Ramblings of an old Doc
Welcome to Windows as a Service (WaaS)
Published on April 25, 2022 By DrJBHL In Personal Computing

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols isn't paranoid. He's actually rather smart, and his reasoning is excellent. I'm not an anti-W11er for no reason. I felt all along the it was essentially unnecessary, as W10 could be continually developed, and that the processor requirement and TP2 dustup were basically nonsense because as long as code will exist, hackers will as well, and no code is un-hackable.

"Yes, the Windows 11 security updates are good — if you have the right hardware. But  as I pointed out recently, you can already use those security updates if you're running the Windows 10 20H2 release (Windows 10 October 2020 Update). So the point in upgrading from Windows 10 to 11 is…what, exactly?" - Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

I come from a time when the desktop was the revolution...you were given control over your data, word processing, publishing, etc. It was wonderful, if buggy at times. Remember W7? It was great. So is W10! W11 is the tube to DaaS. 

DaaS isn't bad except for one thing: You will no longer have control over your OS. You won't be calling the shots, M$ will, and it'll cost a pretty penny, too. Microsoft 365 goes for $33 (US) per month...and will go up. What will W11 OS cost? Count on it. X-Box will be an additional cost, too. 

"What I think is important is that, in combination with the subscription feature, this makes it easier for you to pay not just for Microsoft 365, but for Windows itself. No longer will Windows be a one-and-done purchase. It will be forever a subscription service with only one foot in your PC and the other ever more firmly in the cloud...Microsoft sneaked a Microsoft subscription manager into the February 2022 Windows 11 update. Check it out: look into the Windows 11 Settings menu > Accounts and you'll find a new section called "Your Microsoft account." There, you’ll find your Microsoft 365 subscription status, how full your OneDrive cloud storage is, and other details." - 

 

Maybe it pays for a business, I can't opine regarding that.

For me, it's the sneaky, M$y way this is all being done that really causes me great concern, and may well be my exit point from the M$ world. W11 Home users initially required having an M$ account which they could later delete. W11 Pro users had to have an M$ account which they could not later remove and still have W11 Pro. And ask yourselves, "Why do I need an M$ account to dl and install the upgrade which was supposed to be "free"? Well, what's your privacy (nonexistent) worth?

Do give the articles linked below a read. You're entitled to your opinions, and feel free to express them.

 

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3652612/windows-11-the-end-of-the-old-school-windows-desktop.html

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3636788/windows-11-microsofts-pointless-update.html


Comments (Page 6)
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on Apr 28, 2022



Quoting naroon1,

Seeing as i have a 30TB Collection, Star Wars in there Jafo



I'll forgive you....just don't make me watch any of the crap if I were ever to visit...

Zombie stuff is much more 'fun'.  Check out the UK 6 parter....'Zombie Boat'...

It is one of my Favourites already gave it the X265 treatment and added it to the collection, It's actually Called Zomboat. I was hoping for a season two but that does not look likely now. It is hilarious how the Canal boat it is set on, only just goes a tiny Tad faster than the Patient Zero Zombie and his band of followers chasing it for the whole season.

Do not worry Jafo, no enforced Star Wars in my home, Just plenty of very Cold Beer and a 30TB collection i seem to put more time into enhancing, than i do watching it, we can do a Zombie Night.

on Apr 28, 2022

naroon1

Do not worry Jafo, no enforced Star Wars in my home, Just plenty of very Cold Beer and a 30TB collection i seem to put more time into enhancing, than i do watching it, we can do a Zombie Night.

You got me at 'Cold Beer'...

on Apr 28, 2022

DrJBHL


Quoting naroon1,

Just checked my fully updated Win 11 Enterprise accounts section, i do not have "Your Microsoft account."  i do have one Nag screen asking me to update my MS info as i have not entered any MS accounts on set up, not for several years now.



https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/18/22940517/windows-11-pro-require-microsoft-account-internet-connection

https://www.howtogeek.com/739837/fyi-windows-11-home-will-require-a-microsoft-account-for-initial-setup/https://www.howtogeek.com/739837/fyi-windows-11-home-will-require-a-microsoft-account-for-initial-setup/

They're just doing it differently for the different editions of Windows.

