I Think I’ll Pass On The MSN Toolbar

You know, I often ignore click-through licenses because I’m lazy, however I’m always suspicious of software that feels it would be beneficial for me to change my browser’s homepage to some cluttered, ad-filled portal with no useful content – it’s just a pet hate of mine, even if you can easily turn off the option.  Since the MSN toolbar asks to set your homepage before it shows you the click-through license, I thought I’d flick through it quickly.  Section 2 is enough for me to not agree to it:

2. HOW WE MAY MODIFY THIS CONTRACT.

We may change this contract at any time. You must review this contract on a regular basis. You can find a link to the most recent version of the contract at http://toolbar.msn.com/. The changed contract is in effect immediately. If you do not agree to changes in the contract, then you must stop using the MSN Software. If you do not stop using the MSN Software, then your use of the MSN Software will continue under the changed contract.

So I’m agreeing to a "contract" that I haven’t seen, can’t possibly know what’s in it and don’t get any chance to disagree with it (it comes into effect immediately – before I could possibly have read it, even if I constantly checked for updates).  Now I understand the need to change and update a click-through license from time to time and that’s fine, but you need to provide some notification of it and a chance to disagree.

Oh and of course, since we’re so concerned about privacy when Google’s involved:

10. PERFORMANCE AND USAGE INFORMATION

Microsoft may automatically upload performance and usage information for evaluating the MSN Software and the MSN search services associated with it. Such information will not personally identify you.

The data may not personally identify me,(though the source IP address would)  but wouldn’t it be nicer if I had a choice about this?  I’m not so worried about this, except of course the fact that it may change without notice to include personal information.

Thus completes my experience with the MSN toolbar, let me know when the license becomes at least half sane and I might actually install it (that is of course, if you notice it changed…).

Oh and on that note, when reviewing software it’s probably not a good idea to use the template provided by one of the company’s evangelists.  Not that the list of things to consider is particularly bad, but it goes down in my book as one of the smoothest and craftiest marketing moves I’ve seen in a while – use your blog to stir up excitement about an upcoming event and provide a neat list of features to look for in the new product when you review it – don’t worry about anything else, just go through the check list!  I’m still undecided about whether or not Scoble gets a bonus for these things or not (he should).