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Chances are that you'd be pretty annoyed and consider that situation to be a rip-off.

Well this would appear to be exactly the situation that's about to occur with Microsoft's Windows operating system.

Once you've forked out for Windows XP, you'd expect that you'd be able to use your computer without further expense (other than your ISP's fees, the cost of applications software etc), right?

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Unfortunately, as most Windows users well know, this just isn't the case.

Every week we see new worms and viruses appearing on the net and unless we've invested in anti-viral software, chances are that we could find ourselves facing significant inconvenience, loss of functionality or total disaster as a result.

Sure, Microsoft provide free patches as and when vulnerabilities in its software are discovered - but is that really good enough?

The reason I ask is the announcement that Microsoft itself is getting into the anti-virus software business.

This service will initially be offered free of charge but, according to at least one report, it will eventually become a subscription-based offering that will charge customers real money.

What a great business model this is. Build a product with defects, then sell protection against the effect of those defects at an extra charge.

What industry other than the software one would actually be allowed to get away with such a scheme?

Let's face it -- if Windows didn't have more vulnerabilities than you can shake a stick at, there'd be no need for this antiviral software would there? I mean, how many anti-virus products do you see for Linux?

Surely someone ought to be asking (hey -- I am!) whether Microsoft now has a conflict of interest. Why bother to be so pro-active in testing your code or patching vulnerabilities when doing so will clearly reduce the need for one of your other services?

Would it not be better to keep shipping shonky software and just make more money by selling the antiviral service as an essential add-on?

Once again, the effects of a defacto monopoly are not a good thing.

Lighten Up
After a long absence, it's time for some more friday frivolity.

It seems like everyone is investing in property these days and with house prices still rising it appears easy to make a killing. Before you get too carried away however, try out this little game and see how good you really are.

If you've still got time to burn, try this brain-teaser, it's guaranteed to take no more than 15 minutes.

Come on folks -- I want some real funny stuff, throw your best links at me.

Tell us all and see what others have to say in The Aardvark Forums

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