Security Update CD

Something happened to me about a half hour ago that I have to share with
this NG. I'm not going to reply to any posts (of course I'll read them). I
just want people to see this.

I'm not reflexively negative about Microsoft by a long shot. I think that
properly tweaked, stripped of marketing gimmicks, with all the operational
wrongs righted, and the user interface modified to personal taste (i.e.
beyond what the company intended) Windows 98SE, irrespective of impending
obsolescence and incompatibility with truly modern hardware, is a high point
of software development for Microsoft, and maybe for the software industry
in general. But, as incidents like what just happened to me reaffirm, it's
likely the last OS from Microsoft that I will buy.

I just ordered the Microsoft Security Update double CD. I didn't think I
needed it, but, hey, what the hell, maybe there was an update I missed or
some new information.

There was new information all right. I should have been suspicious when
Microsoft paid for postage (they charged a nominal mailing fee for the
recent IE6 CD, which is well worth it). THE FIRST THING TO BE INSTALLED WITH
THIS CD IS MEDIA PLAYER 9, with it's cute little activity tracking feature,
and it's need for better hardware components than its predecessor. I also
read where it works better on the newer operating systems as compared to
'98. So essentially this CD is a tool to advance hardware obsolescence,
software obsolesence, and the invasion of privacy, all under the guise of
security. $$$ and Control.

Anybody who uses Microsoft who doesn't have GoBack installed on their
machine deserves what they get.

I never said I was the smartest guy in the world, just smarter than they
apparently are willing to give me credit for.