I think it is absolutely criminal the amount of money they want for the OS,especially VISTA.Their basically shooting themselves in the foot like LEXMARK charging $100 for replacement ink and $50 for a new printer complete with new ink.They would have more legit coppies out there if people could afford them without going for a bank loan to upgrade each time they come up with a new version.

thanks

This might make life interesting for some and a real nightmare for the HelpDesk.

Register within 30 days or the lights might go out on your career if you don't have a valid version ............according to this web link Hasta La Vista www.pcprofile.com/Hasta_La_Vista.pdf

The whole thing about paying/cracking operating systems is crap. We should pay somehow that operating system together with hardware. Lets say another 1-10% more on any kind of hardware. This way all people will pay whatever OS they are using. If M$ have 90% of operating system then they will got 90% of that 1-10%.
Also for home users that percentage should be smaller then for business use.
Also all that crap with 1001 versions of Vista... All that are just more or less simple features which one suppose to be easy turned on/off in installation or after. The price of $400 for the full version of Vista is really ridicules. if Is XP about $150 why is Vista $400? Is this complete new system with 250% more source code? I don't think so.
And then if basic version is about $200 why is just couple features another $200? The system is more important thing and everything else making that system more usable.
Another example of stupidness is that Vista Basic is not for games. If my 5 years old son just do basic thing on his computer I probably need to go with Premium Edition of Vista? What a joke. Welcome to future.

Screenshots from a pirated copy of Vista ACtivated using the KMS crack:

http://i138.photobucket....orks/WSH_ACTIVATION.jpg

http://i138.photobucket....ilenetworks/WSH_DLV.jpg

http://i138.photobucket..../filenetworks/About.jpg

I guess if you understand all that it all comes down to this.

There was the "Vista might not be virus prone" article a few weeks back.

Ah yea, right!

szunar@azet.sk

I have read the posts before and I see people glorifyng Linux as a complete replacement for Windows. Unfortunately, it is only if you are using 'home' features, not business ones. So, until then, Microsoft can charge a lot....

"I have read the posts before and I see people glorifyng Linux as a complete replacement for Windows."

Bluntly, harshly realistically and without a trace of rancour or fanboi-izm:

Never Happen.

Ever.

Linux diversification is its own worst enemy, just as it has always been for *NIX.

Period.

I guess you dont work in I.T. actually your incorrect, more business are adopting Linux for their servers.and no Microsoft cant charge what they wish we as users can find ways around their charges which we do.

I have read the posts before and I see people glorifyng Linux as a complete replacement for Windows. Unfortunately, it is only if you are using 'home' features, not business ones. So, until then, Microsoft can charge a lot....

This is all wonderful advertisement for Bill Gates and Microsoft's new OS Vista. The hacking community wants Vista desperately. It must be the best ever.

Thanks, Kids.

This is so stupid to pirate this... if you want to make some argument about overpriced software, etc, is one thing. But lets be straight here. If you don't want to spend money for a premium operating system, there are free alternatives. And if there is one thing you should be willing to spend cash on is the PC's OS... I don't get these stupid download kiddies.

Given the increased competition from OS X and Linux, along with the poor reviews of Vista, it is rather difficult to fathom why MS wants Vista to be as awkward as possible for end users.

Explain to me how is Vista Home, which will be the OS for 95% of "average Joe's", that comes pre-activated from Dell/HP is going to be more awkward than XP Home has been?

It'll be slightly more difficult for network admins, yeah. But what can ya do... Those admins gave XP VLK's to their techies who in turn gave it out to the world. Now with Vista, the admin will be the only one that holds the KMS masterkey so if it gets leaked - he's fully responsible.

I don't know in practice - but based on what is being "said" about Vista, and what I've read (e.g., the OReilly "Vista in a Nutshell" book, it sounds like a complete waste of time and an unneccessary "upgrade"

Vista is a nice operating system. I Beta tested Beta 2, Pre Release Candidate 1 , RC-1 and I was lost in Space when RC-2 was introduced, but have it now. Windows 64 bit XP Pro is lightning fast with just an Athlon 64
CPU and 1 or 2 Gigs of DDR 400MHz RAM.

