RSSNon-Legit Windows Users Get Amnesty
By David Worthington and Nate Mook | Published May 4, 2005, 4:42 PM
UPDATED Expanding its Windows Genuine Advantage program, Microsoft will now compensate customers in the United States that unknowingly purchased counterfeit versions of Windows XP with complimentary genuine Windows copies. There is one catch, however: customers must first file a report on the unscrupulous reseller.
Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) is a carrot and stick initiative that requires users to validate their Windows license in exchange for special perks at the Microsoft Download Center and full access to updates. Microsoft asserts that WGA protects customers by ensuring the security and integrity of Windows installations, and protects resellers by reducing the number of competitors that practice counterfeiting.
Security updates will still be distributed via the Microsoft Download Center to all Windows users - legitimate or not. In the U.S. the program remains opt-in, but Microsoft has begun to restrict download access in some international markets, particularly where software piracy is widespread.
"WGA is designed to differentiate the value of genuine Windows software from counterfeit software so that customers can enjoy the confidence that comes with genuine software, and that it is part of Microsoft's ongoing commitment to protect its customers from software counterfeiting and its partners from competitors who engage in this practice," a Microsoft spokesperson told BetaNews.
In order to receive a complimentary copy of Windows XP Professional, customers must first file a confidential piracy report, hand over the fraudulent media and provide Microsoft with a proof of purchase. Microsoft has put in place a control to make certain that applicants are filing legitimate claims.
When asked if customers are essentially being required to snitch on the reseller they purchased from, the spokesperson said, "Microsoft is collecting information on counterfeit resellers in order to get a better sense of their illegal practices and for use in with authorities to enforce anti-piracy policies and laws."
"Microsoft devotes substantial time and energy toward fighting software counterfeiting, and customers can be assured that we will take appropriate action in response to their report," the spokesperson added.
However, Microsoft acknowledges that many users will not be able send in their counterfeit CD and proof of purchase. For those customers, Microsoft is offering a $149 replacement Windows key that can be immediately activated, with a boxed copy of Windows XP Professional arriving later in the mail. "We want to be able to expedite the process," Microsoft says.
"Overall, I think Microsoft has executed the WGA program fairly well. I skeptically viewed the program when introduced last year. Should customers be punished because the seller broke the law? I'm not convinced the burden should be placed on the buyer, if it's the seller that stole from Microsoft," Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox told BetaNews.
"But I also see Microsoft in a kind of damned if it does and damned if it doesn't situation. Reduced piracy means more revenue. Potentially greater customer satisfaction from genuine Windows could mean more revenue. Potentially reduced security problems because of tampered Windows XP software could boost customer satisfaction and, in theory, perception of Microsoft and software sales," said Wilcox.
"I assume that some bean counters up in Redmond already figured the costs and benefits of WGA versus the costs associated with aggrieved customers."
There is no question that we are all of one mind if someone can build it. There will be someone that can unbuild it that is the price we all pay for being human and having the same brain functions. Crime will always exist because their are people in poverty and after awhile these people get pretty desperate. It's a losing argument to say greedy M$ is right but poor people stealing is wrong. What does 2 wrong = nothing thats my point. I don't agree with anyone stealing anything but prices should be fair for everyone not just the rich. Maybe M$ should look at it cliental more thoroughly.
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|yes i agree but don't you think also that these company's should also be cutting their prices two robberies IE the seller and the pirate if OEM can do it so can they it would then cut a lot of pirating would it not
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|i don't comprehend your comments
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|When a user buys a PC from a vender, that machine SHOULD come with a CD for reinstall. Its called FAIR USE RIGHTS. Even if the user looses the CD. If the machine is totally fubar'd and not even bootable because of 'insert windows hole here' then reinstallation can be from any CD, with any key, pirated or not. Again, FAIR USE RIGHTS. Granted to everyone during the Betamax case back in the early 80's, and yes, it does apply to software.
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|Now that if this "less pirated Windows" would actually decrease the price of the product...
It just means "all for one and more for M$". :)
Id like to see cheaper version of Windows, one without IE, Windows Media Player, Outlook and all this other crap that i dont ever use or even want to use.
Something tells me that this aint gonna happen in the near future...
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|custom install don't install it.
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|how do you do a custom install in xp?
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|What do you use to download Firefox? :P
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|Insert XP disk open it normally. You'll get a lovely graphical menu. Then you can choose what you want to get rid of.
