Hi, I've had a good look at this, and this is what it seems to say:
"Microsoft will offer paid incident support on Windows 98/98 SE through
January 16, 2004. Windows 98/98 SE downloads for existing security issues
will continue to be obtainable through normal assisted support channels at
no charge during this time
(This seems to say that the downloads for 'existing' security issues will be
available until Jan16th 2004 free of charge.)
Customers can request Windows 98/98 SE fixes for
new security issues and these requests will be reviewed.  Fixes for any new
security issues can be specifically requested through normal assisted
support channels.
(This seems to say that any 'new' security issues will be looked into on
request. It also seems to say that any new fixes can be requested through
the normal support channnels. It has been carefully worded so that it
doesn't put them under any obligation to actually come up with any new
fixes. Looking into it might not necessarily mean that they will act.)
 Web-based self-help support will be available for at
least one year after assisted support has concluded. Mainstream support for
Windows 98/98 SE ended on June 30th 2002, and no-charge incident support and
extended hotfix support ends on June 30th 2003"
(This seems to say that we are welcome to find 'self-help' for one year
after assisted support has ended, ie: January 16th 2005. No charge support
seems to end completely on 30th June 2003, afer which, although it doesn't
say it's not available any more, it points to there being a charge for it.)

Now, I don't know if I've read that correctly or not, I did look at it very
carefully.
I have no idea why companies have to word things the way they do, my theory
is the long sentences and twisting of words always look as though they're
giving a good deal on first impressions. After analysing it, however, you
often find that it says completely the opposite of what you thought it said
first time round.
Microsoft could have written this all in a much simpler fashion, but then
that wouldn't have confused enough people, would it?
Can anyone else explain this all a bit more, because, to tell you the truth,
I'm still none the wiser than I was when I first looked at it.
I'm a bit doubtful as to whether or not there will be any new security
fixes, as they seem to have phased them out over the past couple of months.
There haven't been any updates for a while now I've noticed, and yet, I
don't know if it's my imagination or not, microsoft in the past seemed to
come up with new ones on an almost weekly basis. I find it hard to believe
the security threats have become non-existant.
Can anyone else translate the microsoft message any clearer than I could, as
it's still not 100% clear to me, or, probably even to microsoft themselves.
Why they can't use plain english like the rest of us is beyond me.
Can anyone else come up with a much simpler translation of the
'microsoftesian' language?
Michele Sayer


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ian" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2003 7:01 AM
Subject: [PCBUILD] Windows 98 Support - check this out!


> I feel rather honored - I've just had a reply from Microsoft :--))
>
> Yes, a genuine, direct-to-me reply from a real Microsoft person - wow.
>
> The subject matter is even more wow.  This is in response to my request
for
> clarification about the exact date of the withdrawal of W98 support.  The
> wording between the quote marks is verbatim.
>
> "Microsoft will offer paid incident support on Windows 98/98 SE through
> January 16, 2004. Windows 98/98 SE downloads for existing security issues
> will continue to be obtainable through normal assisted support channels at
> no charge during this time. Customers can request Windows 98/98 SE fixes
for
> new security issues and these requests will be reviewed.  Fixes for any
new
> security issues can be specifically requested through normal assisted
> support channels.  Web-based self-help support will be available for at
> least one year after assisted support has concluded. Mainstream support
for
> Windows 98/98 SE ended on June 30th 2002, and no-charge incident support
and
> extended hotfix support ends on June 30th 2003"
>
> Ok, all you semanticists and translators of gobbledeygook - have I misread
> it or does this indeed mean that the normal W98 support we're all used to,
> (patches, fixes, security updates etc) will be available until January 16,
> 2005?
>
> Read it slowly.  It seems to say: Paid support until January 16, 2004.
> Assisted support to the same date. Web-based self help support for a year
> after that.
>
> Yes?  No?  Or what?
>
> Ian Porter
> Computer Guys Inc.
> Arrowtown
> New Zealand
> [log in to unmask]
>
>                The NOSPIN Group Promotions is now offering
>               Mandrake Linux or Red Hat Linux CD sets along
>              with the OpenOffice CD...  at a great price!!!
>              http://freepctech.com/goodies/promotions.shtml

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