the artist your completely right. I live in Indonesia now for 10 years and for an average Indonesian it is just impossible to buy an expensive Windows. A while ago MS offered the government to install Windows for free on govermnent PC's in Jakarta as it was all pirated and still is in many departments. MS does know and worked on it themselfs to give a 'free hand' to pirates and in this case even goverments by handing out the OS for free, they admit their OS is far to expensive! Everyone in the world has right to use MS Windows and not being pushed to use Linux or anything else, MS is the biggest penetrated OS on the market so I don't feel to use Linux with has much less support in software, for sure here in Indonesia. The world runs on MS Windows, MS made it like this themselfs, so they should take the responsibility now and balancing how much $$$ to ask in which country, if they keep refusing this piracy never will end! Another good example here in Indonesia, many brand clothing is made in this country, like Levis, Nike, Esperit, Armani etc. etc. they produce one jeans or sports pants for less then 1 dollar and sell it for over 150 dollars or much more in the west, the same clothing 'sneaks' out of the factory and is sold here on the market for about 2 - 3 dollars, who to blame for things like this happening? I don't feel sorry at all for companies facing piracy problems as long if they keep trying to dominate the world market in an unfair way!!! The big brand names know on forehand which countries are poor still they place ads on the TV to sell their products for hundreds of dollars, sure they want to reach the rich people only in those countries however should realize that also the poor are watching TV. Shouldn't they have the right using the same products or at least to copy the same product and to be cool or look cool in the beautifull Beneton colors? It's like holding a candy in front of a child and pulling back the last moment, everybody knows the child will go for it and 'steal' after a while the candy out of the kitchen cabinet.

No bussiness without sales. They might eventually kill the Hen of the golden egss. As in the Aesopus story:
"A cottager and his wife had a Hen that laid a golden egg every day. They supposed that the Hen must contain a great lump of gold in its inside, and in order to get the gold they killed it. Having done so, they found to their surprise that the Hen differed in no respect from their other hens. The foolish pair, thus hoping to become rich all at once, deprived themselves of the gain of which they were assured day by day".

All i have to say is good, cause what do people running vista wthout a internet connection do.

Hang on a minute ...

In order for the crack work, when installing Vista, a KMS product key must be used. If the system is ever captured by Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage program, Microsoft would be able to mark it as pirated and deactivate the key.

So to use this hack, I would need to have bought a genuine KMS key in the first place?

... and this hack is really aimed at corporates? Any big outfit that feels that loading this kind of software on their servers just to avoid paying for their licences, pretty much deserve whatever payload hackers choose to include with it ....

No, as a wannabe pirate you don't use a paid-for KMS. You'd use the hacked virtual-drive image that contains some stolen KMS in "frozen state" (can be reused over and over again). Pirates can't include any payload since you only use the fake image for the purposes of hacking Vista, not to run as your main OS.

Further, this is not meant for corporates to become pirates, but for the average thief on his home machines. The thief would opt for the Business OS just like 99% of thieves today use XP Pro which is "a business OS". You don't need Vista Ultimate anyway if you don't plan on using it as a Media Center.

But MS say they'll fight it hard. So it may be a futile attempt by the pirates. I'm not gonna be cracking my OS every two months because MS blacklisted me with SP1 or some other MS software that'll "BTW" function as a cop to all MS software on my machine. Some ppl will resist as long as possible, but most current pirates will give up pretty darn soon - is my estimate.

"XP Pro which is "a business OS"."

what makes it a business os?

"You don't need Vista Ultimate anyway if you don't plan on using it as a Media Center."

ummm, do you know what you're talking about?
maybe you should quit while you're ahead eh.

"I'm not gonna be cracking my OS every two months because MS blacklisted me with SP1 or some other MS software that'll "BTW" function as a cop to all MS software on my machine."

it's sad you've given up hope that we, as consumers, will have control of our computers again some day.

"The thief would opt for the Business OS just like 99% of thieves today use XP Pro which is "a business OS". You don't need Vista Ultimate anyway if you don't plan on using it as a Media Center."

Wouldnt the theif opt for the most feature rich version such as ultimate since he's not paying for it?

The thief will steal the best version he can. Ultimate is un-stealable at this point AFAIK.

Well, perhaps the fact that nearly every desktop and laptop you buy today has XP Home? And in corps where you need to authenticate to a server you need XP Pro?

I know the diff between Ultimate and Business. I doubt you have a clue. Vista Business is the closest equivalent to XP Pro.

And yes, I'm sure "us consumers" have every right to deny the phone company from logging who we're talking to when they wanna charge us, after all, they're breaching our privacy when authenticating us as legit customers. They should just trust us to pay what we owe them every month - no questions asked. Get real. MS will enforce their Intellectual Privacy as they deem fit. Got a problem with that? Switch to Linux. YOU HAVE THAT CHOICE.

