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Into the Azure?

Posted on 4 Mar 2009 at 10:56

Jon Honeyball poses some tough legal questions about cloud computing, and wonders how much Microsoft really cares about your security.

Windows OneCare pricing

Sometimes, you just want to slap Microsoft product managers. I've reported previously how impressed I've been with Microsoft's OneCare package, and I've also bored you with diatribes about how a modern operating system should be immune from any infection, irrespective of its method of getting into the computer. Nevertheless, I accept we're in a "here and now" situation that's far from ideal, so we need antivirus, antispyware, antinasty tools on our computers.

I've also related here how distrustful I am of the security industry, pointing out that if these products were any good then machines wouldn't get infected once such tools were installed, and also how disappointing most of such products have proved when presented with a well-rogered Windows XP or Vista installation to fix. OneCare has been the exception - it works, it doesn't appear to hamstring your computer, and it can take on the task of cleaning a true stinker of an infected computer. (At least, that's been my experience.) So imagine my surprise on discovering that Microsoft is getting rid of OneCare and replacing it with a freebie code-named "Morro" on 30 June this year. If this turns out to be just as good and free then I'll be very happy, but I just received a renewal notification for my OneCare subscription that says: "Your subscription to Windows Live OneCare £37.99 is scheduled to be automatically renewed on 06 January 2009. Here is a description of the service:

"You have selected a one year subscription to Windows Live OneCare (covers up to 3 PCs) for £37.99 (inc VAT). Windows Live OneCare is the all-in-one security and performance service for your Windows XP or Windows Vista-based PC and includes Antivirus, Antispyware, Anti-Phishing, Managed Firewall, Performance Tune-Ups, Data Backup, and Support. This is an annual subscription that will be automatically renewed every year at the then current price unless you cancel your account or select an alternative plan."

So Microsoft wants a year's worth of fees for a product that it's canning on 30 June. I emailed Microsoft for clarification: apparently it will stop selling OneCare subscriptions on 30 June, but we'll be "fully supported" for the full length of our contracts. My cynical side suggests that OneCare will get sidelined and the second half of my subscription year will be of lesser quality than the first. The PR email goes on to say: "When 'Morro' is made available, we will provide clear guidance for all Windows Live OneCare subscribers on their options, which will include a migration to 'Morro' if consumers choose to opt-in, or options for alternative solutions."

Ever get the feeling the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing? The icing on the cake was the statement that "today, OneCare remains an excellent value for the price of the annual subscription relative to other suite alternatives". Such excellent value you're planning to can it and make it free...

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