Having a version of Windows without a web browser is a silly idea and Microsoft can only ship it with their own, makes economical sense.
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|Good Idea if the implementatios is Good,
now look like there is some problems:
1. Difficult to ask the proof of purchase which is clear enough indicating that it is a pirated Windows. and put more clear info.
2. They need to prepare everything to bust the pirated distributor. otherwise they will run before it.
3. Make it also International available, Not only in some country. Microsoft need this method, mostly in Country where there is big pirated, instead in country where pirated already low
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|the first copy I bought was 360 dollars, then it came out from Microsoft for 180 with Service pack 2, did I get a rebate or just more updates for my dollars, now they want people who spent substantially less to buy into the charade because of the crap they are pulling on Win 64. Is there something wrong with the logic here? MS generally has s*** on everyone through the years that has licensed versions from MS DOS on. Is it a big surprise they no longer deserve customer dedication or satisfaction? Have always had promises with little delivery except by spending more money on the solutions that were just more promises. Think it's about damned time for "customer rewards" and to hell with the pirates - make them pay 380 dollars for the XP version of Win 95.
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|and by the way people who buy pirated copies know they are buying pirated copies - knowingly and willingly. get a clue.
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|That's not always true. There are still companies out there that load a non-legit os on a new computer and sell it to an unsuspecting victim. You can't expect that someone that's never had a computer or doesn't know the difference between Windows and the mouse will know that they bought a bad copy until they need support.
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|then kill the vendor. if they are buying group licensing which is legit - it should be honored with the resale and verifiable. If I buy bad meat from a grocery store and it turns out to be poison - I expect satisfaction from the grocery store and/or the meat packer, not the rancher. If people have enough moxy to buy a computer they need to get a clue. I think of the cartoon with the old man sitting with a dead mouse in a trap next to his computer asking his old wife - now that I got a mouse what should I do with it - it is a cartoon OK? people who look for bargains seldom get one in the computer biz. Who is it that said "let the buyer beware?"
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|Did-jya read the article?
They will kill the vendor, however they will also help the guy that thought he was a customer. It's a good PR move in my opinion.
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|good PR move. freeing the slaves justified the War between the states :-)
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|By doing this Microsoft is crushing small business. Those who can't compete with Dell, and others MUST pirate windows, or use Ghost copies to install on their machines. You can't BUILD a machine for $299 ,add the price of windows, and make a profit unless you sell by the thousands, and buy wholesale by mass volumes. I preload Slackware linux with Dropline gnome on the machines I sell. And still, I must sell them for more than $420 if I want to make a profit. So I say, to hell with Microsoft. They stole from Apple, its time people start taking back all the things M$ stole from them.
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|It isn't Microsoft's responsibility to help small businesses make a profit. If you think it is, you are clueless. It is the business owner's responsibility to come up with ways to turn a profit. As far as Microsoft stealing from Apple, every OS takes ideas from other OSes.
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|yeah just look at spotlight - total rip off of either Google desktop search, Yahoo desktop search, or even Windows idea for integrated desktop search in Longhorn.
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|Wow! I can't believe that you may actually own a legitimate business.
I run a one man computer shop and it just burns, when I find out that other shops are using bootleg/counterfeit software. Two reasons: first, they are making a huge profit and provide no support to the customer, who will end up with a whole bunch of adware, viruses and junk on the computer. Two, as the customers get wise to this, they will become increasingly skeptical of dealing with small shops and that hurts all of us.
Not to mention that is illegal, regardless of what you may think of M$. There are other, better ways of turning a profit, than using pirated/bootleg software. If you can't afford to provide your clients with quality parts and genuine software, maybe you're in the wrong business!!!
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|you are the ones who MS is hunting down and shouldn't be in business. Quality products and quality service make a business.
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|How is jacking your price up on the PC you sell by $150 for a crappy OS, and is vulnerable to everything on the planet, helping the customer? I havn't seen a PC shop yet be able to sell a PC for $299, and make money like Dell. I started selling my machines with nothing but Slackware 10.1 + Dropline Gnome as of a year ago. If someone 'pirates' as you call it, windows, more power to them. M$ PAYS Dell to put windows on their machines. Microsoft is a CRIMINAL MONOPOLY, and you, Sir, are a Facist Nazi.
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|see above.
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|Any valid points you may have had are completely undermined by your blindingly obvious bias.
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|That doesn't change the facts.
