PC utilities forum: Generic OS Question.

I must admit I'm rather confused by all of the responses. The majority state quite clearly that we are being spied on by big business and the government. And yet, to date, I have never seen anyone offer any proof, that is admissable in court, for their assertions. Let's examine one specific case very quickly. The Congrssional inquiry into the 9/11 massacre has conclusively proved that the assailants used the internet to help plan their attack. We have the proof of this. Now based on this evidence, if we are indeed being "spied on" by the government or big business, we must therefore make the premise that both the government and big business ignored these threats. While I will clearly admit that plenty of mistakes were made concerning 9/11, I cannot, in all good conscience, believe that anyone would allow this to be ignored. Therefore, I don't believe we are being actively spied on. That being said, I do believe that there is a lot of tracking going on. It is amazing to me that I see so many people, trying to win a free car, freely give out their email address, while admiring it at the mall. What do they believe these people are going to do with that email address? Is MasterCard, Visa, or AmEx tracking your purchases and then forwarding you relevant email concerning those purchases. Sure they are. But the individual provided that email address to MasterCard, Visa, and AmEx. Is Amazon.com, Blockbuster, Barnes and Noble suggesting related products such as books and videos based on what you recently purchased? Sure they are, but the individual agrees to this when they make the purchase thru these sites. If you don't want to be "spied on", don't give anyone, other than family and friends, your email address. Don't make purchases using a credit card, use only cash. And don't buy items over the internet. We, the people, are our biggest enemy when it comes to the "spying" issue because we blatantly open the door allowing these issues to occur. Of course, these are simply facts and if you are parnoid, it doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

Here is hoping that all of you have a great Holiday and the Best of the New Year.

Sincerely,
kwkid

im sorry but i dont have enough time right now to read all of the replies to this so i am just replying to the question... also there are probably some typos because i am using a weird keyboard right now and i am using a bugmenot login name becaause i dont have a lot of time to waste setting up an account with this site.

Why do you CARE if MS is monitoring you? it would be illegal for them to do anything with that information if they are monitoring you and it would be illegal even for them to be doing it at all.

I actually like ME better than 98. It may actually be the only Windows OS that I do like at all.


So my answer is to either install Linux, get a Mac, or update to ME, though the first two solutions i may like more than you...
so for most people asking this and probably you who may not like non-Windows OSes: update to ME unless you have 95 but either way, XP and 2000 are better to update to anyway and if you are choosing between XP and 2000, get XP.
there
THE END

~SeanWasHere~