"The thief will steal the best version he can"

nice phrasing, little mis-guided.
it's more fraud than theft.
all you're doing is assuming the rights to operate it, not stealing it.
after all, it's YOUR hard drive, not MS's.
all MS can legally do is ask you to take their information off of it. if you don't, they can try to convince the courts to make you remove it. it's called copyright infringement.

honestly though, it's like me paying you to teach me how to do something, and then you telling me where and when i can use that information. you know where i'd tell you to go?

besides, EULA's are just what the company's want you to do with their product. there are no laws behind them, unless they fall under the catagory of copyright infringement. the anonymous checkbox contract doesn't fly in court.

"I'm sure "us consumers" have every right to deny the phone company from logging who we're talking to when they wanna charge us"

you just don't seem to understand...
they're the phone companies phone lines you're using, not yours. if they sold you a private line to your aunt may in main, i mean wires and all, the whole path from your house to hers. then no, they would have absolutely no right to interfere with your conversation.
but again, you don't own the physical phone lines that your conversation travels on. you pay the phone company to transmit it for you.
(but that doesn't mean i agree with tapping the lines)

"MS will enforce their Intellectual Privacy as they deem fit."

...and hackers will continue to shove it in their face

EULA's have been repeatedly won in court as the new time gospel. MS will continue to verify you are an autorized user before they service you just like when you get service for a car under warranty. You want patches/service? Prove you are legit. Very simple and clearly legal. And you come into the dealership with a hot BMW asking to be serviced, you can bet your pants they'll take it away from you, just like MS will effectively SHUT YOUR OS DOWN (neuter it). I guess they can do just s bit more than you claim they can, and apparently they'll get away with it...

You don't own IP. You own the limited rights - a license, to use it. The REAL owner can be as strict as he wants with his IP.

The hackers will act as if they're winning, but in reality, the # of Vista pirates will drop with every passing month... MS profit off Vista will skyrocket within 3 years.

"You want patches/service? Prove you are legit."

agreed

I'll give a different Point Of View than the one many of you may have.

Microsoft somewhat shoots itself on their feet while making Vista's reqs so high and the OS itself so expensive, because other than in the US and Europe, FEW CAN and EVEN LESS will upgrade their pc's to run Vista's stupid new features. And i'll tell you why i say stupid...:
When you doubt about upgradin BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH SPARE MONEY AND YOU JUST WOULDNT SPEND WHAT YOU HAVE IN A PC BUT PREFERABLY ON VACATIONS, you go and ask... "what is new in Vista to justify the upgrade?". And for what the answer is, even for security, you find out that the upgrade is not necessary, so you stay with your pirated copy of XP. WHY PIRATED? because in countries where currency is not 1 on 1 with dollars or Euros, prices are multiplied by many times to the point of being UNPAYABLE.

So there it is, i know that earnings for deals with hardware companies might be huge, but losing sales in HALF THE WORLD OR MORE, is a bigger mistake than what earnings could be.

That's why many companies and people in the world still run win98 for example.

- - - - -
Don't tell me to upgrade the OS for less or switch to Linux, i'm discussing this point in particular. I'm from LatinAm, that's why i speak so. And to avoid totally stupid answers, i'll further explain: i definitely don't care about M$'s feet, but i'm explaining piracy and why a lot of people won't buy Vista.

I live this everyday, my society lives it, so i know perfectly well what i'm talking.

T h A r t i s t

Microsoft didn't lose any money on you if you stayed an MS-OS junkie, now did they? You wouldn't buy Vista anyway, now would ya? So what MS is doing is the right thing. They're not morons. What you say is not new to them. They'll follow trends and see: "gee, in Argentina we had 95% market penetration in 2006 (all MS OS's) and in 2010 we only have 90%. Hmm what should we do what should we do?... Oh, yes, we'll lower the price FOR THAT COUNTRY ONLY to the point our market share increases -or- we may actually WANT to lose market share THERE, even to 80%, as long as our total NET PROFIT from Argentina is actually higher, since the hardcore-pirates/uber-geeks have all switched to Linux but the casual-pirates of 2006 and earlier have started paying in 2007!"...

