Microsoft: We are done with Email

You just knew it had to happen. With thousands of employees getting thousands of email messages a day, you knew somebody up in Redmond would say, screw this, lets get a modern form of communications rolling.

I've had the Windows OneCare Live beta on my machine for some time now.  For those that aren't aware of the product, Microsoft has announced a product that is supposed to be a combination Firewall, virus protection, and what they call "tune up" products all in one under a monthly subscription model. 

At first, the product appeared to be a fairly simple and easy way for people to get a unified compliment of protection and basic utility from the core system.  My view? Don't toss Zone Alarm, Registry Mechanic or any other utilities you have as the product, even at V1, will fall well short of what should be required as well as particularly bad methods and interfaces.

One example. If you are a Zone Alarm or other firewall user, you know that typically when an application goes out to the Internet, the firewall lets you know and gives you the option of allowing the access. It gets right in front of the application and asks before taking action.

Microsoft's product doesn't. Microsoft's product blocks the access, then asks you if you want to continue blocking it or let the app access the Internet next time.  Right. The next time.

In fine print, P.S., you may have to restart your application regardless of what you want because we already stopped the access as we aren't like 90% of existing software and don't appear to know how to do what all the shareware guys figured out, sorry, but can I interest you in a free MSN update? 

Ok. I made most of that up, except the restart part, they do actually say this.

Here is an example with the Toshiba Update Services that comes on the Tablet PC. Yeah, the Tablet PC that every Microsoft Employee has or can get.

This is monumentally stupid. And probably lazy.

Given that Zone Alarm, McAfee and others give you the option BEFORE any action is taken, applications don't barf. So, yes, if you are installing an app, and OneCare blocks it; saying don't block can mean a restart of the app install unless that install deals with this via 'retry' or back button. I've found a number of applications that do, in fact, barf on this.  Just stupid.

The "tune up" section is a front end for stuff that already exists in the OS like deleting temp files and MS is trying to get people to take seriously, the idea of backing up data.  But useful stuff, like dealing with the registry, device drivers, etc, sorry, not here today.

So, after speaking with somebody inside the company who gave me some amazing babble about why they think this is better, I decided to get this stuff off my machine but also try and leave some feedback in the hope that somebody reads it.

I go to do that and get this contact option for the team.

Yup, that's mail with real letters, envelopes and everything.

So, you've seen and heard it here first. Microsoft, in cooperation with the U.S. Postal
Authority and various postal unions worldwide, will be announcing Snail Mail, version 3.11, enterprise edition.

As soon as I can find a stamp and somebody who still likes licking envelopes, I'll get that feedback right out.

Comments

[the head lemur]

Did the idea of clicking the START button to turn OFF the machine pass you by?

[Treogirl]

That's hilarious...man, and I thought ZoneAlarm was annoying.

[Allen]

man, i would say your first criticism sounds very reasonable, but the second is just not as good. The notification indicated that we need to go to that beta.microsoft.com to submit feedback (actually a restricted site you know).