Scheduled to start in the second half of this year (2005), Microsoft will require Windows XP users to verify the legitimacy of their copy of the OS in order to gain full access to future updates.
This new requirement is called the Windows Genuine Advantage and it promises users "greater reliability, faster access to updates, and richer user experiences". Microsoft is trying to raise the value of Windows due to billions in losses from piracy.
Users of pirated copies of Windows will still be able to receive updates such as security patches, but will be unable to download other add-ons.
this turns out to be as protective as the activation key they used to make you put in when you first installed Windows. I've never really had a problem with MS before, but this just plain sucks.
It is really annoying to keep hearing these companies talking about billions of dollars they have lost. This is hypothetical money that does not really exist. Just because someone uses some software (or downloads some music) does not mean that if security was tighter they would rush out and buy the software.
Microsoft are really pissing me off here. I am a legitimate user but when I recently reinstalled software on my machine I had to jump though all these hoops because the last three copies of Windows I have used came on the machine so I could not prove I had an older version of the software and use my upgrade version of XP. The problem is no matter how smart MS gets they will never beat piracy. But what they are doing is making a legitimate user like me mad, and how can that be good for business?
If I were MS, why let anyone who hasn't paid - get any sort of update? IF they have a pirate version of Windows, let them get exploited by the security flaws. Its their fault for being a cheap ass in the first place...
I mean honestly. They shouldn't let people get away with it... Stupid.
>> This is hypothetical money that does not really exist. >>Just because someone uses some software (or downloads some music) does not mean that if security was tighter they would rush out and buy the software.
No, but its the value of the software. If 10,000 people copy a $10 CD. The loss to the company is $100,000 because it is the same as them giving away 10,000 copies...
Obviously if they hadnt been able to get it for free, not all 10,000 would pay. But definalty more than Zero! Whcih means they are definatly loosing money, and I am sure it is near the billion mark...
Your comments are naive. Microsoft is spending a fortune on product activation, and other security measures. Maybe if they didn't do this and sold Windows XP for half price there would be more buyers.
If it was a football game of Microsoft versus the Pirates it would be Pirates 135, Microsoft 0. By the half. Name one antipiracy software that works.
What about the origional activation protection, that was defeated before the public release of XP. Which was available 4 months before public release, pirated of course.
Hear is an idea Microsoft, losing Billions off copies? Sell Windows for less!
I have seen XP home at Buisness depo for about $250 (on sale). Every legit copy has over 10 copies (atleast that is what I saw for 98se). Sell the damn thing for $30!
That is assuming that they would buy it at all. If I 10,000 copies away, people would take them who wouldn't pay the $10 if it cost them. You can't say a copy is a sale. They could buy something else or live without it like they were doing before.
They are greedy because they don't want their software stolen? Explain that...
Gues what, you don't want to pay $300 for a piece of software? Don't. There are alternatives and saying that it isn't worth the amount they charge is a rediculous excuse for stealing it. Would you go into a store and decide they were over charging for GTA San Andreas and decide that you'll just take it instead?
Don't like Windows or how much it costs? Shut the hell up and use linux.
I like the way you ignored all the other good points people posted and picked on mine. To me Mi¢ro$oft is just like the big drug companies; they gouge the public for all they can extort from them. If they were ethical and charged a fair price, then Gates wouldn't be a multi-billionaire (he would be a multi-millionaire-- which is more fair.) If they charged a fair price, then there wouldn't be as much piracy.
People think they charge too much for their software. DO NOT BUY IT!
"they gouge the public for all they can extort from them. If they were ethical and charged a fair price"
That is an asinine comment. People don't NEED windows. They will not die without it. And who determines what a fair price is? You? You think it should cost $10 so since they want more they don't have a fair price? They wrote the software they should eb able to charge whatever they hell they want for it.
"If they charged a fair price, then there wouldn't be as much piracy."
Bull shit. People pirate $5 shareware. If they dropped the price to cost there would still be people pirating it.
Just because they, in your opinion, charge too much for their software is no excuse to steal it.
My pc automatically gets the critical updates from Microsoft.com. Last night it downloaded a critical update. I had shut off my pc and when I turned it back on, I got the windows 98 setup screen and asking my for my product authenticity code which I gave and it kept saying that windows isn't configured right and to shutdown or restart my pc. Needless to say, microsoft was NO help! Be careful with any new updates is all I have to say
how you automaticly blame the problem on Microsoft when there could have been a number of things that went wrong. Maybe you should upgrade? I've never had any problems with XP Pro.
Well, for better or worse i've been a windows user since windows 3.1. Never paid for a copy yet. They always seem to have a "Be all and all" way to end piracy... Yet it always fails. Whatever plan they cook up for this, i'm sure some cracker with too much spare time will find a way to get by it.
