Once upon a time there was a Simpons episode about a burlesque house. Throughout the entire episode, Maude Flanders just kept shrieking: "Will someone please just think about the CHILDREN"

So, I think it's about time we thought a bit about the Grandmas.

It all starts with a bunch of LOSERS known as Gator. Techies know who these guys are, because they've invariably been called by everyone in their immediate family and neighborhood as the 'computer guy/gal' to come and rescue people from this crap software -- SPYWARE of the worst type (that watches what you do online, hijacks your browser, and wouldn't uninstall without every known geek trick on the planet).

Time passed. People got wise to Gator. Gator changed its name to Claria.

Spyware, and other malicious-ware got out of hand. Microsoft, partially in an effort to save face (because their security model (people running as admin by default, etc.)), and partially just to ensure good user experience released a SAWEET spyware detection system as a free beta to the world. It was a huge success.

Sauron had been banished. Middle Earth was cheery once more. Hobbitsessss frolicked in the sunlight.

Then an evil darkness slowly began spreading, and creeping, across the land. Rumors of an ancient evil, being purchased by MS began to grow. Then there were sightings... like this one:
http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2005/07/microsoft-sets-claria-to-ignore.html

People started getting CRANKY. This couldn't be true could it Rallies were held. Effigies of Bill were burned.

Microsoft sensed the bad vibes and responded in an attempt to stop a PR disaster. Microsoft responded. The letter started off NICE. It said: Dear Customer...

Only they lied. Or, maybe they didn't lie -- perhaps they're just so damned big they didn't get their story straight between the marketing folks and the anti-spyware folks, but the result was too close for comfort -- well beyond PR/marketing, and handily into the realm of stinky. The facts are pretty simple: 1) MS Said they re-evaluated Claria/Gator's standing based on hard/fast rules. 2) there are no hard fast rules. 3) The press statement was therefore a total non-truth.

So, now, all this talk of Claria and the Ring-Wraiths... what does that have to do with Grandma Well, since a picture is worth a thousand words (remember, this is XP _PRO_) :

How dumbed down can you get MS has gone out of their way for Grandma. My 'pro' OS has been soooo dumbed down to make it EASIER for grandma use. Hell, there's even a stupid DOG to help her fetch her files - in a PRO operating System. And speaking of canines, doesn't it seem strange to go to all that trouble to make Grandma's life easier (and punish me while we're at it), just to throw her to the wolves Because throwing her to the wolves is exactly what has happened with this decision to allow her machine to remain hijacked by Gator/Claria/Sauron.