Windows Vista, is it your Primary OS ?

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#71945 23-May-2007 19:03

Yeah I warn people against software piracy not because I feel bad about it (I don't) but the implications. You don't want to be on the wrong end of a laywer being paid by one of the biggest computer companies ever. I bet they get a bazillion bucks an hour.

Even that teacher in that country got stung for copying Windows to his students so they could do stuff. In a country where $4 is hour daiy rate kinda thing. It wasnt MS that jumped on him for it, though. But just goes to show that pirating software publicly is a no-no. Better to just be free software anyway eh Freit? :P hehe

freitasm

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#71948 23-May-2007 19:09

I would like to see you work weeks, months on a project and then see someone else profiting of it... I bet you would be happy since you don't mind software piracy.

rwales

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Master Geek

#71949 23-May-2007 19:14

how possible to have cracked vista there in new Zealand? what if someone found with illegal one.

Let the flaming commence.

Technically, I'm not aware of any Vista cracks. I know Microsoft have clamped down on piracy in Vista. According to our sysadmin, there are no more volume keys, *every* installation is recorded - and we're a Microsoft Gold partner. Even if a crack existed, I would be extremely dubious about applying it in terms of what functionality I would lose (i.e. Windows Updates), what functionality I would gain (i.e. malware) and the risk of prosecution.

Most corporations are far too risk averse to even consider condoning software piracy, especially against a software house with as much financial and legal power as Microsoft. For personal use, why bother? You can get OEM Vista Ultimate on new machines for very little. If you don't agree with the pricing, then don't use the software. There are many free alternatives available.

rwales

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Master Geek

#71952 23-May-2007 19:18

I would like to see you work weeks, months on a project and then see someone else profiting of it...

People do this all the time. It's called free software.

I've got nothing against companies turning a *reasonable* profit but I have no love for companies that charge whatever they can get away with for a product or service, especially when that company is a convicted monopolist.

Saptha

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#71953 23-May-2007 19:24

rwales:
how possible to have cracked vista there in new Zealand? what if someone found with illegal one.

Let the flaming commence.

Technically, I'm not aware of any Vista cracks. I know Microsoft have clamped down on piracy in Vista. According to our sysadmin, there are no more volume keys, *every* installation is recorded - and we're a Microsoft Gold partner. Even if a crack existed, I would be extremely dubious about applying it in terms of what functionality I would lose (i.e. Windows Updates), what functionality I would gain (i.e. malware) and the risk of prosecution.

Most corporations are far too risk averse to even consider condoning software piracy, especially against a software house with as much financial and legal power as Microsoft. For personal use, why bother? You can get OEM Vista Ultimate on new machines for very little. If you don't agree with the pricing, then don't use the software. There are many free alternatives available.

no more volume keys but there are OEM keys there are firmware emulators that can post data to overwrite windows activation data. also the latest crack can post random possibility keys same like brute force style.
I'm not going to promote illegal activities but for all of your information there are successful activation that i can even get windows updates.

freitasm

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#71954 23-May-2007 19:29

rwales:
I would like to see you work weeks, months on a project and then see someone else profiting of it...

People do this all the time. It's called free software.

I've got nothing against companies turning a *reasonable* profit but I have no love for companies that charge whatever they can get away with for a product or service, especially when that company is a convicted monopolist.

It's called free software if you chose to do so, otherwise is commercial software - and my reasoning stands.

Monopolist? C'mon. People can use any media player they want. Goodness, Apple gets away with having a media player on their platform and no one complains.

It's not like you can't use Firefox or Opera on your Windows machine. It's not like you can't use Quicktime or Real Player on your Windows machine.

This is the same as saying Ford is a monopolist because their cars come with tyres! Oh, Goodyear is complaining, Ford should send the car without tyres and users should be able to select whatever they want.

bradstewart

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#71955 23-May-2007 19:32

Saptha: no more volume keys but there are OEM keys there are firmware emulators that can post data to overwrite windows activation data. also the latest crack can post random possibility keys same like brute force style.
I'm not going to promote illegal activities but for all of your information there are successful activation that i can even get windows updates.

The brute force method was admitted as being a hoax by its author. We do not condone piracy or any other illegal activity here on Geekzone.

Piracy is bad, just because the party being ripped off is a huge corporation doesn't make it any more right as some people imply.

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rwales

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Master Geek

#71958 23-May-2007 19:39

no more volume keys but there are OEM keys there are firmware emulators that can post data to overwrite windows activation data. also the latest crack can post random possibility keys same like brute force style.
I'm not going to promote illegal activities but for all of your information there are successful activation that i can even get windows updates.

I'll take your word for that.

Vista adoption is slow at the moment, and Microsoft is currently suffering a PR disaster with the recent Linux patent infringement announcement. However, once adoption has picked up and the waters have settled, what's to stop Microsoft identifying 'cracked' installations and going after them RIAA style? Did you write the crack? Do you know it's limitations?

