# Microsoft: Lies, more lies, and damned lies **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 23, 2002, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509 "2002-06-23T00:25:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Com2Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Com2Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Com2Kid)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/21 "2002-06-24T02:20:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DMC \* > \*\*Since your rant went off in quite a few different directions, I’ll start with this item, which seemed to bother you the most > > Care to provide a cite for this? > > I just dug through the MSDN DVDs and haven’t found any references where I heard bugles going off in the background. Hell, there’s even a shortage of exclamation points in the stuff I found. \*\* Remember all of the pre-release hooplah? Everything concentrated on being able to switch users in real time (which IS admittedly cool, though \*Nix setups can have tons of users running simultaneously and have been able to do so for years, but hey, it IS a useful feature, so I’ll give Microsoft that point), the ‘pretty’ new interface (I would tend to disagree, ugh, tis fugly) and the Remote Desktop Sharing. MSN Messenger basicaly IS Netmeeting, just rehashed. When I first saw the interface the first thought that came to my mind was: “Crud, that is just Netmeeting redone. Wow, that is going to be a security hole.” Hehe. Turns out I was right, MS has been patching Messenger all to heck, it DID turn out to be one heck of a security hole (just like Netmeeting is, but you do not leave net meeting up and running all the time, and Netmeeting has stricter regulations as to who it will accept messages and such things from, namely you have to OK each user who joins in.) ---
**Author:** ![Com2Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Com2Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Com2Kid)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/22 "2002-06-24T02:21:48Z")
Oh, and for the record; this isn’t a very geeky rant. A rant on, say, Intel and the d\*mned x86 CPU register system; aah, now THAT is a geeky rant. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/23 "2002-06-24T04:32:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Com2Kid \* > \*\*MSN Messenger basicaly IS Netmeeting, just rehashed. When I first saw the interface the first thought that came to my mind was: > > “Crud, that is just Netmeeting redone. Wow, that is going to be a security hole.”\*\* Still waiting for a cite where they claim that Remote Desktop Sharing is Sliced Bread version 3.0. As for Messenger being Netmeeting redone, that is a pretty standard business practice in the technology arena. COM+ is COM is OLE is DDE redone. They were all born of the same idea, that separating apps into components and communicating between them is the way to develop software in the future. Some versions varied more than others in their implementation, and there is probably little, if any (thank god), DDE code still around in COM+, but other than marketing deciding to give them new names, they all stem from the same base concept. While some folks have hailed the coming of each one, I don’t really recall any of them being touted as a revolution. Other than the introduction of .NET, the last time I remember that type of hype was when we went from 16 to 32 bit, both of which were almost big enough steps forward to warrant it from a development standpoint. While Microsoft does have an annoying tendency of renaming some of their technologies between versions (and a bucketload of other annoyances), I don’t remember them trying very hard to fool anyone that is geeky enough to actually understand (or post) your original rant. ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/24 "2002-06-24T04:43:58Z")
**Com2Kid** , turn your computer off. Step outside some evening, just as the sun’s setting. Take a cup of coffee with you, maybe a cigarette. Close your eyes and just breathe deeply. You are way too wrapped up in the imaginary integrity of a company that wants your money. That’s all they are, a corporate entity that wants to sell you something. Just like every other corporation in America. Are they dishonest? Yes. Will they lie to you? Yes. They’ll spin the truth, they’ll massage the facts, they’ll slant the advertising any way they can to get you to buy their product. Just like every other corporation in America. If you’re savy enough to figure out their duplicity in such detail, then you’re savy enough not to be suckered by their marketing. And you’re far, far on the safe side of _caveat emptor_. So stop giving Bill Gates the mental energy your anger demands. Move on. Get a girlfriend. Relax. It’s not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/25 "2002-06-24T12:13:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Com2Kid \* > \*\* > > Lies are not old until the lie is apologized for. > > \*\* bjOrn? Is that you? \*\* > [@](#): > > And I was _not_ bitchign about the platform, I was bitching about the _company_. \*\* And, good heavens! NO-ONE in the _entire universe_ has _ever_ whined about Microsoft before! (Oh, and you might want to read your own post, ya moron: > [@](#): > > MSN messenger, I hate it, really, loath it. sure sounds like you’ve got a problem more than Microsoft’s corporate policies. The incoherent anti-corporate paranoia is kinda icing on your cake of stupidity. \*\* > [@](#): > > Though thanks for responding to a post that you obviously did not read. :rolleyes: \*\* SDMB Loser excuse #327 in a series: Collect them all! “I’ve written a rant. It’s dull and stupid. Everyone is bored or shredding it for it’s wild lies and inconsistancies. Thus I shall claim that they didn’t read it.” A dull variation of the famous “You don’t get my argument 'cause ‘your’ DUM!” arguement. The Amazing Fenris predicts: 5:1 odds that Cum2Kid claims that “he wuz jest jokin’” within 10 posts 7:1 odds that Com2kid claims that it was part of his “grand social experiment.” 