Reading Windows

A while ago (perhaps two months ago) I displayed an interest in the latest release in Microsoft's operating system line-up: "x64 edition", a 64 bit recompile of Windows XP Professional. Microsoft was offering a means of upgrading an existing 32 bit professional licenss to the x64 licenses for the cost of shipping the installation medium.

I decided to sign up, and after a week I decided that my MSDN licenses simply were not up to snuff and couldn't cut it as OEM and "distributed with new PC". Giving up, I retired to every day living until I found a small online retailer distibuting the software for 150$. I ordered it and got an OEM copy of x64 edition. It came in a very snazzy case, and the disc was legitimate as far as I could tell.

Here's the kicker:

Two months after, I get billed twice by some company named Zorax or whatnot, twice mind you for 12 dollars a piece. A quick google search linked it to Microsoft's upgrade setup and the words scam and rip-off weren't missing from the articles. I called my bank (since my credit card is linked to my bank, a more or less visa backed debit card) and had them return the funds to my account and dispute the charges. I have not been recharced and I'm guarding my online register jealously.

What gets me is, Microsoft has clearly shown a complete lack of interest in it's userbase. I signed up for this, submitted credit card information and ordered teh product and didn't even received a confirmation email for two months! I will continue to dispute the charges if they continue to be placed because in all raelity, this is disrespectful on thier part.

Does anybody else beleive that Microsoft is getting pretty proud and lazy?

Edit: I now use gentoo linux full time, have no interest in ANY windows only software and have already saved 200-300 dollars on software that I probably could have never afforded in windows. I have all the games I need and I'm satisfied...

I should be ashamed of myself.

This post was edited by Aynjell on Jul 15, 2005.

Proud is definitely right. There was /. article not too long ago about their hiring practices and how they assume that they're the best and everyone would kill to work there. The horror stories people posted in the comments were interesting. MS seems to care more about if you have the traits that would get you a high score on an IQ test (i.e., are you a good test taker) rather than if you are actually good at producing software.

"Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think."

Proud is definitely right. There was /. article not too long ago about their hiring practices and how they assume that they're the best and everyone would kill to work there

No, that's a standard hiring practice. The only thing abnormal about the interview session is that they are longer than an average interview session (e.g. a few hours rather than a quick 30 minute talk.)

The original complaintant assumed that a PHD is the skeleton key to employment, and refused to do the puzzles because they were beneath him (ignoring the fact that most work in IT is simply trudgery.)

It's just like a master modeller complaining about having to do a simple 300-polygon model of an arm within 24 hours while applying to a simple art studio - the complaint is not legitimate.

MS seems to care more about if you have the traits that would get you a high score on an IQ test (i.e., are you a good test taker) rather than if you are actually good at producing software.

The reason why companies get away with that there is very little incentive for them to make their hiring process completely "fair". Failing to hire a rockstar programmer is magnitudes less worse than the aftermath of a bad hire.

'Yeah, That's what Jesus would do. Jesus would bomb Afghanistan. Yeah.' - snowlion

What gets me is, Microsoft has clearly shown a complete lack of interest in it's userbase. I signed up for this, submitted credit card information and ordered teh product and didn't even received a confirmation email for two months! I will continue to dispute the charges if they continue to be placed because in all raelity, this is disrespectful on thier part.

Does anybody else beleive that Microsoft is getting pretty proud and lazy?

bah, nothing new here :D really

why does M$ make IE7?
- because people asked for it, and m$ cares for its users
- because they are losing browser market

why do old windows versions get unsupported?
- because it's troublesome to support obsolete software
- because m$ wants you to BUY BUY BUY their new software every few years

why do windows requirements go quickly up with each version?
- that's life
- this way Intel and hardware vendors (co-op with m$) can make more money

if you chose 1. - why the hell did they wait 2 years for it? huh? :D

name ONE thing that m$ has invented by themselves (not counting WGA)
.................

i could propably go on. i hope you get the picture :D

"Life is a queue. You come in, hang around for a bit, get some service, then depart."

Can you imagine the pressure over at M$ these days? Considering that Apple is going Intel, M$ really does have to worry about a market share.

I know I'm dead on the surface But I'm screaming underneath

Yeah i really enjoyed hearing about Steve Ballmer (y'know the m$ monkey-dancer) throwing a chair against the floor and screaming (literally) that he's going to kill the google-guys.

let's hope he doesn't make it

"Life is a queue. You come in, hang around for a bit, get some service, then depart."