Tha's some mighty fine whine there Jim. :-)

>Some time in the last month to six weeks back I thought that I noticed a small change in the wording of the "Windows Update" "note" on its "Welcome" page.
>Where it now said ""...does not collect any personally indetifiable information..." it was my impression that it HAD previously said something along the lines of 'does not send any information TO Microsoft'.
>Of course it was impossible to confirm this, but now I'm pretty sure that I was right.

I believe you are correct here. Since the Q329170 update slowed Win2k shutdowns to a crawl, I haven't updated any further systems. XP is now - NOT AN OPTION.

>What I have installed on my systems may arguable be some of MS' business, but the fact that they CAN learn it through remote automated means does NOT mean that they should do so. There are reasons why search warrants and other procedures exist.

You are using their service - they are merely extracting a 'payment' as I see it. No thanks.