After all, it's all a matter of price. Microsoft will NEVER lose in a price-war with MacOS, for example (the only serious competition in town for the desktop). People would go for Vista Ultimate for $100 than for MacOS at $75, in the worst possible scenario for MS. And those people who cannot afford a decent OS (nor hardware to maximize that OS), will stick to Vista Basic or XP, which are gonna REMAIN better than anything Linux/MacOS-like (from POV of price+headache/benefit = value) in the next 10 years...

So I wouldn't be crying over MS's tragic fate just yet. ;)

We will ALL benefit from less piracy, even the pirates of the last 10+ years (like myself). In the minimum, it'll give a huge NEEDED boost to Linux (competition is GOOD) and cut prices all over the place.

I'm not in favor of piracy but pray explain how we (consumers, not businesses) will benefit from less piracy. And does Linux have to do with this argument?
--->We will ALL benefit from less piracy

um sorry, but *we* dont benefit from less piracy. how does it help me either way? you think some company is going to say, "gee nobody is pirating our software, lets lower prices." well they arent. and them making more money doesnt always lead to a better product or support. All it ever seems to bring is more outsourcing so they can cut costs.

you think some company is going to say, "gee nobody is pirating our software, lets lower prices."
Under the right conditions, yes. It will always happen when lowering the price will increase profits by selling more copies, or when a company is trying to keep market share against its competitors.

Yep, normally by lowering price you sell more. Now if you sell much more to cover the diff is up to the marketers to figure out. Clearly lowering Vista Ultimate to $5 will sell a billion copies, but won't maximize profit. Now that being a pirate is gonna be a major PITA, lowering the price a bit every now and then will make more pirates jump ship into the "legitimate" waters...

Of course now when Apple sees all these pirates becoming legit they become envious of the astronomical amount of "new potential users" and they'll realize those ex-pirates will not all necessarily go for Vista if Apple has something better to offer for their hard earned cash... This is why cutting down on piracy is good for everyone. It stimulates competition and actually stimulates your brain to look at totally new computing "lifeforms".. And sometimes pushing you to try something new makes you realize it ain't that bad (say Linux). I think it sucks, but for some it may be just fine. I acknowledge that them (ex-pirates) being on Linux actually helps me get better prices with MY DIFFERENT CHOICE.

I've never bought a RETAIL/UPGRADE Windows OS, but on my future desktops/laptops I'll probably shell out the $75 to upgrade from Home to Ultimate of Vista... I'll still steal Office, of course, for as long as possible.

ROFL!

Microsoft: "We have done a better job to curb piracy with enhanced WGA and such in Vista, blah, blah"

Pirate: "Hey, before install Vista MSDN RTM, just set the date in BIOS to december 31, 2099 and then install Vista WHITHOUT ANY SERIAL NUMBER. After the install, disable the "internet time service" and set the clock back to the current time in windows and voila: it works until 2099 without the need to activate. Oh, all the updates are available and this also works with XP..."

This 2099 thing is going on the internet and everyone is saying that it works.

Great job Microsoft...

It's a cat and mouse. Eventually you will realize all resistance is futile, and in order to maintain your PC upto date with patches, and not have to keep cracking it in a new method every few weeks -- that you'll have to simply give up and either not use a pirated Vista, or shell out the cash.

Or use Linux, or use OS X

--->that you'll have to simply give up and either not use a pirated Vista, or shell out the cash.

actually you can download the individual patches as hotfixes without validation. so someone that has a legit license downloads them, puts them on a disk and gives them to the pirate and wow they have updated windows.

If Vista and Office was 25$ (25€) i would buy it at once, i will never pay the prices they charge, Will rather stick with a linux or bsd distribution then.

So, you think Windows OS should cost less than WinZip ? : )

Sorry to jump in on this, but no I just think winzip should cost like $2.

Nobody care what you think. MS is a for profit organization, and they have hundreds of thousands of people to feed.

And again, Office is a production suite for a cheap price.

agreed

Why pay for WinZip at all when 7Zip does everything it does, just as easily and much better, for free? It's the Linux vs Windows argument again, except 7Zip doesn't suffer from the usability problems Linux does.

i've said it countless times before about M$ rarther than putting in place the WGA ,just why not make thier prices for thier software fair
and acceptable .. a few words to you MR $$$$$$
drop your prices !!!!! then everybody will buy legial software not when Office is £200 pounds and vista is 100+ why not charge say £25 per copy
then that would near enough wipe it out

agreed.
how many copies of windows xp did MS sell?
few hundred million?
even at a few dollars profit per copy, that's a fortune.

one word for MS,
"GREEDY"

Maximizing return on a $10,000,000,000 investment is hardly greedy. I'm pretty sure they have some rather intelligent people setting their prices.

