Microsoft already does this, it is their TechNet program.  They include all service packs and updates.  Unfortunately, they charge a whopping pile for the service, beyond the reach of most home/dial users.
 
Jerry
 
-------Original Message-------
 
Date: Monday, September 22, 2003 07:27:10
Subject: Re: Windows updates and dial up users
 
On Mon, 22 Sep 2003, Roy Bentley wrote:
> Stephen J. Wilcox said:
> > On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 Valdis.Kletnieks@vt.edu wrote:
> >> On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 18:25:50 EDT, Sean Donelan <sean@donelan.com> said:
> >>
> >> > "I recently put this suggestion to Microsoft and their response basically
> >> > avoided the whole issue. Why wouldn't the company want to offer such a
> >> > CD, assuming that's the motivation behind their stonewalling?"
> >>
> >> It would cost money to produce and ship a new CD on a frequent enough basis
> >> for it to do any good. Consider that we're seeing worms within 4 weeks of
> >> the patch coming out. How many CD duplicating places are willing to take
> >> on a multi-million run with a 1-2 week turn-around, once a month, every
> >> month?
> >
> > Ok then different idea, assuming that we're all agreed its MS's
> > responsibility to ensure users are patched promptly and without extra cost
> > to the end user.
> >
> > Its not a problem patching on a dialup, it just takes longer, this may put
> > people off when they see their computer tell them its going to take 3 hours
> > to download and theyre paying per minute on the call
> >
> > What if MS included something in the Windows Update that gave the user the
> > option of calling a toll-free number operated by MS for the purpose of
> > downloading.. ?
>
> Realise that this would require MS to take responsibility for putting out
> bad code. That's quite unlikely, IMO.
 
Hmm no, they dont have to take that approach, they currently provide updates as
part of their license agreement to users, this would just be an enhancement of
their existing facility offering a new level of security whereby users can gain
access to critical updates without putting their machines at risk by connecting
to the global Internet...
 
Steve
 
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