Just tell me why W10 continually updated wasn't good enough. I think it's because they want to create a situation where they can bill you on a "rental" basis. 

How would it profit M$ to bill you more: Once via the cost of your PC or on a monthly basis?

Hi Doc.

 

Just gone over those articles and the replies, the author has already listed a workaround and the most simple, log in with a Dummy MS account and set up a local later, then get rid of the MS one. The replies all have workarounds too, many IT peeps leaving replies doubt this article, it was also said Enterprise Editions will not work in the same way, if going by the replies carries any weight, many doubt this, not saying you are wrong Doc, but only being able to use your computer if you pay on an ongoing basis, i am not sure we are any closer to this right now, but time will tell. I am even less concerned after reading all the replies too.

on Apr 28, 2022



Quoting naroon1,

Do not worry Jafo, no enforced Star Wars in my home, Just plenty of very Cold Beer and a 30TB collection i seem to put more time into enhancing, than i do watching it, we can do a Zombie Night.



You got me at 'Cold Beer'...

It's the nice Mexican stuff jafo, Sol and get this one "Corona" Virus in a Nice cold one     

on Apr 28, 2022

naroon1

t's the nice Mexican stuff jafo, Sol and get this one "Corona" Virus in a Nice cold one

One of my beers of choice when it's 'warm'....but the poison-of-choice comes from Poland.....Zwyiec Porter ....9.5% ....only way to fly...

on Apr 28, 2022

naroon1

Just gone over those articles and the replies, the author has already listed a workaround and the most simple, log in with a Dummy MS account and set up a local later, then get rid of the MS one. The replies all have workarounds too, many IT peeps leaving replies doubt this article, it was also said Enterprise Editions will not work in the same way, if going by the replies carries any weight, many doubt this, not saying you are wrong Doc, but only being able to use your computer if you pay on an ongoing basis, i am not sure we are any closer to this right now, but time will tell. I am even less concerned after reading all the replies too.

Just now?

MS is working on an AI updater. If you think it's going to be fooled, good luck. When it finds the work arounds, the person might get penalized.

Anyhow, WaaS is on its way, and no matter what we say here, that won't change.

The most effective vote is the one done with the feet.

on Apr 28, 2022

DrJBHL

I'd question whether W11 is HIPAA compliant...it has at least as many holes as a Swiss cheese...after all, MS's OS's are being security patched all the time. I never looked into it, but there are probably more HIPAA compliant OSs than MS's, although I could be wrong about that.

Technically, that question has not been answered, but our long-trusted tech support guy insists we not allow Win11 upgrades on any of our network machines because of all the back doors to third parties it enables.  He can't imagine that it would be deemed HIPAA compliant as currently configured.  MS has explicitly addressed and confirmed HIPAA compliance of Office 365 and Microsoft Teams, but has yet to make any claims of compliance for Win11, at least that I can find.  I understand Linux can be made HIPAA compliant with add-on software but the universe of Linux based medical applications is pretty small.  Not sure about the current version of MacOS but until very recently use of MacOS devices has been discouraged in HIPAA governed environments for technical IT management reasons.  There is also the issue of EHR compatibility - many, including ours, do not support direct access via MacOS devices and are restricted to Windows PC's, even to specific browsers.  You can use Parallels to get around that if you have a MacOS device, however. 

Interesting (to me) side note - the mobile version of our EHR is considered HIPAA compliant on iOS, but it is a limited version that can't perform a number of routinely required functions & actions (printing being a biggy), for which the desktop version is the only option.

on Apr 28, 2022

Is the fear here that Microsoft is going to make Windows into some sort of ransomware that is going to lock everyone out of their pc's unless they pay some sort of subscription fees?

I just want to make sure I am on the same page with what WaaS means

on Apr 28, 2022

PhoenixRising1

Is the fear here that Microsoft is going to make Windows into some sort of ransomware that is going to lock everyone out of their pc's unless they pay some sort of subscription fees?