I don't sell inferior products made by a criminal monopoly, and havn't in over a year, and I make a good living. But for those of you who do 'pirate' Windoze (as is the term made up by M$, MPAA, RIAA), I say more power to ya.
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|and you sir aren't a capitalist but a criminal otherwise they would be paying you. or you would have group licensing and supporting your victims.
no I am not a Nazi. You would have it free if I was and my version and being gassed if you modified the agreements you agreed to.
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|MS is Standard Oil guess we like $2.00 a gallon gas. if there is another show in town go for it. to say this works for me in a criminal way doesn't make it right. You probably make one hell of a PC that works well with pirated copies. Like GM works well until you hit the brakes and find out how corroded they are. Quality products at quality price with quality service makes a business.
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|He has a valid OS licensed. How do you justify screwing people just because it doesn't make you money? Ever been to burning man?
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|I find Wyojake funny.
'wwwyzzerdd' said he ships his computers with a version of linux, and that if you're willing to take the risks of pirating, then good for you.
Wyojake said he's criminal.
'wwwyzzerdd' didn't say he distributed pirated windows versions though, so Wyojake actually said 'linux is criminal.'
Therefore, SLAY THE CRAZY HEATHENS THAT USE THAT FOUL LINUX SOFTWARE!!1!
Lol, funny guy. :P
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|Oh? Im the criminal? Actually Microsoft is the criminal, and those that support a terrorist group like Microsoft are terrorists themselves. Microsoft funded Alkida back in the early '90s, if you give Microsoft money, you are funding terrorism. Capitalists are greedy Nazi pigs that want to swim in their own filth like the swine they are. I say unto you, and the rest of the filth that support them, "screw Microsoft, screw the RIAA, screw the MPAA, SCREW DRM, and screw your so called Trusted Computing, and your outdated crappy business model."
What is good for the customer? Not spending $300 on a "ILLEGAL PRICE GOUGING" OS. I wouln't be your customer if you tried to force me to pay for a criminal monopoly's OS. Explain to me, how a pirated copy of windows FOR FREE is bad for a customer? Explain in your own words, and don't quote any of M$'s garbage from their websites. If you load 2k, or xp on a machine, install a good firewall, AVG, and then load firefox on the machine. How is that bad for your customer if it is all free? It sounds to me like YOU are ripping your customers off.
Oh, and Windows? a QUALITY OS? LOL. Ive never heard something so retarded in my life. You must be a newbie in the world of technology. I wouln't pay $300 for a peice of garbage that gets infected with some BS crapware just by going to the wrong website with a browser that has 10 security holes a week. The whole idea of a browser having that kind of control in an OS is just stpuid. pffff, quality my ass.
One more thing. Just the idea of this so called 'licensing' should be made criminal.
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|To be honest the problem with this is the fact that they still give out things to illegal users and that the reserved stuff is real sh*t. If you ask me they should cut off all updates/downloads for anyone who doesn't own a copy of windows.
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|And wait for the tide to roll in....as spam, adware and viruses spread like wildfire through the millions of systems no longer recieving security updates....
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|... and wait for the adaption of linux as windows users gets fed up of their os beheaving wierd...
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|Or not.
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|or maybe Windows sales goes up because being the pirate makes anyone pay.
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|If in a year or two that Microsoft offers free Windows licenses for people that use alternate operating systems. Dunno how they will pull it off, but I suspect it to occur in the near term.
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|What I would do is just stop the illigitimate keys from working. Windows just stops dead. Loose your data? Too bad. Boo hoo.
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|I don't disagree. I don't condone piracy on any level. There are a lot of things to weigh though, and it seems like they are actually trying to find a way to reduce piracy and still keep (and continue to have) happy customers. I have to commend them for trying to find a solution that doesn't only include their bottom line. They are big enough that they SHOULD be thinking about all the people that were screwed by paying for a bad copy of Windows and it seems that is what they are doing in this case (at face value anyway).
Kudos to them for it.
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|I see, its ok for Microsoft to steal from us. Don't you just love the MS a-kissers.
And yes before you reply, Microsoft has already been convicted in several states of overcharging/stealing from customers.
I'm so sick of the hypocrites in this world with this "honest abe" attitude, as if you do no wrong in your life.
Also this story is talking about people BUYING windows, only for it to be found fake. So what you want to see happen is people to get ripped off of their money they already spent.