Microsoft has no monitory limits. It also has powerful lobbies that ensure international IP treaties are upheld, meaning you aren't safe even outside of US jurisdiction. Like I said - why bother? There's a lot of risk for very little return. Piracy is one of the few things that worry Microsoft. Would you really want a multi-billion dollar corporation baying for your blood?

bradstewart

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#71964 23-May-2007 19:44

You're wrong there, Vista has been adopted at a record rate especially among businesses where a far larger % are switching to Vista than was the case when XP was released. From what I gather Microsoft are ahead of targets.

As for the 'PR disater', nobody cares except for the anti-M$ slashfud crowd, 99% of whom use Windows anyway because they are all too stupid to attempt to use Linux.

Saptha

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#71980 23-May-2007 20:14

lets not talk about crack i better keep my mouth shut

already fed up up with this legal warnings, Compare to windows XP vista price is really unfair. Microsoft is really happy that they sold 40M already but i believe most of them are sold with hardware for home use. Microsoft will try as much as they can but the way activation process work there are enough vulnerabilities to get trough. also as much as they push to go for original mean they are losing the trend more people will switch to MAC & Linux

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#71982 23-May-2007 20:17

Compared to Windows XP it's unfair? Based on what? Have you seen how much new functionality is being introduced with Windows Vista? And what's the difference of being 40 million for home or for business?

Switch to Mac is costly, you have to buy a new hardware and it's much more expensive than Windows Vista. REally switch is a personal preference and there's no reason to badmouth whoever decided to switch or not.

I think this discussion is going nowhere...

rwales

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Master Geek

#71986 23-May-2007 20:24

bradstewart: You're wrong there, Vista has been adopted at a record rate especially among businesses where a far larger % are switching to Vista than was the case when XP was released. From what I gather Microsoft are ahead of targets.

I give you my opinion, which is based around personal experience and what I read. My company and all the clients I work with have no intention of installing Vista for a long time. Nobody wants to rush in and get burnt. The first hit from googling 'vista adoption business' offers a poll with conclusion "A poll in the IT industry shows that business are in no hurry to upgrade to Microsoft's latest operating system." (http://news.digitaltrends.com/news/story/12927/vista_creeps_toward_business_adoption). What % of businesses have switched to Vista? What % switched to XP? It helps a lot if you post sources so I can read around the subject and become enlightened.

As for the 'PR disater', nobody cares ...

I care and I think a lot of other people care too, including Linux distributers, developers, end users, free software advocates & USPTO detractors.

...except for the anti-M$ slashfud crowd, 99% of whom use Windows anyway because they are all too stupid to attempt to use Linux.

I read Slashdot daily (among several other news sites) and I currently use XP, Vista, Solaris & OpenBSD for different purposes. However, I like to think I don't use Linux because I have no need for it rather than "being too stupid to attempt to use it".

rwales

122 posts

Master Geek

#71989 23-May-2007 20:31

freitasm: REally switch is a personal preference and there's no reason to badmouth whoever decided to switch or not.

I think this discussion is going nowhere...

I totally agree. All the systems have pros & cons. I guess because it's a personal choice, people take it personally when other people don't support that choice.

weblordpepe

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#72769 29-May-2007 22:23

That last post is an interesting one. Yeah its true..its personal choice..but it does go a bit deeper than that.

The different operating systems in question here really represent different computing models.

Windows is largely defensive as far as I can tell. People are constantly warned about the dangers of downloading. Spyware etc..

Where as with Ubuntu, Linux, and open source stuff....there's no real firewall prompts.. ..no annoying anti-virus scares... All the licences talk about what you're allowed to do...They dont rant on about restrictions. The UAC prompts are the same slightly-annoying boxes as they have always been (admin tasks) and you can go nuts downloading stuff without worrying about spyware (within limits obviously).

I dunno...I've been using Ubuntu for a while now & been using Windows for a lot lot longer. I'm branded the token anti-MS guy around here but its not because I'm a tard. I'm beautiful and intelligent.

Things like driver support, trusted software, ...its just a different way of computing. The similarities between them are just the basic stuff really. I know which I prefer. Everyone does.

....OS/2 Warp!

weblordpepe

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Ultimate Geek
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#72771 29-May-2007 22:30

freitasm: I would like to see you work weeks, months on a project and then see someone else profiting of it... I bet you would be happy since you don't mind software piracy.

I'm just realistic with knowing that information can spread with efficiency to rival many diseases. I quite happily give away things that I code. Not that I'm any genius at it. But making cool stuff and knowing that it appears somewhere on the other side of the planet is enough of a buzz for me. I think thats much cooler than having a few thousand bucks.

Although if you're talking millions then thats another story..everyones got their price :D

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