By that logic, all the folks who produce free open-source software must be idiots.

lol
10 billion to create an os eh?
somehow i doubt it.

i could employ 1000 programmers at $10,000 a month for 5 years and still only spend 600 million.
but it shouldn't take 1000 programmers who make over a hundred grand a year, 5 years to make a state of the art os.

Well, no ... but when they come up with an OS that is used on 95% of the PCs in existence, then we'd probably have a better comparison.

FYI, they had over 10,000 people help develop Vista with an average yearly salary of $200,000.

do you have any proof to back up this claim?
or is this just a couple numbers you pulled from your a$$?

what planet are you from? People pirate will pirate even if it cost $1. MS charges this amount because it is the optimal profit point.

Just ask yourself how many freeware you used or using that you have donated some money to the creator(s)?

I can bet you anything that in 5 years you cannot have another OS on the market and able to make a profit.

You just don't know anything about business. You just a moron who just here to frame.

"I can bet you anything that in 5 years you cannot have another OS on the market and able to make a profit."

with the money to fund it? why not?

"You just don't know anything about business."

lol, that's just a little ignorant.

"You just a moron who just here to frame."

you're kinda looking like the troll looking to flame people. try adding some intelligence to the conversation rather than personal insults.

about 75% actually.

i think he must be a spammer from laos, judging by his s***ty spelling and annoying posts.

When I see these kinds of things, be it Microsoft, or any other corporation. I think, how does this benefit me as a consumer? The EULA, some sort of unwritten law made by media distributors, for their own interests. How about improving on the technology for a change? I wonder how many millions went in to WGA, and if it's really worth it for MS to pursue this route. It will not stop determined, rouge coders.

It's a business, and companies want to protect illegal solicitation of their software. But, that's the risk one has to take. If you're not up to the task, then get out of the software business and stop treating the consumer has a criminal. I see Microsoft inching ever closer to the 'Trusted Computer (business) Model'. Again, all for their gains, not yours and mine. The price of Vista alone speaks for itself. This is another example of man serving technology in a much larger problem.

Sure, WGA alone is a drop in the ocean, but there's a growing resentment amongst every day people with corporate enterprises and when pushed around enough, that will only bring out the criminal element. Prohibition of the 1920's/30's taught us a lesson. Restricting civil liberties lead to an unprecedented wave of organized crime. Is this want corporations want? Surely, Microsoft can do better than this. Maybe a subscription tech support, where you purchase blocks of time to use the OS and get support, for example.

The intention of WGA is not to stop rogue coders. It is intended to put a stopper in the flood of casual piracy, and at that, it does a very good job.

MS isn't stupid, they know that hardcore software crackers and pirates will continue to find ways around it.

Yes and they have employed some rather well know software crackers too :)

"It won't stop determined rogue coders"

My friend, it won't stop ANYONE. Thats why the HGA (Homo Genuine A$$vantage) is a waste of literally TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. You guys have to realize that there is as much political as it is anything else. This WONT really stop "casual copying" either. At worst it might make the lives of OS-Pirate-profiteers a little better. Because the war to cost Microsoft horrifying financial loss means that these same "rogue coders" are not trying to crack Vista for themselves.. No, they're trying to crack it for EVERYONE and to make it AS EASY AS POSSIBLE in the form of "single step" solutions and what not.

So that means as soon as the Chinese are finished with their holiday gift for MS, Vista will join the ranks of XP. Easy to copy, easy to distribute, easy to activate, easy to pirate.

And thank goodness for that because no one in their right hemisphere would pay over 50 bucks for an OS. Let alone 400 for Vista!!!! WTFFFFF?????

What is wrong with activating the software? They are trying to prevent software piracy, which is costing their company billions of dollars a year. When you buy software you do not own the original master copy of the software in the companies basement. You are purchasing a LICENSE AGREEMENT to use the software...

"Thats why the HGA (Homo Genuine A$$vantage)"

That's real mature...

180 Days? Who keeps Windows operating that long with out a reinstall? About 45 days is the longest I've ever gone.

No doubt there will be a hack/crack that is much more effective within a month or so...

You probably have some sort of hardware problem perhaps; I've had XP running for more than two years without a crash or a reinstall.