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|Personally, I think this is a great idea. It is a win/win for everyone involved except the counterfitters, and they are criminals in the first place. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
I'm always confused by statements (such as below) that MS has "made enough money" or somehow "owes us free copies cause they are rich". That is nonsense. If you are a smart person or company, and create a superior product, then you deserve to get paid for it. You don't "owe" anyone anything for being successful. And MS donates billions in charitable causes each year. How come nobody ever mentions that? Every time you steal a copy of MS software, you are taking money not only out of MS's pockets, but the pockets of all the charities they graciously support.
I think the car example above was a good one. If you can afford the car, you buy it. If you can't you don't. If you take it without paying for it, you suffer the consequenses.
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|zakly.
Although I wouldn't go so far as to say you are taking money from charities when you steal Microsoft software - they still have plenty of money to donate, everything else you said is right on.
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|maybe there is a huge amount of illegal users which are on the other hand powerusers.
ms should find a way to give those a free licence which contribute useful tips.
from my various contacts i know that there are a lot of users who can't buy now.
but they want to.
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|That is the same logic that people use for those stealing music. Just because you can't buy, doesn't mean you should get one free.
I can't buy a Mercedes or BMW, does that mean they have to give me one free. I will definitely give them some feedback on them.
I just don't buy in to that logic. This is not an attack on you, but only the logic that is used.
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|That "logic" sounds too retarded to be "used" by anyone.
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|What about the link that says
"Buy Windows XP - Only $50", are they legit?
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|most likely not unless they have some "non-profit" edition for sale... like for teachers and churches etc...
but those are not for the average consumer...
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|Nope! If you buy that and any other software they may be selling, I have a couple of bridges for sale...
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|So thats what Microsoft needs, more money!
Oh man and i thought 9.2 billion USD a year was enought...
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|Good way to get a free copy of xp pro...
first decide on who you really don't like...
give them a pirate copy of xp...
then contact microsoft and give em the info on that person...
tell ms that, that person gave you a copy of a pirated copy they own :-)
there is your free copy and a good "smack on the head" for that person you don't really like LOL
p.s. it's just a joke people... :-)
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|ROFL... that's awesome
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|That should help. Software pirates suck.
...and I know some one will do it anyway, but don't even give me the pre-canned bull about "Well, if Microsoft didn't jack up the prices..."
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|mmm ... I'm sure higher Linux / Mac sales & downloads will equalize that one out :)
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|stop being such a p**** wincement
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|idiot.
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|For what? Being happy that this will help stop software pirates? Oh that's right, everything should be free right?
Instead of attacking me, why don't you try communicating your point intelligently... oh wait, that requires an intelligent point.
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|Ok. I'll get right on that ;-)
Thanks for the input.
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|Stop piracy? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Hardly.
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|I didn't say it would stop it out right, but are you going to argue that it will do absolutely nothing to discourage piracy? No, of course not. You are hopefully much smarter than that.
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|Mac isnt free for their new os... hell they charge you for service packs. If you don't like Windows then don't use it simple as that. As stated there are lots of alternatives but everyone finds a need to bash Microsoft... Microsoft as it stands still has the best compatibilty overall because EVERYONE makes drivers for them whereas linux and mac its not always the case...plus you dont hear about gaming on macs either or linux for that matter... which in itself is a huge amount of people
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|Racing tux in 3d going down a snowy hill catching fish is...pretty cool...lol
no really i would also like to see more games for mac and linux.
but i do admit that microsoft got this whole pc gaming down quite good...
can't wait for halo2 on the pc...
bet with some killer vid card you can get better graphics then the gaming consoles...
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|so how about dem lakers?
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|Please. It will do absolutely nothing to stop or hinder piracy. It is just like the so-called war on drugs. It just makes it look like the Authorities are doing something when in fact they are doing nothing.
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|Tell that to the folks who are sitting in prison and owe huge fines! I'm shure it'll keep 'em warm in the cell....
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|I dont condone making a damn business of selling pirated software. But there is no other operating system that the average person can use. So what do they sit there. And look at bios all day? In a society that is so dependent on computers. You should not need 200 dollars to put on a operating system that can't even run on the 233 that your uncle gave you.
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|"there is no other operating system that the average person can use"
I'm sorry, that is just not true.
MacOS and Linux both are very usable by the average person, HOWEVER Linux requires a lot more up-front effort than a PC that comes with Windows already on it. MacOS is probably easier than Windows on many levels, as is Linux once you have learned how to leverage it's strengths.
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|200 bucks!?!? Where did you buy yours from? Someone robbed you blind. I got my very legitimate copy of Win XP Pro for less than 100... you just have to know where to look.
