Microsoft Offers IE7 to All, Pirates Included

sjdurfey writes "Microsoft recently decided to open up IE7 to all users of Windows, not just the ones with legitimate copies of Windows. They claim it is in the 'end-users best interest'. As a result, Microsoft has decided to mark IE7 as a 'High-priority' update. This is essentially a forced update. Granted, its only a forced update if you are running Windows and have windows update set to automatically install all updates, but nevertheless, it's unnecessary. You can however uninstall IE7 from the Add/Remove Programs menu after its been installed. 'A blocking tool kit is still available for companies and organizations that don't use Windows Server Update Services and want to permanently prevent IE7 from automatically installing on PCs equipped with IE6.'" Update: 10/06 21:19 GMT by Z :Sorry if this seems a bit familiar.

IE7 on Linux?

[Tatarize]

Or was the article just overstating things again?

Re:IE7 on Linux?

[Anonymous Coward]

You misread. They're giving IE7 to pirates, not to ninjas.

A forced update?

[Jay L]

This is essentially a forced update.

Yes, if you have configured your computer to automatically download and install "high priority" as well as "critical" updates, and if you haven't installed the well-publicized, one-click tool that Microsoft provides that explicitly overrides any other settings and prevents you from ever accidentally installing IE7, you are "forced" to sit there and watch as your computer does exactly what you've configured it to do.

I had a similar problem with Ubuntu the other day - I have this script that automatically apt-gets any updated packages, and damned if the thing didn't force me to update all my packages that had updates! Commie bloodsuckers won't get my money again.

This shows that Microsoft is a great company.

[Anonymous Coward]

Microsoft won't stop at anything to outsell the competition. ...Even if that means giving it away for free.

What do you think is next?

Maybe Microsoft will pay users to use their software. Then they can compete with Mozilla and Linux!

If Microsoft started paying users to use Windows Vista, maybe they could finally compete with Windows XP.

What is your price to use Windows Vista with Office 2007?

I think that Microsoft can do really well with this because they can make up for the loss in volume.
-- American Margin Investor

My first thought

[techno-vampire]

When I first saw this, by first thought was, "Yes, Pinkie, but who would want it?"

Re:But Ubuntu lets you go back

[ColdWetDog]

That is one thing that I always hated about windows, once you "upgrade" there is no turning back.

Ah, you must be a trolling Apple fanboi. Any Windows user knows about the "Reinstall" hack. From personal experience.

Gotcha!

Re:Why this article posted twice on front page?!

[Jugalator]

Your aggressive comment on a dupe, that was a much more common phenomenon on Slashdot a few years ago and almost got to routine right before the Firehose got in, has to mean that Slashdot is posting less dupes nowadays, which is a good thing. :-)

Please, just take it!!

[dontspitconfetti]

Microsoft's next move: Instead of just giving IE7 to everyone, they offer to pay people just to use it over other browsers.

I was robbed!

[labyrinth]

I downloaded and installed IE7, but I can not find a trace of the promised 'included pirates'

Re:Security? Yeah right. More M$ Lock in.

[Anonymous Coward]

Hello there, fellow Slashdotter. Your keyboard seems to be malfunctioning. Instead of an 'S' you seem to be transmitting a dollar sign ('$') over-the-wire. Please correct this problem ASAP.

Thanks, and enjoy every sandwich!

Arrrgh!

[PPH]

Watch who ye be callin' a pirate there, matey!

Re:Security? Yeah right. More M$ Lock in.

[Hal_Porter]

I read on MSDN that Linux doesn't support the S character so Linux users have to use $ instead.