That's your problem. I have xp running for a long time w/o a problem.

It's probably not doing anything!

--->I have xp running for a long time w/o a problem.

Why should some one hack when Linux is available free of charge. Ubuntu is shipping free CD and this live cd boots the whole OS then if you are statisfied you can proceed with the installation. Fedora is shipping new releases with 6-8 months. All are offering best GUI and ease of use no serial offering hassle free installation. Why should some one really going through all these trouble? why should some one bother about Vista and what’s wrong with Linux.

There is nothing wrong with Linux. It's a good OS. However, it has the same drawbacks as MacOS - not that much is developed for it. Windows has, by far, the largest application and PC game library of any OS. This is why so many people continue to use it. If companies would turn around and start developing for Mac or Linux, I think we might see a major s*** in the OS that PC-users prefer.

and that is not going to happen because there are so few of us out here that use Mac and Linux.

Don't get me wrong, Linux rocks. But try installing Ubuntu on a brand new core 2 duo that your neighbor decides to build and you will find the meaning of frustration. No standard home user can install and use Linux as easily as Windows. I am not defending windows just pointing out that they have a simpler setup that works! Yes I know about the versions of Linux that you just hit one button and it takes over your entire computer, but really only if you have older hardware. I recently looked into replacing all windows OS's in my network with Linux, and I can not do it. We have too many propitiatory programs that don't have a Linux equivalent, (Electronic Health records, GUI into a finance system, IE dependent websites that allow diagnostic imaging access at the nearby hospital, hardware with windows only drivers, and the worst TRY AND I MEAN TRY AND BUY A DELL, GATEWAY, IBM, HP/Compaq or any XYZ name brand computer without windows, YOU CAN'T, MS has deals with them all) so for me I am screwed and have to buy 200+ licenses and deal with the freeking activation. Hardware requirements, lack of support, zero-day exploits. Again if I could avoid all this with Linux I would, and have tried. Keep up the good work hackers frankly MS can go jump off for infringing on my rights to use a product. But don't say Linux is the cure all yet, its not, When its ready you can count me in on that side of the fence. I already use 3+ flavors on some of my servers as well as VMware. both are an unbeatable combo for a low cost high-available solution. As to MS's activation, all software can be hacked, even hardware encryption token based crap. I very much doubt that MS or any other company that uses copy protection will "learn" and not put it in, why because its cost effective and works, it costs people a lot of time on both sides of the fence but in reality copy protection works in favor of the company's bottom line and you and me as a consumer need to vote with the only instrument that companies like MS understand, OUR MONEY, don't buy it don't run it, don't argue about it just move away from the product one computer at a time and they will understand. Don't believe me look at what happened when MS got wind of the outcry from the public when MS was going to limit the number of times you could reinstall vista? It didn't take long for MS to make a quick turn.

Unfortunately, it seems most of the "killer app" niches have already been filled on Windows and Mac platforms, giving users little incentive to switch to a new platform. Disgust with Vista just might be what's needed; only time will tell.

You compare the amount of time it takes to activate some software (OS or else) than the amount of time it'll take to deal with migrating to Linux/Mac? C'mon now... If I had to activate 200 machines every few months I'd probably just invest the time and generate a perfectly working AutoIt script or a similar solution...

Initial activation takes seconds. The KMS re-activation doesn't even require user or admin intervention.

I am using Fedora Linux at Home and I also installed Ubuntu as well. I have not yet tested with Dual Core processor but as I can make an educated guessing that you a 64bit version of the Ubuntu for Dual Core processor. By the way the computer I am using is fully assembled by myself and not a branded system. Even if you go for a branded system parts will be made by many others any way. I am using windows at my office which is Windows XP licensed. I don't see big difference between Windows and Linux as both offer GUI.

Guys, Just look around most flavors of Linux like Fedora and Ububtu are coming up with latest version of every 6-8 months time that is approximately equal to the time frame that Micro Soft has set upped to activate again. Windows XP released 5 years back and has released only 2 service packs so far. In my personal experience it's a good idea to take a full backup of the documents in DVD every month and reinstall the whole HDD with the latest Flavour of Linux 6-8 months. May be American and European rich guys stick with Windows while rest of the world definitely will look for Linux if not now will happen in near feature.

Linux will definitely benefit from MS cracking down on pirates. I get this feeling, though, that if you asked 100 average users in 5 years what they'd prefer running Windows XP or the Latest Fedora/Ubuntu, the vast majority will still tell you Windows XP... (again, in 5 years) XP is just that good.

