>>>> There are advantages and disadvantages to this for both the user and Microsoft.
>>>There are no advantages for the user. This is a very bad thing being done to people.
>>
>>The advantage is that it (in theory at least) it should help to keep your computer stable by elimiinating "badly-behaved" software (there are *no* "badly-behaved" programs from any legitimate vendors. BTW, could I interest you in some beachfront property in Arizona with a lovely view of the Pacific? [Okay, it's not beachfront *now*, but it *will* be when California sinks into the ocean as predicted] ).
>
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>There are many other ways to do that (protect users from unstable software) which do not mandate Microsoft keeping a manifest of every software program you have on your computer.
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>What Microsoft is doing is trampling upon anonymity, the same thing Facebook has done with all those "like" buttons on every website -- they're web-bugs, tracking the pages you visit.
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>The freedom to use a computer how we want to (without others having details on the manner in which we do it) is being lost. Microsoft's goals are about stealing away those abilities we all enjoy today (at least partially, and in an ever-diminishing quality), and is about herding us into a model which flatly, and purposefully, removes that freedom.
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>It is about control. Nothing less.
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>I would never sacrifice that freedom for the off-chance that some piece of malicious software may cause me some inconvenience.

(shrug) If the RIAA thinks they can succeed, perhaps Microsoft thinks the same?

Somewhat amusing and yet disturbing is the general trend you see with consumers. They want convenience. Convenience of being able to get at their informatino from anywhere -- which of course means it has to be in a centralized location... Convenience of not having to worry about dealing with infrastructure -- the service takes care of it all. It's back to the days of mainframe -- with a bit of variation in that it's tablets and smartphone rather than dumb terminals... I'll bet Microsoft wouldn't mind that -- especially if places them where IBM was back in the mainframe days, especially if it opens up possiblity of "pay-as-you-go" subscription type service.