Chris Linfoot | Who stole Windows?

Tuesday, 27. June 2006

Who stole Windows?

It's a reasonable enough question.

I've seen enough bogus DVDs to know one when I see one. I know stolen MP3s when they show up on BitTorrent. I see plenty of offers to buy Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and other premium software at suspiciously low prices (yes, always spam - but someone must be buying).

Here's the thing.

I've never seen a stolen copy of Windows.

Why mention it? Well Chris Whisonant just posted a comment on an earlier post here and that comment chilled me to the bone.

"WGA might be on the verge of getting even messier. In fact, one report claims WGA is about to become a Windows 'kill switch' – and when I asked Microsoft for an on-the-record response, they refused to deny it."

Chris is quoting Ed Bott.

Microsoft can't be planning a Windows Kill Switch (WKS), can it? Is the problem of Windows piracy (other than in China) really so huge that a sledge-hammer measure like this is justified or necessary? Or does Microsoft think there's a huge piracy problem because Windows Product Activation is telling them so every time some licensed user upgrades his/her motherboard?

Ubuntu just keeps looking better and better...

Category: Software
Technorati: Microsoft Ubuntu WGA Windows

Comments :

1. Joe Litton29/06/2006 17:35:25
Homepage: http://www.joelitton.net/

I have spent literally thousands of dollars over the years to keep my licenses all legit for various versions of Windows and Office. This evening I am downloading Ubuntu. I'll continue to run Windows on my work machine and one other (legit licenses paid for by work). Ubuntu will be on the other machines ...except for my wife's iBook ....Thank you for posting the line to add to ZoneAlarm. That is now protecting our systems, but this is really the last straw in a large pile from MS. I can understand fighting the piracy, and I support just compensation for itellectual property and for real goods. But this is too sloppy and evil.

2. Jerry Carter30/06/2006 18:26:40
Homepage: http://datatribesoftwerks.com

You seriously have never seen a stolen copy of windows? Or you mean you have never seen a legitimate copy of windows that was obsconded with and then offered for sale?

Early versions of Windows were trivial to modify to bypass the install key, all the way up through Win 2k. I know how and I made my own copy from a licensed copy I own so I can slam my test machine quickly as needed (often as it turns out), but of course I'm not giving away my copy... but what is to stop others from doing so? Nothing. You don't need to make counterfeit verisons of windows, you just need the unscrupulous "friend of the family" who always "takes care of our computers".

It's not difficult and stupidity is, not surprisngly, easy to come by. I think MS knows they have made their system so maintenance prone that thousands of users rely daily on help from a technical buddy because they themselves are not so technical. These same users are too innocent to conceal their activites and have probably provided ample stats for MS to decide such a blunder was worth the bad PR. As I said, stupidity is easy to come by, and MS seems to be hoarding lately.

3. Chris Linfoot30/06/2006 18:30:58

I mean what I say. Can you even buy a PC without Windows anymore? It's pretty difficult here - the only way is to buy a kit of parts and build your own PC, but neglect to buy an OS and just "borrow" one. Not that I've seen that done often either.

Fact is, virtually every PC sold in this country has OEM Windows on it and no choice about that, even if the first thing the user does when he gets home is reformat the HDD and install Ubuntu.

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