The week in your words: Microsoft's double standards

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Posted on 5 Dec 2008 at 15:53

In a week that saw Microsoft get strict about standards and software, and Ofcom dazzle us with inaction, we take a look back to see what our readers have made of it all.

IE8 ready to name and shame non-compliant websites

This week saw Microsoft grab the heftiest pot it could find, march immediately over to the nearest kettle, erect around itself a grand house built entirely of glass and heft said pot at said kettle through the walls of said house. Yes, Microsoft's decided to name and shame the sites that aren't compatible with the now standards-compliant Internet Explorer 8. The results were predicatble.

"I cannot believe the absolute cheek and audacity Microsoft," spluttered lemonlainey. "If Microsoft had got it right from the get-go, then we wouldn't be having these problems."

To be fair, we bore witness to the internet's get-go and the nearest anybody got to standards was the use of capital letters. In fact there was much sympathy for the company.

"Microsoft will undoubtedly get a lot of stick for this considering those websites were designed for IE6, but you have to admire the fact that it's doing what the whole web community wanted it to do," said TimoGunt.

Alundavid agreed: "Ok I know Microsoft doesn't have the right to comment about web standards compliance. But if it makes enough noise it might just help to make a difference and get sites back to being written properly by not only good developers but by all developers."

Microsoft begins auction crackdown

As everybody knows, glass houses aren't cheap to erect, especially in these turbulent times, and even Microsoft is starting to feel the pinch. In fact, it's so sick of having its coffers raided by internet urchins that it has decided to put an end to the sale of Windows XP Blue Edition. Sadly, this has nothing to do with Channel 5's post midnight programming (Windows XXXP so to speak), but rather pirated versions of the software. The forums were divided by Microsoft's shock tactics.

"This is no better than companies sending out letters demanding damages for illegal file sharing, even if the victim is innocent," claims daftpunk.

"I listed a copy of Frontpage 2003 that was given to me as part of a hosting deal, and Ebay took it down after Microsoft alleged it was counterfeit. It had no evidence whatsoever yet I was not permitted to re-list the item."

Big_D wasn't convinced: "Usually such software is not for re-sale, so listing it on Ebay would be illegal. Whether it is counterfeit or you are breaking the licence agreement by trying to resell it is moot... At least Microsoft is going after people who are actually listing software for sale. Not randomly chosing addresses that might have uploaded something."

Ofcom: A quarter of UK dissatisfied with broadband speed

Pad the floors, pull up the chairs and make ready the sniffing salts because this week Ofcom delivered the sort of revelatory information that's more often delivered by a pale man on a horse who introduces himself as D. Eath.

Try not to pass out. Here goes... apparently, a quarter of the UK is dissatisfied with its broadband speed. Blimey, it's like an elephant tranquiliser, isn't it?