, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, NASA, eBAY, all the Financial Stock Exchanges and others that rely on *NIX (Unix and/ or Linux) for their primary OS software infrastructure. Even Dell (maybe not now with MS on board) and HP are offering their own "OpenStack" based cloud Services.

There is little or no coherent or 'truthful' discussion on Microsoft centric forums and blogs even admitting such challenges or considerations

Microsoft pulls Win 8.1 RT code which upgraded Surface 'slabs into BRICKS

It is ridiculous that the 800lb gorilla of fading desktop technology, and one of the wealthiest corporations in the world simply cannot produce any software, or make updates/upgrades without having total catastrophes on almost every occasion. Partial tally: 28 patches a few weeks ago that was in response to previous weeks' patches being "hacked" - twice, 9 Windows and specifically IE9 patches just past fortnight and now this calamity of pulling a critical Windows upgrade.

Those persons considering and/or preferring Microsoft mobile or new Windows products over "any" offering from Apple or premier Android devices are totally nuts and need their heads examined.

Microsoft's continual stumbling and fumbling saga

Microsoft seems incapable of not always stumbling over itself in their mobile and software upgrades and updates operations.

Just within the last ten days or so, they released 28 patches to fix the two previous weeks patch updates that were hacked badly, and very recently introduced 9 Windows 8 and IE patches listed as critical.

By any count the company has released probably more than 100 patches and fixes for patches just in past six months or so. Windows 8 desktop and mobile are nothing more than permanently 'patched' operating systems software. How does it survive?

In August, it was revealed that Windows 8 Mobile has a serious and unfixable Certificate authorization issue and issued "work arounds'.

The company and it's many Microsoft apologist supporters on ZDNet come across as doofus to the rest of the technology world.

No plans for Friday night? There's a pile o' Windows Server ISOs feeling lonely

2012 R2 - over-powered by FreeBSD and Linux

There is absolutely nothing, except a few gimmicky add-ons that Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2, System Center 2012 R2 and Windows InTune can do that cannot be done with greater scalability, performance reliability and security than a professionally configured and tuned FreeBSD 9.2 Server setup or RedHat Enterprise Linux 6.4x - and at "a fraction of the cost", aggravation, down-time and patching process one will experience in the new Windows systems. , even for small implementations like those with which I work.

Want proof? Three unimpeachable examples.

The IBM Watson Super Computer that won the Jeopardy Game Show Challenge against the best previous winners, and is now used in designing traffic control systems for some of the largest cities in the world - as only one example - runs Linux. Windows Server was never able to handle the super computing operations required and therefore was never a consideration.

Neflix recently chose FreeBSD Server OS and it's Networking Services to power thousands of Server Appliances at AT&T, Verizon and other national carriers for efficient streaming of millions of movies each week to it's subscribers. Windows Server - the best from Microsoft - failed 'real world' testing and actual in-place operation.

Even more recently, Verisign, one of the largest and most prominent Domain and Certificate Registration corporations worldwide, substantially increased it's FreeBSD operations to add to their substantial and dominant "Linux infrastructure".

Ditto for Yahoo, Twitter and most of the largest technology , financial services firms and Stock Exchanges in the world - meaning outside NY to California.

EC: NSA slurps scare you? Europe's clouds are open for business

Those making derisive comments against European Union based Cloud Services are acting just as expected as arrogant but ignorant, self-assured Americans who reject anything in their "nto-mode here" or not dominated by US small mentality.

The recent report of American adults scoring well below their peers in other more developed countries proves this point.

Windows XP folks: At least GOOGLE still loves you ... UNTIL 2015

Re: ChromeOS upgrade

Obviouly RyokuMas and those who supported his view are completely ignorant about the difference in English between prognosticating - without sany supporting fact - what "may" happen way into the future and what is "History" - as in what has actually taken place.

There is no wondr that the international report published last week confirmed that American "adults" scored significantly below their peers in most other developed nations in Math, Reading and comprehension, as well as Problem Solving/Analytical skills. That proves that many Americans are stupid, especially in have no ability to understand basic logic much less technology.

Gone to the "dogged"

The commenter "dogged" has absolutely no technical knowledge or understanding of Linux, nor probably any other aspect of technology that requires intelligence and common sense.

Zorin Linux as great option for Windows XP users

Since even Windows 7 and Windows8/8.1 have security flaws, Windows XP users will not necessarily suffer any more security vulnerability by continued use beyond spring 2014.

However, part of the 12 $Billion opportunity for technology providers seeking to take advantage of the Windows XP cessation should be Linux vendors such as Canonical with their Ubuntu distribution and RedHat based CentOS that have already shown excellent desktop options for Windows XP users, particularly the very impressive Zorin Linux that present Windows 7 users find very compelling and easy to use with it's familiar GUI.

Those transitioning to Linux or ChromeOS will also find significantly increased reliability and 'worry free' security, as well as much lower costs that tackling the ever changing and cumbersome Windows 8.1/9/10, or whatever patchy versions of Windows will be in vogue next near.