Microsoft has tried to downplay the recent unpublicized automatic update of system files on millions of WindowsXP and Vista computers around the world, claiming it to be “normal behavior” and that we have nothing to fear from the very company that wrote the operating systems.  For most people, this probably isn’t a big deal.  Microsoft has commited themselves to ensuring everyone has a more secure and stable computer than in the past and, with automatic updates, most computers are protected from potential gaps in the existing programming.  Automatic Updates has certainly made things incredibly easy for both Microsoft as well as the average computer user that likely does not want to obtain a CD of updates every few months (anyone else remember Windows95’s update strategy?).

Bill Gates on UbuntuHowever, I have a beef with Microsoft.  This is probably the first beef I’ve ever had with the company, too.  I’ve been a loyal Microsoft user for over fifteen years.  I’ve used every version of Windows from 3.0 right up to Windows Server 2003 (including the mobile operating systems).  I’ve designed computers to get the most out of Windows, and at least 90% of all software I’ve written in the last decade has been for the Windows platform.  Whenever a Mac-zealot tried to tell me how Steve Jobs’ farts didn’t stink and how much better Apple software and hardware was, I’d point out the weakpoints and show the benefits of Microsoft’s software.  Whenever diehard *nix users would tout the benefits of Unix, AIX, HP-UX, Linux and every other flavour out there, I’d tell them what would happen to the computer industry if everybody was forced to use such an incredibly powerful and complex platform (anybody else remember the 80’s?).

All this said, I’ve been a firm supporter of Microsoft and their products.  I’ve used Linux quite a bit since 1998 and, while it’s a great platform for servers, it’s been a little lacking in the desktop arena (though Ubuntu is pretty nice).  And MacOS is a decent operating system for the people that prefer Apple products, as well.  I don’t feel that there is any one perfect solution for everyone.

But in recent weeks, I’ve had to make the hard decision to walk away from Microsoft for my home computing needs.  The problem is with their Apple-like practices of forcing crap upon me, even if I don’t want it.

I don’t use Windows’ Automatic Updates.  I don’t even download updates.  When it comes to updates and changes to the system files on my computers, I take a very strict approach to the matter.  A few years back I had installed some “Critical Updates” for Windows 98 and all of a sudden, the Visual Studio software I used to write code at work failed to open.  Even the classic “Uninstall and Re-Install” solution didn’t work.  The updates couldn’t be undone, and I had to format and start fresh.

Ever since then, I’ve waited at least six months before installing an update.  When the automatic updates were introduced in WindowsXP, I thought it was a great idea, but still shut off the unattended installation of packages.  Every time there was a patch, my PCs would slow down a little more.  After a few months, they’d be so slow that I’d be shouting at my computer to load applications faster.  Seeing a grown man shouting at an inanimate box to “hurry the #@$& up” is never good.

But to tell the truth, I’m absolutely offended by the idea of having updates thrust upon my computers without being aware of the update and having the option of postponing or cancelling the package.  I’m not renting the opportunity to use Windows from Microsoft.  I bought it.  I own it.  If I want to allow my system to fall behind in updates, then I have clearly accepted responsibility for the potential consequences.  Don’t ever try to tell me otherwise, because when I write software, I need to know what’s going on in the guts of my PC.

Unlike other programming environments, writing stuff in .NET is hardly working in a vacuum.  The Visual Studio IDE interacts with every part of the operating system as well as available libraries and packages.  What would happen if an update were to overwrite one of my critical .DLL’s?  What would happen if, because of an update, my computers started receiving the heart-stopping Blue Screen of Death?

It’s happened before.  SP2 caused my once-stable PCs to BSoD on every boot.  In order to actually use SP2, I had to buy an updated WindowsXP installation CD with the service pack already integrated and reformat (which is better than updating, anyways).

I gave Microsoft my real email address when I registered this installation of Windows with them.  Considering the amount of data they have about their customers, I want to know why they didn’t opt to send an email to everyone with Automatic Updates disabled advising them of the update.  Heck, every other update of this service has been done through the browser.  Why couldn’t we just be notified of a new version the next time we tried to update?

So, I think the time has come to move on.  Not that it will be a big loss to Microsoft.  They barely made $10000 or so in the last 5 years from my Windows, Office, SQL Server and Visual Studio purchases and certification examinations.  On top of this, I’m rarely writing stuff for Windows or SQL anymore.  PHP, MySQL and Ruby have become my primary development tools now.  And all of these can be done in Linux.

So, on that note, I’d like to that that it’s been fun, Microsoft.  But if I can’t have confidence in the core operating system of my computer, then how can I have confidence in every other Microsoft application I use?