I don't respect Microsoft from a business point of view
Make no mistake, I have had plenty of issues with Microsoft over several of their business and marketing practices and policies myself - before and after becoming a MS-MVP. And be certain, I have shared that with them, in no uncertain terms! But I am also a fan of Microsoft products. Windows 7 is by far, the best Windows yet. IE9 has proven itself
secure as any, if not more so, and worthy of any machine. MSE is a great anti-malware solution - and at a price that cannot be beat. Office has no equal.
Security has [finally] become a primary focus at Microsoft and they cannot be faulted in that area any longer. In fact, I trust Microsoft in that regard to keep me, my family and my clients safe (understanding the user is ALWAYS the weakest link). But Microsoft's past monopolistic business practices left a bad taste in my mouth almost 20 years ago as a custom PC builder that to this day, causes me to "trust
but verify" before I put full faith in them - in
that regard.
Note their OEM licensing policies are
by no means unique to Microsoft. OEM anti-malware products that come bundled with many factory made computers, for example, are often not transferable to different computers. Software that comes bundled with a DVD writer is licensed to that DVD player. OEM Windows from the major PC makers are often branded - by the PC maker, not Microsoft.
As for OEM coolers (1) in regards to warranties, that is not my opinion. That is just a fact. Read it yourself in your own documentation that came with your CPUs, or on-line via the links I provided. And (2), as for them being capable, I am afraid that is just a fact too. I've proven it over and over again on my own work bench in my shop. You can
moderately overclock a CPU
with a properly cooled case all day long using an OEM stock fan and proper layer of TIM. Sure, you can get cooler temps with an aftermarket cooler. And as my sig says, "heat is the bane of all electronics". But, that does not mean you must have the absolute coolest CPU temperature possible for safe, long lasting CPU operation. As long as you keep your temps in a safe "operating range", then you are fine. And for me, and this is my opinion, I only start to get nervous when CPU temps hit 60°C - which many still consider just very warm, and not hot.
No doubt, extreme overclocking requires extreme cooling measures. No argument there.
keep in mind we are "on" the internet.
So what? And, that's exactly the point. "So what" because,
so what? Being on the Internet does not give anybody a license to insult, steal software, or behave in any manner inconsistent with being a good citizen. And "exactly the point" because it is through the Internet that badguys attempt to steal our identities, launch spam or DDoS attacks, or worse, attempt to harm our children and grandchildren.
I didn't mean a personal insult
I thank you for that. While I am a Microsoft MVP, they do not pull my strings. I am all for bashing,
when bashing is due. But I will defend anybody or any organization if they are wrongly bashed - even if I have issues with them on other fronts. Microsoft, like most, if not all big conglomerates, is just too big to bash the entire company for actions of one of their departments. Marketing weenies are a different breed of people from software developers and hardware engineers/technicians. And the bean counters are different yet.