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|You dislike pirates? Well, then you dislike Micro$oft. They are stealing money to everyone. Their move to give a "free" copy is good, as said, they do it just because it will give them more revenue.
Charity said one earlier, LOL... I'm sure Al Capone gave a lot in charity... That's made him a good person? Don't be silly...
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|You can't buy XP Pro legally for less than $100 unless you are an OEM, a Student, have an employee purchase program available to you, or you are a Teacher. If that's not correct, then please share how you can get it for less legally.
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|I figure if Microsoft goes in the pit, street programmers will still write updates and patches for windows, I belive Linux will take over at that point though
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|You know what? I'm getting sick of MS haters saying Microsoft stole money. Tell me how they did or drop it already. You're just spouting off that bull because you've heard everyone else say it.
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|I didn't buy it from here, but you get the idea:
http://www.pchardware4u....x?REF=1&SKU=2713062
EDIT: oh yeah, and I am a student, but I didn't end up using that discount because I found a deal like the one above.
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|The internet cafe i work at uses Linux on 30 of our machines, windows on 5. once the customers get over the fact that it doesn't look like windows, they rarely have problems using it.
I'm a FreeBSD man myself, but we use linux at work for one main reason, we are a small business, in a summer resort type community, and cannot afford a licence for 35 windows machines without having to raise our prices, If microsoft would do some sort of sensible licencing, then we might consider using it on our machines (mostly because there are good cybercafe suites for Windows, and i've yet to find a really good one for Linux) I'd be happy to pay for a real licence, if we could get VLK's at a reasonable price, and not have to pay close to retail for each key. I'd pay $300 for the main OS, if we could get $20 keys for each addtl machine.
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|You can't legally buy or use that without buying new hardware also, so there are hidden costs to that that you aren't letting on to.
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|They steal money when you pay por a incomplete product, as they did with windows 95 (the "complete" one was Windows 95SR2, they did it again with Windows 98 (and the later windows 98SE), they did it again with the terrible windows ME (crippled on purpose to inflate windows 2000). They did again with Windows 2000 (without SP1 it really sucked), and they did it again with Windows XP (again, without sp2 sucks). This is, they steal OUR money by finishing the product after released, they make YOU pay the develpment.
They steal you money when you buy a server product by $1000 and you have to pay Client Access licences for the people that connect to that server. A ridiculous idea...
I have 100 other examples, so please don't say that I repeat what I don't know, because you don't know me at all.
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|Theft:The act or an instance of stealing.
Microsoft does not Steal your money. You GAVE them your money for a product. Don't buy it if you dont want it. If you came to me and paid me for one of my products, and then called me a thief for asking you to pay for all copies in use. I think I'd get really pissed at you. I think id be equally pissed for getting accused of stealing for charging for CALS. Get a freakin life.
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|That is not stealing, it is good customer relations. Mac on the other had would be stealing as they charge you for the updates. Everybody that makes software has updates, are they stealing too? Updates are a natural part of the software cycle, and it allows you to keep using it for a longer time.
But face it, if there were not updates, your system would become vulnerable. No one can predict the future and all the ways in which a system could be attacked. (EVEN MAC and LINUX) Again, if you don't like the fact that there are updates, then don't get them. No one makes you update. Last I checked you can turn this feature off in Windows and there are not such features in MAC unless you buy first. I think that getting them for free is pretty good and extends the life of your sytem.
Unless you think that buying a new OS every year is better?
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|Can't believe what you say... For how long are working for Micro$oft?
If you pay for a car and Ford give you the car, but with windows missing, and 2 wheels missing you'll be satisfied, right? No, I don't think so. Even when they'll correct your car in a year that's called fraud, another way to steal.
Of course is more difficult to see that in a software product, but that's what M$ do, since I was a child.
And CALs are abusive in their concept. Why do you put a server online? SER-VER, think about it, to give services, not to PAY for giving services, just comon sense...
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|Try thinking your arguments through. Microsoft doesn't make you pay for the updates. Some argued that Microsoft should have waited until the next OS to implement the security features in SP2, but they gave it to all Windows XP users FREE anyway.
You also appear to know absolutely nothing about software development. It has 4 phases: Analysis, Design, Implementation, and Testing, the last three of which repeat INDEFINITELY. It is literally impossible to make a perfect piece of software - especially a friggin OS. Hence, we have patches, service packs, and ultimately new OSes.
