Michael Alan Goff
New member
No, I don't think I am overstating it in the least, but I guess your point of view depends on what you see happening around you. Anyway, we'll just see if Google does remove that option like you predict. I believe they have so much to gain by not doing so that they never will.
So how exactly are you going to protect every n00b who wants to screw up, from himself? None of what I suggested will affect average users in any way unless they go out of their way to enable this (such as pay for the license etc.). Those who know what's what will be willing to jump through some hoops if it means getting what they want out of the device they own, whereas the rest will never even bother. And if they do it and mess up, well like I already said that will no longer be MS' responsibility. I don't understand this attitude of treating every single user as a helpless nincompoop who needs to be carefully shielded from the vicissitudes of life and for whom taking responsibility for his own actions is an unfathomable concept. Those who are content with the artificial limitations placed on them (and I'm not saying they're wrong to choose that path) can continue doing as they please and will not be affected in any way, and others who want to do something extra can be satisfied as well. And those who knowingly choose not to heed the warnings and go down the wrong path will have to face the consequences of their idiotic actions. What exactly is wrong with that I wonder?
I know well that there's very little reason for Microsoft to do this, but not due to the excuses you are giving but purely out of financial motives or other vested interests. Otherwise if "protecting" people was their one and only altruistic motive you can kiss normal Windows goodbye, precisely because it is not locked down like Windows RT, is prone to malware and gasp, is vulnerable to those very same users who think they're computer literate and then screw up their machine. So let's just have Windows RT and nothing else and everyone will be protected and safe and warm and fuzzy (till the hackers break through). Would you like that - it is the best way to accomplish your stated goal after all.
You nailed it. This is precisely what makes the current state of affairs so irritating and frustrating. Why not create a chopped down version of the OS in the first place? Why have all that power and potential and then go and emasculate it for everyone, instead of leaving it as a choice for the user to make?
A) You may be right about Google, but we shall see.
B) It may not be their responsibility, but it certainly will be their problem.