1:1 odds that Com2 stays incoherent and dull. Anyone know when school starts again so we can lose this moron? And I’ll offer 2:1 odds that Com2 claims he’s a grown-up/denies that he’s still in Junior High School/High School 3:1 that he mentions how successful he is (“I make $37,000 a year!!!”) 4:1 that he mentions that he’s a responsible family his alleged wife an’ kids, “I’m not a high school student! I have a wife and 3 kids!” Any takers? Fenris, the wizard of Odds ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/26 "2002-06-24T14:30:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Soup\_du\_jour \* > \*\*This reminds me of a Mark Twain: > “Lies, damned lies, and statistics.” > > But that has nothing to do with this. Carry on. \*\* [hijack]Actually, I believe this quote should be attributed to Benjamin Disraeli (former British prime minister), and those that attribute it to Mark Twain do so erroneously (“well, it sounds like something Twain would say”). I’m trying to bring up a BBC site to cite, but seems their hamsters are on the mid-afternoon break. Still, if you [google](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22lies%2C+damn+lies+and+statistics%22+disraeli) of the phrase and Disraeli’s name offers plenty of other support.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/27 "2002-06-24T14:32:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.” > > - Autobiography of Mark Twain ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/28 "2002-06-25T06:53:26Z")
Hey, not-so-Amazing Fenris, got any odds on whether or not Com2Kid will claim that he has dozens of E-mails from people that agree with him? Or whether or not he’s going to say that he’s been working on computers for 20 years, and as such he knows more about 'em than anyone else possibly could? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/29 "2002-06-25T07:11:54Z")
linux user checking in. If it works for you, it’s good. No need to get postal about yer OS, k? Can’t we all just agree that the folks using cellphones to text-message each other with that annoying bugle call done in the wrong key are the true enemy? ---
**Author:** ![Com2Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Com2Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Com2Kid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/30 "2002-06-26T05:02:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Darth Nader \* > \*\* > > Can’t we all just agree that the folks using cellphones to text-message each other with that annoying bugle call done in the wrong key are the true enemy? \*\* Amen. 🙂 It should also be legal to shoot on sight people whose cell phone rings during final. And rings. And rings. And the bastard picks it up. Ugh. (wait, seperate rant!) ---
**Author:** ![Com2Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Com2Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Com2Kid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/31 "2002-06-26T05:06:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DMC \* > \*\* > I don’t remember them trying very hard to fool anyone that is geeky enough to actually understand (or post) your original rant. \*\* Simplified: On MSN messenger, person with XP clicks button saying Share Desktop while talking to me, Messenger says Feature Not Supported, that is a load of bull. Feature is supported and works fine and this is evidenced by the fact that the Person with XP can click another button a few more icons down and CAN share their Desktop with me, albeit with a bit more trouble and work. Thus, program lies. Feature is supported, it says it isn’t. Wouldn’t even be so insidious if it wasn’t for the “please encourage your friend to upgrade to the latest version of Windows so that they can take advantage of this feature!” remark that came with it. ---
**Author:** ![Com2Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Com2Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Com2Kid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/32 "2002-06-26T05:14:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > > * * * > > And, good heavens! NO-ONE in the _entire universe_ has _ever_ whined about Microsoft before! (Oh, and you might want to read your own post, ya moron: Did I ever say it was an original rant? Hell most things posted in the BBQ pit are hardly original. Your eyes, I ain’t makin ya read anything. Yeesh. > [@](#): > > sure sounds like you’ve got a problem more than Microsoft’s corporate policies. The incoherent anti-corporate paranoia is kinda icing on your cake of stupidity. Did you ever learn what a topic sentence is? In this case it takes the form of a SUBJECT line. See, it is called a /subject/ Normally it denotes the, well, _subject_. The SUBJECT of the rant was Microsoft and their Lies, I may dislike a particular piece of software, but that does not change that original POSTING of the rant was about MICROSOFT’S various LIES. Hell the word "lies’ was even repeated in the _subject_ title three times. But despite this, you posted a nice knee jerk “oh stop bitching about windows” response, even though I was /not/ bitching about windows but was complaining about the ACTIONS of a CORPORATION. Do you need bold highlighting too, or maybe just a neon-green marker to outline key words on your monitor with? > [@](#): > > SDMB Loser excuse #327 in a series: Collect them all! > “I’ve written a rant. It’s dull and stupid. Everyone is bored or shredding it for it’s wild lies and inconsistancies. Thus I shall claim that they didn’t read it.” When the response posted is not in relationship to the rant (telling me to stop ranting about something I am not ranting about) then your excuse applies more readily to you then to