There is nothing wrong with Linux except the learning curve. Most people don't want to change, especially when it come to technology. It may take you a few days to get use to everything, but for other people, it will takes an eternity.

Of course, there are other problem like compatibility and software availability for Linux

I use all three, daily!
For the most part, OS X is the best.
Linux is great for backend server stuff which I never have to touch --- but Windows still has the best development tools available - now if only the Linux people understood that.

you obviously dont use the intricate functions of either os. they vary greatly in what they can and cannot do. although with third party add-ons you can get each os to do just about anything the other can do. Although you may have to jump through a million hoops to get it to.

if linux had all the apps that windows does then there wouldnt be much of a differance. at least for me.

It's just disgusting that Microsoft is allowed to spy on other Corporations/Companies/Groups thru their rootkit WGA spying virus and they can keep raising prices endlessly.

Ha! Ha! Ha!

^_^

Small wonder . . .

Teh Chinese will save us from this demon-company.

you are one week late with the news

oh well it's not like anyone other than Micrososft actually expected it to work.

No suprises, but I'm sure they never expected to to completely stop the hardcore pirates. It's a way of cutting down on casual copying and as far as that goes it works.

This is to be expected. Microsoft isn't comprised of morons, people--software can and always will be hacked. The activation stuff is just one way to limit illegal copies. Had this been discovered at day one of release, how many more pirated copies would be out there? Come on, guys.

The activation stuff is to limit paying customers. Companies are going to lose billions of dollars due to the new insane WGA/KMS activation stuff headache.
Microsoft deserves to be split up and crushed, it's the worst monopoly ever appeared in the market. No one has been allowed to do what Bill Gates manages to do, he seems like a god, no one is stopping him and his insane group.
Other Companies will get crushed like insects at this rate by Microsoft if no one will dare to stop them.
If any other group, Company, Corporation tried to do what Microsoft does every single day they would get sued and go bankrupt in a short time, but no one dares to even try to touch Microsoft. All judges and politicians avoid touching Microsoft... you can only wonder why.... sigh

The activation stuff has no affect on paying customers. They couldn't care less. Companies are smart enough to install from images, SMS, or SUS so this will not bother them in the least.

exactly. i don't get where they have the idea that WGA will bother paid customers.

obviously youve never had to deal with WGA giving a false positive to pirated software. Many things can make WGA think your os is pirated when its not. i have seen well over 20 cases of this. usually from spyware/adware or crappy software not uninstalling correctly *cough* *norton* *cough*

Huh...

So you're saying that when the systems stopped functioning properly, things didn't work as intended?

Wow. That's astonishing.

Let me get out my violin...

Wow, you've been good and honest and valid for 180 days, but on day 181, you're a criminal again. Nice way to treat a customer, Microsoft!

How dare they try to prevent piracy!
/sarcasm

Hold on while I get my violin. You know every store you shop in has security cameras, tags and detectors. You know why, because you are a criminal. That's right, they are calling every one of their customers criminals. I don't like activation but come on, people DO pirate their software so they have a right to try and protect it. Just because they check everyone's keys it doesn't mean they are calling everyone thieves. Oh and when a company sets up this server it's completely automated. Microsoft does not call the boss every 180 days and demand a key, the server does it in the background. If they are legit they will never know anything about it.

Does the store keep calling you up and asking you if you have shoplifted what you bought from them?

That wasnt the point. Writer did say "Microsoft does 'not' call the boss every 180 days and demand a key" so it was not implied that any store would call every 180 days to ask about a purchase. Also, MS will not "call" you if you only purchased a product. What if you don't install it? Will they know you have obtained it? The point that was being made was that MS every 180 days checks to make sure you are legitly using software, and likewise, the store checks every time you walk out of their store if you've stolen anything. Such as the security stickers in CDs/DVDs and ink pins on clothing, they may be removed afterwords, but think of Vista as a subscription that you have a 1 time payment. You pay once, but every 6 months I am requiered to let them know I am owning up to my agreement with them. Much like a cable company or cell phone provider... You can pay 6 months in advance, but they are still going to send you a bill reguardless if you've paid for that month already or not. And after that 6 months if you don't pay up (own up to your agreement with them or in MS Vista case, re-key), you lose your services.

Ok what about my pc at my camper? i have no internet access out there. will i have to pack up my pc and bring it home every few months?

