SuperSite Blog

"In fact, given that Microsoft has basically killed off OneCare, I recommend that anyone still using it move over to something else as soon as possible."

That's extremely bad advice Paul.  You're telling people to just give up on their existing subscriptions even though Microsoft has already stated that existing subscribers will continue to be able to use it even after the free Morro (you have it spelled wrong in your recent article) AV solution is RTW.  I talked to a Microsoft rep about this, and they say that subscriptions will not be offered after Morro ships, but that existing subscribers will continue to be able to use their subscriptions for up to 1 year after Morro ships, and new activations will be accepted up to 1 day before Morro ships.

With Windows 7, the Action Center + Morro will basically be a new integrated version of OneCare.  The functionality is identical.

I'm already getting this functionality (albeit somewhat disjointed) with Windows Vista's Security Center, Backup Center, Vista's auto-defrag scheduling, and Forefront Client Security running in unmanaged mode.

I was happily surprised to find Onecare perfromin a tune up on my [$400] Vista laptop. That is such a useful feature for those who are 'technically challenged', so I hope the replacement will be good.

I'm tempted to have my buddy install 7 on his high end custom rig as his new ASUS mobo gives him BSOD's and systme freezes, although improved quite a bit when he replaced his Crucial RAM with a known, documented compatible RAM. He's running Vista Ultimate. Could 7 help him or is the RAM-mobo issue constant as it's a hardware problem?

I agree with Waethorn...I just renewed my subscription for the next year and I am confident that it will be honored as Waethorn describes. I am anxious to see Morro in action...is there a beta of that occuring that I may have missed out on?

--tayme

@tayme:

Morro will only be worthwhile on Windows 7, where functionality will be on par with OneCare as it is today.

Windows Vista's experience, while having the same technical functionality of OneCare, is a jarring one.  The components are scattered.  OneCare makes sense on Vista, because it combines the functionality into a single management console.  It's also easier to maintain and configure, especially for new computer users.

Windows XP has little to none of the functionality of its successors, so OneCare is the only real option there.  Short of that, the only competing product that comes close is Norton 360, but it's more expensive, and although Symantec has fought the image of having a very bloated realtime engine that heavily consumes resources, they tout the performance of their newest versions.  I still wouldn't believe it until I saw it though, and with apologies to Symantec, because of their past, it's not a high priority on my list.

The scanning/realtime engine is the same across current Microsoft malware solutions (it's the "Microsoft Malware Protection Engine" - or MSMPENG), and I suspect it will carry forward into Morro.  I also suspect that Morro will be similar, or identical to running the Forefront Client Security client agent in unmanaged mode (it's basically Defender with antivirus scanning included), which is what protects my small business network at the store.  FCS's client agent doesn't require a central management server, much like Symantec Corporate Antivirus.  The management server is designed for enterprises, and it requires a very high-end server[s] backend for monitoring, reporting, agent updating, and other tasks.  For small businesses without a server, it's a cheap option - FCS agent licenses can be had for about $12/system/year.  The only UI difference between FCS and Defender is the ever-present systray icon in FCS.  The rest is pretty much the same.

@Doc:

If RAM is in question, he should run a RAM test.

oca.microsoft.com/.../windiag.asp

ASUS mobo's can be a real *** sometimes too.

For anyone curious:

This is Windows Defender:

www.mkm-pi.com/.../isv6_forefront_-4l.jpg

This is Forefront Client Security:

apcmagpro.com/.../10-FCS-client-user-interface.jpg

Look familiar?

Oops...my bad....that's the wrong pic of Defender.

You get the idea though - it looks the same as FCS.

Thanks Wae, I will send him the URL. He spent between $4,000 and 5,000 for that beast, not including the monitors. Vista didn't like the Samsung monitors/ drivers and would not keep the dual configuration. But the NEC monitors and  or drivers worked just fine, butu cost a lot more. It turns out that this incident made us realize the importance of calibrating monitors for radiology. So Vista helped teach us a lesson. I guess ASUS did too... be careful matching your mobo with your RAM ;)

"Vista didn't like the Samsung monitors/ drivers and would not keep the dual configuration."

It's very unlikely it's the monitors.  More likely, it's the video card configuration.

Woah.... haven't touch OneCare, and probably wouldn't until it is free.

Great article about The Fake and The Phony.

www.roughlydrafted.com/.../dan-lyons-paul-thurrott-the-fake-and-the-phony

"Great article about The Fake and The Phony."

Reminds me of the tard on this:

ca.youtube.com/watch

"Greenpeace attacked Roughly Drafted's credibility, pointing out that it has in the past been called "the lunatic fringe of Mac fandom" by other bloggers after comparing the cost of Windows and Mac OS X"

en.wikipedia.org/.../Criticism_of_Greenpeace

Daniel's post (taken from AppleInsider) on "64-bit security in Snow Leopard" is a laugh, since every feature that he's touting in Snow Leopard has already been broken by hackers.