myself. > [@](#): > > A dull variation of the famous “You don’t get my argument 'cause ‘your’ DUM!” arguement. Or how about “You didn’t get my argument because you where too busy preparing your vitoral for a reply!” I mean come on, you got the damn subject wrong! Different topic, buzzt, try again! > [@](#): > > The Amazing Fenris predicts: > 5:1 odds that Cum2Kid claims that “he wuz jest jokin’” within 10 posts > > 7:1 odds that Com2kid claims that it was part of his “grand social experiment.” > > 1:1 odds that Com2 stays incoherent and dull. Too bad you didn’t stake 1:1 on your not posting anything factual in this thread other then personal attacks. Congrats on contributing nothing to this discussion, kthxbye. > [@](#): > > Anyone know when school starts again so we can lose this moron? Hey, congrats, when unable to post anything in response to the topic, attack the poster instead! Yaah! How intelligent and insightful! Never seen _that one_ before. . . . :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > Or whether or not he’s going to say that he’s been working on computers for 20 years, and as such he knows more about 'em than anyone else possibly could? Anybody who has been working in computers for any decent length of times knows that they can never know it all and that there is always more to learn. (hell if there wasn’t I’d jump ship and choose a more interesting field. ^\_^) And BTW, only 10 years. 😃 Heya, Fenris, YOU ever run support over Netmeeting, compared it to what MSN messenger offers XP users by default? Have you ever worked over Terminal Services connections? You ever compared XPs Remote Desktop Sharing support VS 2Ks Remote Desktop Sharing support? Have you ever seen the accessability differences to Whiteboard and Remote Desktop Sharing that MSN messenger offers XP users VS 2K users? If so then I would be delighted to hear your EDUCATED and INFORMED _opinion_ on the topic. Something which you have NOT bothered to post here yet. Hell you have not even gone so far as to bother with anecdotal evidence. Nope, just rants and flames. ---
**Author:** ![Winnowill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4491bb/32.png) [@Winnowill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnowill)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/33 "2002-06-26T20:58:24Z")
XP has Remote Desktop Sharing?! I gotta get it! Oh, wait. I already have it. I’ve never used RDS. Ever. Why do I care when they started packaging it? Having it available has never made the slightest difference to me. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/34 "2002-06-26T21:19:10Z")
Am I the only person who thinks that **Com2Kid** is sulking because his OP was rejected as a Slashdot story submission? ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/35 "2002-06-26T21:29:18Z")
_Originally spurted by Com2Kid_ > [@](#): > > \*\*Can it drive? Can it turn? Can it brake? Sold, you got yourself a Pinto. \*\* Funny, my Pinto never did all that. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/36 "2002-06-26T22:27:14Z")
Bollocks, I was going to take **Fenris** ’ odds on **Com2Kid** proclaiming his computer whizziness credentials, but I see he already did. > [@](#): > > Did you ever learn what a topic sentence is? In this case it takes the form of a SUBJECT line. See, it is called a /subject/ Normally it denotes the, well, subject. So let me get this right, you’re berating **Fenris** on the grounds of his reading more into your OP than the title? Blimey. If I were feeling cynical I’d take this as an indication about the value of the OP’s content, but why would I, eh? > [@](#): > > The SUBJECT of the rant was Microsoft and their Lies, I may dislike a particular piece of software, but that does not change that original POSTING of the rant was about MICROSOFT’S various LIES. Hell the word "lies’ was even repeated in the subject title three times. All with specific reference to either Windows or features thereof. The unfortunate side-effect of ranting at people capable of making more than mental baby steps is that they _will_, dear. You can’t turn round and complain that they go too fast for you. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/37 "2002-06-26T23:45:14Z")
Okay, this is the Pit and all, but… … suppose everything **Com2** spewed is true. So what? Msfot are guilty of trying to do their utmost to persuade people to buy their stuff. They are’ economical’ with the truth. Every other company does the same. That’s what advertising is all about. I run a PC with the Windows 98SE OS. It does everything I want it to, for business or pleasure. It doesn’t do anything I don’t want it to. End of story. ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/38 "2002-06-27T10:17:59Z")
I totally agree with Com2Kid. I have been an IT-professional for over 10 years now and every year I HAVE to upgrade my system to a “new” Operating System. And for that stupid a-hole Fallom saying you have a choice : most people don’t. Since most of our customers fall for the Microsoft trap, we have to use the Microsoft rubbish. Oy, I just wish I had a timemachine to take me back to the glory days of UNIX !! ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/39 "2002-06-27T10:50:49Z")
> [@](#): > > And for that stupid a-hole Fallom saying you have a choice : most people don’t. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509/40 "2002-06-27T11:16:31Z")
If you work in the software industry, you have to create products for the systems that the customers want. Since most customers are brainwashed into thinking they NEED Microsoft, you will have to develop your software for the Microsoft systems. Plus most people are not technologically capable of running a LINUX. And Mac has never been and never will be an alternative for a real computer. 😉 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-lies-more-lies-and-damned-lies/115509.md?page=3)