Yes, but if I've installed, activated, and validated my copy of Vista, they have every piece of info they can gather from me at that time. So it was Microsoft who verified the validity of my copy of Vista. Why check again and again and again?

If my license and activation code pop up elsewhere, they can refuse to activate it until I verify MY copy on a presumably different hardware ID. No one wants to see Microsoft go broke, but Microsoft needs to stop whining over persistent bad press. There's a reason software like Firefox is loved: people form a positive emotional attachment to it. Vista activation provokes reaction and leaves a bad taste in the honest customer's — er, "end user" — mouth.

As Steve Berkowitz notes:
"Google, meanwhile, is growing, prospering, and moving increasingly onto Microsoft’s turf. Microsoft lost its way, Mr. Berkowitz says, because it became too enamored with software wizardry, like its new three-dimensional map service, and failed to make a search engine people liked to use... "A lot of decisions were driven by technology; they were not driven by the consumer," he said. "It isn’t always the best technology that wins. It is the best experience."

at least it's 180 days.
I think McAfee.... sigh...

No, you'll reformat the drive, install Linspire and Star Office, and never look back ...

Read the story. If you have no internet access you are not a business user. You will activate once directly with Microsoft and it'll never expire... Even that one time thing you could do from your camper...over the phone...

Most people (I'd say 95% actually), you know the average users not techies...won't give a crap. Why? Their Dell/HP/Sony desktop/laptop will come with the OS activated. So as you can see the whining is of a tiny vocal minority. Gotta love those minorities...Mac users..Linux users.. for them the PC world is utter s***. Interestingly, they don't seem to be able to convince too many people it's all that bad.

BTW, I've been the "technical hand" for about 20 illegal XP Pro installs for myself and family/friends. Mostly upgrades from XP Home. All of them can and will afford the $75 upgrade from Vista Home to Ultimate in future scenarios. I'm not gonna go visit their PC's every few months re-instating a new crack method for Vista... I *MAY* torelate that annoyance on a few select machines. In other words - Microsoft won, and they deserve it. I've always said that when MS takes piracy seriously I'd encourage people to buy their software (maybe even myself if I get a good deal). The less piracy, the faster the competition will grow, the better both will be in all regards (incl price).

The point that was being made was that MS every 180 days checks to make sure you are legitly using software, and likewise, the store checks every time you walk out of their store if you've stolen anything. Such as the security stickers in CDs/DVDs and ink pins on clothing, they may be removed afterwords, but think of Vista as a subscription that you have a 1 time payment. You pay once, but every 6 months I am requiered to let them know I am owning up to my agreement with them.

But that is still like the store manager turning up at my house every six months, to rifle through my house for stolen goods.

Why check it again and again?

For exactly the reason stated in this article. If the first activation is a crack, how else are they going to disable pirated systems other than checking them again?

Pirates have cracked activation. The only other reasonable, business-minded alternative for MS is WGA. Periodic re-checks to verify the authenticity of the product.

Vista activation mens absolutely nothing to most customers. It bothers a few techies with a grudge and pirates. Honest customers couldn't care less and barely even notice it exists.

Again this ONLY applies to volume license customers, which are huge companies. This does not apply to regular customers at all, in fact home users can't even buy VLK editions. The home versions of Vista only have to be activated one time. They don't have to be connected to a KMS server every 180 days.

Umm... this has been news for almost a week. Look at the age of the torrents. I figured you guys were just not reporting this...

I bet soon MS requires game/program installers to include a GA checker, which would nullify the OS if detected as such.

Then again, one of these days Microsoft will make a mistake, and they will deactivate a large subset of the population through one of these checks. it's just bound to happen. They can't even make an media player without holes.

I agree with you. By 2015 the developers who will partner with Microsoft will enjoy strong anti-piracy measurements under the MS umbrella. If MS disables 5000 keys by mistake, you know they'll give you(them) at least 30 days to rectify (as usual), so your dooms-day scenario of very bad PR is not gonna materialize...

The market will dictate whether DRM-EVERYTHING is where we all (as a population) wanna go. I wouldn't give a rat's a** if I had to pay for music if it was a great deal ($20/mo for unlimited selection of time-expiring music).

What? Did anyone think it was going to last?

The more Microsoft tries to secure its OS the more it adds fuel for hackers. Its like some one daring you, "I bet you cant do this." Not to mention possible monetary incentives.

at least better than having those hackers out in the wild doing who-knows-what.