Bill, Microsoft's program add/remove does
NOT fully get rid of Outlook Express.
And it even leaves parts of it still RUNNING
like some sort of sorting function that
still slows down bootup of windows.
But the most sickening part of it is that
Microsoft has implemnted something
such that if you delete the unwanted
OE files, it serrupticiously PUTS THEM BACK.
Truly onerous, like the "kill" chips in
ink and toner cartridges that prevent you
from using the last ounce of ink or toner
actually IN the cartridges, but mostly
protect the makers cartridge sales racket.
The nasty business model is well known.
They sell you the printers cheap but then
rip you off on seriously overpriced
ink or toner cartridges.
Did you see where Lexmark actually
had the nerve to use the DMCA to
sue Static Control Components of Sanford NC
for making chips to overcome this racket?
Then NC passed a law aimed directly
at busting up the racket, making it
expressly legal to refill ink and
toner cartridges.
Europe also took some legal action
against this ink/toner racketeering.
I believe in free enterprise, but not
this ink and toner racket!
I would propose harsher laws to attack
the ink/toner racket.
Make it illegal for printer manufacturers
to produce or profit from ink or toner in
the first place. End the conflict of interest.
Create a situation where there are not
so many thousands of different types
of ink/toner cartridges all doing
the exact same thing.
Make ink/toner cartridges a standardized
thing like car tires or flashlight batteries
and end this less than free market racket.
Then the computer printer outfits can
compete based on actual PRINTING technology
rather than wasting so much effort on
devious ways to protect their supplies racket.
And cart refillers can stop wasting resources
overcoming the printer makers protectionism
and place more resources into competing on
price/quality/delivery.
I bet computer printers could get down to
a small assortment of standard cartridges
used by all computer printer makers.
Wouldn't it be nice if there were only
3 types of ink cartridge and 3 types
of laser toner cartridge used by ALL
of the new printer makers, all refillable?
Mandate that all new computer printers
must use ink/toner reservoirs or cartridges
designed to be refillable by users or third parties.
Get the computer printer makers OUT of the ink/toner racket.
Mandate that protectionist "kill chip" technology must go.
The racketeers perverted the notion
of "free market" so they deserve no less.
I'd like to see computer printers made
so that generic ink or toner can just be
dumped into a hopper and get makers out
of the supplies ripoff racket.
Not only is the printer supplies racket
a ripoff, but it is counter to trends
toward recycling. Reduce, REUSE, Recycle.
ANY reverse engineering that breaks
this ink/toner racket should be
expressly LEGAL. Letting printer makers hide
behind the DMCA to protect their supplies
racket is seriously wrong.
Now, Can you guess what my feelings are about
the deliberate efforts Microsoft has made to
prevent me from removing their application
program that I DO NOT USE?
LOL