If you really want to point "they stole by giving updates" fingers, look at Apple. I don't see anyone whining about the way they make you pay for their service packs.
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|Think about what you're asking. Client Access Licenses for free? I'd like to see you head up that project and try persuading people to believe you.
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|Well obviously. That's why I bought my copy when I bought all the computer parts to build my computer - no problem at all.
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|:lol:
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|Never happen. If MS pulled out of the OS business (obviously in some wierd 4th dimension, since that would never hapopen here), Windows would simply cease to exist. Companies would continue writing programs for it until they were able to port all of their software to Mac. I say Mac, because it would then be the only solid company-backed, fully supported, 'worry free' OS.
I'm not taking a dig at Linux, but if this were to happen now, folks assumptions of Linux are still pretty bad. I strongly think they'd be much more likely to s*** to Mac unless there was some huge movement to make ONE version of linux for all.
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|Who's assumptions of Linux are very bad?
It's got a bigger growth rate than Windows does on new servers. I get more calls now about Linux jobs than Windows, has been that way for a year. I get at least one or two calls every single day from different companies looking for Linux gurus. I get one a week for Windows. Sorry, no one's assuming that Linux is bad anymore.
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|I'm not asking for free licenses at all! I just don't want to pay twice for the same! If you already paid for the server (a high price). The server should provide services as it can. Limitations should be physical, should be limited on resources, on IT discretion, not on CALs! If not, you are paying twice, that's not fair.
Please don't argue that it would make the product price higher because that´s not true. Windows server is already overpriced.
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|Fine, then maybe MS should just jack up the price of the software so that even the guys who only use 5 connections have to pay the same as the guys who use 500 connections. How is that fair? It isn't. A base price plus CALS is a fair way to distribute the cost of developement. Now THAT is just common sense. What is it with you people who think that everything made of 1's and 0's should be free and that if it isnt free or nearly free that the developer must be ripping someone off. Im sure you work for a living. Do you give your services for free to your employer? No, you charge for them, in the form of a salary... ( Don't even think of arguing stupid points on this one, because if you try, you've then obviously mistaken me for someone who gives a rip ) Stop the whining and be glad that these things are even available for you in this country, as in many other countries people are worried about starving to death instead of having paid too much for CALS. Grow up.. get some perspective... it will help you out alot..
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|They have billions in cash, I think they are covering their development costs just fine.
I bet that they could eliminate CALS and still feed their employees.
Just a hunch..
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|I think you could live on alot less than you have. But you don't, because you like money. Just a hunch. You fewt are known to be anti-mircosoft on everything.. anything you say holds ZERO water with me...
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|Oh yeah I forgot one thing... you people think profit = evil.........
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|Right, which is why I said kudos to them in this very article.
I'm not anti-microsoft, but that's ok you have nothing else to use so attack me.
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|Still got nothing, huh?
Profit != evil
Profit{'breaking law'} = evil
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|Tell me then why no Linux distro out there (Fedora, or Debian or Ubuntu or SuSe or Mandriva)detects my VIA RAID controller, while Windows XP setup can?
Linux has along way to go.
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|Oh, it's the end of the world because you have to load a DRIVER!
XP doesn't detect my sound card, video card, ethernet, chipset, or Winmodem. By your logic XP has a long way to go. Ubuntu Linux detected them just fine (except the modem)
My devices:
Intel Corp. 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller
nVidia Corporation NV34M [GeForce FX Go 5200]
Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5705M Gigabit Ethernet
Your argument has no merit, sorry.
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|No man, your are talking about salaries? Poor Micro$oft, it's just one of the richest companies of the world that can't pay salaries if they don't abuse their clients... you're saying bullsh*t. If the server OS price is $200 o $300, ok, we could maybe talk about CALs, but the OS cost $1000. We're paying twice!!! That's why MS lost server territory (apart from linux being more stable).
Windows server isn't a separate sources code. Desktop and Server products came from the same sources, so, what's the cost for the few additional "server" services? Too much for too little. So, today you pay $1000 and can feed 5 clients! Absurd. There is no point, and results are on table. So tell your boss that your company should lower the prices or they will truly not be able to pay salaries anymore (LOL).
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|Microsoft owns the whole world. Perhaps Microsoft should sell there operating system for much less. I am personally getting tired of Microsoft ripping off the consumer. If was priced so that the average Joe could affourd it, maybe there wouldn't be so many pirated copies.
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|agreed %100.
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