Ok, fess up. You're either a MS Employee, or infatuated with Bill Gates aren't ya? :) It's ok, you can tell us. The way you defend microsoft you sure you don't have a warm, moist towel along your keyboard? Man.
I'm just a software developer. I don't even have any Microsoft stock. I'm just tired of people claiming that somehow Microsoft is forcing them to buy their "over priced" software, when in reality they are just too lazy or stupid, or too busy bitching about Microsoft to take advantage of hundreds of free or very cheap open source products available.
They didn't get busted for it. There is no proof that they used pirated software to create these files. There isn't even any proof that they created these files. For all anyone knows (very little information from microsoft itself) they could have gotten these files from a supposedly royalty free site that has free audio files, or they could have contracted someone else to create the files for them, or microsoft could have a hugy library of pirated software in their vault.
couldn't micro$oft just log your ip everytime somebody updates windows with a pirate version? that would be a way micro$oft could cash in on all this piracy just like the riaa, mpaa etc.
You are all saying that they should make MS cheaper. Since when has that solved any problems. People pirate music so much these days. They dropped the price (online music stores)... but yet music piracy is still rampant.
The problem with pirates are that - when you get something for free... Why would you want to pay for it?
sectiod27 is one of the losers who thinks he is really cool, and all rebellious becuase he doesnt pay for software. But when his favourite game manufacture or whatnot goes belly up because of pirates - he will wonder why...
Piracy does cause a HUGE problem for developers (I am a software dev, but I dont work for ANY major corp).
I cant say that I dont download music or movies. But I have a MASSIVE dvd and CD collection too. I only download the stuff that either is too hard to find, or isnt released yet, and I want to see it. I still goto the movies - its very different.
Call me what you will, but i'm not the only guy downloading illegal software/music/movies online. Infact, i think the higher percentage on users pritate in some form or another. I'll never buy xp, just because, unless it came with the computer, i find hardly anybody has. Finding a bought copy of xp is like finding a needle in a hay stack.
Is this wrong? Yes very wrong. But lucky for the industry, they have great honest paying people like you to pay up for our electronic robery :)
I know your not the only person pirating. I said myself that I pirate movies/music and even software sometimes (although I dont like to do that).
I hate to tell you, but your piracy DOES effect the way the companies work. People like you, who pirate everything and anything are the ones who cause the companies to loose money.
The fact is, if you have pirated, you have stolen. the fact that you WOULDNT of paid for it in teh first place, doesnt mean that they didn't loose the money. They did, because you took something for free.
It is like a rental car. You can steal it for a week, and give it back. They didn't loose their car, but they lose the $80 a day they would have gotten if you paid for the car. Whether or not you or anyone else would have hired it, they lost money beacause you used their car for FREE!
If you dont want to pay, thats fine, then dont use it.
Everyone works for money. How do these developers get money if you pirate their software...??
>> I like to think as every act in this world serves a postive role. >> My piracy acts giving lawyers for the riaa and mpaa good paying jobs.
Why dont you go out and kill people to give mortitions a job etc... Or how about go and tip out everyones garbage bins, make the garbo's work for their money.
actually you may aswell give all the kids in preschool alcohol, to make the teachers work for once, and not run a daycare center.
You know, I always wondered how software developers made money. I always figured the odd guy on dailup, or some guy with some cash with no where better to spend it supported them.
Personally, i like the programs that let you use the program with no need to ever register or pay for the program. If you liked it, you're asked for a donation. Your choice. If somebody makes a good peice of software, you don't mind passing them some cash to pay the bills.
But then again Neester, your a programmer yourself. Have a part in any content i mave have grabbed for free lately?
You can get by inlife without buying any software. There is no need to steal the software. I support free software, and I actually donate to free developers.
What I don't understand is how you can buy a brand new PC with Windows Preinstalled for about $400. Is half of that just for Windows (since thats about what you'd pay for it on the shelf) ?
Thats an OEM Version of the software. Like anything you buy it gets cheaper when you buy it in bulk. I've already stated you can get an oem version of windows xp home edition for under $100, I've seen them online for aroun $40 and I'm sure it costs PC manufacturers even less.
First of sense you pay for everything maybe you should go out and buy some spell checking software, although i am hoping you meant they were losing money. I have never heard of loose money, loose women yes, but money??
And all those jobs jobs you mentioned already have plenty of business, they pick up the trash, and people die naturally. He was speaking of the jobs created specifically from pirating software and such.
I mean I do my fair part as well and try to throw trash out my car window at any chance. to ensure inmates a chance to get out and help the community by keeping our highways clean.
software makers can be so dumb. Look at adobe and microsoft. They sell high and make millions, but by selling them high, it makes people pirate it. $500? who really wants to pay? the smartest thing would be to sell it for $70 AUD. They would make the same amount!
