It quickly became apparent to many late yesterday that something was wrong with the latest offering from Redmond. The nay-sayers  had already begun lamenting the fact that Microsoft was making the integration of these ‘free’ applications so tight with the operating system, and with the unpopular Microsoft Update program.

Microsoft must be feeling very sure of itself right now, as it doesn’t seem to be worried about the Department of Justice, or any previous proclamations concerning anti-competitive practices or monopoly. The recent entanglements with Google over the choice of desktop search engine seem to have faded, or are being ignored.

The unified installer was working for those who could manipulate their firewall, or had a firewall that did not block almost everything other than HTTP traffic. One look at almost any of the sites where people go to complain have many people stating that they could not install the programs using the installer, and that the installer gives no notice concerning what the problem might be. After (apparently) a very, very, long time, the installer quits with a typical Microsoft non sequitur.

For those who have tried the installer and had the ability to download something, the results are mixed. For those unable to get anything - well, you can imagine.

This, along with the Windows Genuine Disadvantage validation server failure, does not show the average user the benefits of Software-As-A-Service. That is after all, what this is all about. First a few things are given away. The user base gets used to having these useful pieces of software around. Next, more things are available, for rent. Finally, the entire operating system is rented, as it really is now - but instead of the license being open ended - a final date has been put into it, and a poison pill to assure no usability is there if the rental agreement is not resigned.

Everyone gets upset with the idea that software will soon be rented, when in fact, all that is changing is that an expiration date is being added.

It isn’t nice to constantly berate a company for its efforts, but lately, Microsoft makes it all too easy.

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[tags] Windows Live installer, Windows Live, Microsoft, WGA problems, Windows Genuine Advantage, Microsoft Update, DOJ judgements, anti-competitive practices, search engine judgements [/tags]