“If the thought of Microsoft Vista’s DRM restrictions,
restrictive EULA, version confusion and user lock-in has you scared
then you definitely do not want to know what the lads from Redmond
have in store for the next version. If this patent application,
covered by Groklaw here, is anything to go by then the next version
of Windows, Vista+1 is really going to give you nightmares. Here’s
the abstract from the patent application:“An operating system and method for use include a core function
module, or basic kernel, providing fundamental operating system
support and one or more add-on modules that allow customization of
the operating system as desired…”