OT:

@Weathorn

I don't get your point:

>"Greenpeace attacked Roughly Drafted's credibility, pointing out that it has in the past been called "the lunatic fringe of Mac fandom" by other bloggers after comparing the cost of Windows and Mac OS X"

It is in fact alleged that Greenpeace has had no factual evidence, instead relying on unsubstantiated official company information for the report in order to garner publicity, as well as political and monetary support. The Environmental Protection Agency's EPEAT shows Apple leading the ranks in all categories. ArsTechnica called the Greenpeace report a fraud after factual substantiation was questioned. ...

For example, the data reported findings of minimal traces of TBBPA, an unregulated fire retardant in the Apple computer; the Greenpeace press release said Apple "appears to be using far more of this toxic chemical than its competitors". This is despite the fact that the EU Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks concluded in March of 2005 that TBBPA "presents no risk to human health"[34] and "the World Health organisation conducted a scientific assessment of TBBPA and found that the risk for the general population is considered to be insignificant."[35]

As we can see Greenpeace does not agree with Roughly Drafted,  the EU Scientific Committee or the World Health Organisation.   Nothing new here for Greenpeace to demonize anyone who disagrees with them.  

Roughly Drafted point out that Paul is not immune from telling wopping lies.   He does this alot.  

Yawn!

Yawn, I a little offended by the 'wopping' lies, since I'm Italian ;)

@"yawn":

i.gizmodo.com/.../australian-hillbillies-accuse-apple-of-trashing-salvageable-computers

0T:

Doc, sorry wopping does not mean "with our papers".

I have a quick comment/question for you:

Do you have a fish name Steve?  Is it still alive?  ;)

Yawn!

OT:

Correction: "with out papers" .  

I didn't name a fish Steve because he never helped me. I paid for everything from him. Besides, I am a little superstitious and did not want the fish to die. Also, Paul the fish did die. Man was I unhappy because I just never saw a comet of it's color before. Paul was an iridescent orange on white. Dangit did I like that fish! I think that I over crowded the tank and he kicked the bucket. I bought replacements, all looked like Sarasa comets, and it looks like Mike will make it to the big tank. The others are probably comets crossed with common goldfish because they remained small. I have koi as well. I'm so superstitious that I named one Blondie after my wife, instead of her name.

One should never take anything Greenpeace seriously. They are almost as bad as PETA. Not quite though, since PETA are the benchmark by which these lunatic fringe organisations are gauged.

Woops, I have Shubunkins as well, although one has either a healing ulcer or tumor. Time will tell.

Go Steelers :)

The Roughly Drafted makes a lot of excellent points. I know all the followers of The Phony would disagree, but then again you are caught in the Borg's tractor beam.

Speaking of pathetic (and typical) copying from Microsoft; here's more:

www.alleyinsider.com/.../microsofts-mobile-app-store-coming-next-month

Microsoft copying the AppStore. There really is no innovation from Microsoft, yet they speak of it so much.

OT

@Ropbertsjoe

>I know all the followers of The Phony would disagree, but then again you are caught in the Borg's tractor beam.

What up with this crap?  

As I stated Paul is not immune from telling lies and he does it alot.  Some are innocent (i.e. Apple Computer Sales have dropped) his conclusion is based on NPD numbers but he has always be very careful before to say "we wont know until Apple reports it numbers"  this time he just flat out states it as fact.   It maybe true but he  nor do I know at this time if its ture or not.  

Another lie is Apple need to come clean on Steve Jobs health.  Apple has met the SEC requirements in their latest  1/17/09 8K filings Apple has nothing else to disclose.    

Paul has no proof or facts that anyone knows anything more than Mr. Jobs has shared with the Apple Board about his health, even if Mr. Jobs has shared more information, Apple only has to report any event that may prevent Mr. Jobs from performing his duties as CEO.  Last I knew Mr. Jobs was performing his job as the CEO until his recent statements.

Paul would like an ordered world where everything work to his liking.  He blames the media for giving Apple to much press as opposed to other companies.  

He's allowed to have this warped theory but the media also has a right to write about what will bring eye-balls to their work.   Much like Paul writing about Apple to bring more readers to his site.

I can sort understand his argument that reporter flock to Apple when the introduce a new laptop but don't flock to Dell when they release a laptop.   But then he forgets that Dell releases  a new laptop every 10 and its not much different from the one they released 10 days  before.  

Apple has very few SKU's and has a history to take great ideas (from within and outside ) and put them together  function in ways no though of before.  The company has a history of  revolutionary work and changing entire industries.  This is one of the reasons it gets so much press and this just does not fit into Paul's ordered world.  

But to say everyone is caught in the "Borg's tractor beam" is just stupid.

Yawn!

"Microsoft copying the AppStore."

Apple copied Handango.