I just want to make sure I am on the same page with what WaaS means

The meaning is here: 

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3293429/with-daas-windows-coming-say-goodbye-to-your-pc-as-you-know-it.html

And here:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-got-a-new-plan-for-managing-windows-10-devices-for-a-monthly-fee/

Yes, these are old articles, but the basic definition is akin to the Microsoft managed desktop. Microsoft will manage "your" computer...and yes, I suppose you could relate to that as a form of ransomware, as either you pay for the OS and updating/MS365...basically renting the OS and apps combo.

 

on Apr 28, 2022

ok, So we are talking cloud computing here and whether cloud computing is the future over traditional computing. I am not sure what the ceiling is for the cloud myself. I don't think it will be an on / off switch of one day we are using our pc and the next day our pc is completely cloud based. I think it will be a gradual change over time with trails and errors to see what works and what doesn't. I am not sure having a pc completely cloud based 100 percent of the time is really the future, it probably wouldn't go over well. Certainly, MS could try and fail if they would like.

on Apr 28, 2022

PhoenixRising1

Is the fear here that Microsoft is going to make Windows into some sort of ransomware that is going to lock everyone out of their pc's unless they pay some sort of subscription fees?

Hadn't thought in those terms until now, but that's not far off, if at all.  They should call it Windows RW.

on Apr 28, 2022


You got me at 'Cold Beer'...

I got a slab of stubby for you Paul!     

on Apr 28, 2022


Windows RW

We have a winner!

PhoenixRising1

So we are talking cloud computing here and whether cloud computing is the future over traditional computing.

Cloud computing. Great example of a euphemism, if ever there was one. Real definition/description? You used to have what you needed on your computer and controlled it. Now, we have what you need, we control it and your OS which is now adware, and you'll never stop paying for it. 

Thanks, but no thanks.

on Apr 29, 2022

DrJBHL


Quoting naroon1,

Just gone over those articles and the replies, the author has already listed a workaround and the most simple, log in with a Dummy MS account and set up a local later, then get rid of the MS one. The replies all have workarounds too, many IT peeps leaving replies doubt this article, it was also said Enterprise Editions will not work in the same way, if going by the replies carries any weight, many doubt this, not saying you are wrong Doc, but only being able to use your computer if you pay on an ongoing basis, i am not sure we are any closer to this right now, but time will tell. I am even less concerned after reading all the replies too.



Just now?

MS is working on an AI updater. If you think it's going to be fooled, good luck. When it finds the work arounds, the person might get penalized.

Anyhow, WaaS is on its way, and no matter what we say here, that won't change.

The most effective vote is the one done with the feet.

Doc.

You have used an example and posted links from a Comp Reporter from A few years ago, but the article i come upon from more recently and a more senior reporter from the Computerworld , posted the opposite article

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3624741/say-goodbye-to-all-that-microsoft-ends-windows-as-a-service.html

I am not saying you are wrong Doc, but if we are going to put weight to your article from Computerworld from 2018, how much weight do we put on a newer article form a more senior guy from the same place. Too much is done with a computer to make it exclusively Cloud Based entirely.

I have never in many years of working in the Industry as an IT Pro, come upon anything MS has done , that can not be reversed using work arounds or one fix or another, or indeed 3rd party apps. If AI comes into the equation, this too will be dealt with by dedicated peeps, just as it always has.

on Apr 29, 2022



Quoting naroon1,

t's the nice Mexican stuff jafo, Sol and get this one "Corona" Virus in a Nice cold one



One of my beers of choice when it's 'warm'....but the poison-of-choice comes from Poland.....Zwyiec Porter ....9.5% ....only way to fly...

Think i tried that Brew a few years ago. I will even do the Spanish thing with the glass in the freezer, Zwyiec Porter for jafo and Sol or Corona for me, then we can settle into a Zombie Mega Watch, can even watch my X 265 Zomboat and have a laugh mate.

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