Microsoft to Disable Online Windows Activation 1067
CasterPod writes "As of February 28, Windows users who purchased their PC will no longer be able to reinstall without calling Microsoft and answering a series of questions. The move is part of an anti-piracy effort to close 'a loophole that enabled unscrupulous resellers to use Windows XP product keys that were stolen from large OEMs.' Specifically, Certificate of Authenticity (COA) labels on PCs are often unused because OEMs preinstall Windows and bypass product activation. The product keys can therefore be stolen and reused. First WGA, and now this."
Great. Just what I want to do. (Score:5, Insightful)
Microsoft to Disable Online Windows Activation (Score:4, Insightful)
Whaddya gonna do - install *another* OS???
Only makes sense (Score:3, Insightful)
This can only be good for free software however. Part of the Windows dominance comes from the fact that it is free for those who want it.
Original Media (Score:5, Insightful)
rus
it will be bypassed... (Score:5, Insightful)
On the other hand : this will just make the difference between Windows and OSX/linux even more apparent. Every user-restricting move of microsoft is, in the long run, a shot in its own foot
Customer (Score:5, Insightful)
Microsoft NEEDS Piracy (Score:5, Insightful)
Microsoft depends on the ubiquity of Windows (and Office, Outlook, et al). When everybody is using Microsoft products, everybody needs Microsoft. Their proprietary formats are a de facto standard (except Massachusetts), so if you want to do business with people who use Windows (et al), you have little choice but to also use windows.
As their piracy initiative starts to pick up steam, this will only enhance the "value" of free (or at least lesser cost) alternatives. I predict a large swell of Linux usage-- on the desktop, in these emerging markets, or other areas where the hight cost of Windows (et al) simply locks people out. With that will come a groudswell of support for open formats.
Consider what you need if you are going to do business with the government of Hamburg. You will need to provide and exchange documents and other material in a format they can read (it won't simply be Word and PowerPoint). Now the same thing will happen in these emerging markets, creating more of an interest in these alternative formats, and thus alternative applications (e.g. OpenOffice).
More choices are good for everybody. Use the application of your choice, on the platform of your choice, and produce documents and other material in a format anyone else can read. Right now, I have any number of such choices to produce graphics for a web page (jpg, png, even gif). The formats for Flash and Acrobat have been opened up, and happily they are becoming more standard. But the U.S. Government still requires all RFP submissions in Word.
More choices, however, is bad for Microsoft. They don't want open formats and lots of choices, they want (and need) everone using and exchanging MS Word documents. They want (and need) everybody using Outlook and Internet Explorer, and of course, they want (and ultimately need) everybody using Windows.
Copy Protection SOP (Score:5, Insightful)
Step 2: Legitimate users are hampered by the copy protection while illegitimate users breeze by it through various means.
Step 3: Company either ultimately removes copy protection with a black mark on its reputation or people just stop buying its products.
I know of no historical case that deviates from this for a major software release. Of course, you have various vertical applications that use dongles and other such things, but anything that is mass-distributed (like Lotus Notes or Turbo Tax) that has used copy protection either removed said copy protection or stopped selling their product.
This is especially bad... (Score:3, Insightful)
It seems more and more people are being driven to use cracked versions of software simply because of the DRM inconvenience.
So what? (Score:3, Insightful)
I've serviced many PCs, and let me tell you, servicing the boxes that come with a bona fide windows installation are a much larger pain in the ass then the ones with pirated copies.
With the pirated ones i just reinstall windows and thats it. Reinstalling on an original box requires me to spend 15 minutes after the fact talking to a a machine in Singapore because the local Toll Free number for Microsoft was disconnected ages ago.
sheesh...
Re:It's their right (Score:2, Insightful)
Very few customers will care.
1. It's XP OEM only.
2. Seriously, how often do you have to re-install? Most OEM customers probably never do. And a quick phone call is no big deal.
Really? (Score:3, Insightful)
I had NO IDEA, but I guess Microsoft is giving a head's up to all of our students to hurry up and lift our keys and do their installs before the end of the month.
Nice way to alert people how to pirate your stuff, Microsoft, while further irritating legitimate purchasers.
Speaking for myself, not my employer
Yeah! (Score:4, Insightful)
One giant leap for the advocation of OSS.
I guess there's no question now as to what I'm going
to install on that new HD of mine. (As if there was doubt before this, I guess.)
What? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Original Media (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Great. Just what I want to do. (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't worry, it shouldn't affect you. According to the Juniper research guy in the article you don't really need to reinstall your computer after all.
"Seeing as how the typical OEM would normally preactivate Windows XP, most legitimate users shouldn't have much need to go through the activation process,"
See, it's all better. When you buy your computer, that's the OS you get to use for the entire life of the computer and certainly no one at Microsoft tech support or anywhere else would ever ask you to reinstall. Have a nice day.
TW
Re:Stupid (Score:5, Insightful)
Why bother? It probably cost you more time replacing the version than you'd ever spend activating.
The lock-in argument: one day they might stop running the activation service? Sure, but one day they might release a service pack that detects your pirated version and stops it working. So the future isn't certain either way.
So why bother?
Re:Microsoft to Disable Online Windows Activation (Score:5, Insightful)
Then again, until I can play _all_ of my games (at least the relatively current ones) on it, I'm not switching. Although I do use Gentoo on my non-gaming systems.
Re:it will be bypassed... (Score:5, Insightful)
Actually, the activation code has been stripped out of Windows XP in the pirate community since before day 1 of its official release.
Almost any type of copy protection, activation or otherwise is rapidly stripped out of software by cracking groups and released into the pirate community.
This announcement is a non issue for actual pirates of XP. It has zero impact to them. It impacts the PAYING user the most by making a procedure they shouldn't have to deal with in the first place an even bigger pain in the ass.
These types of measures always punish the paying customer and leave the pirates shaking their heads in disbelief over M$ not getting it.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:4, Insightful)
They're going to force you to call them, they'll probably have all their call centers outsourced to countries where english isn't the main language. Half the time you won't understand the question and if you do manage to decifer the accent, they won't understand yours.
The only reason left to use windows is gaming. And even that is becoming less and less of a reason...
Free as in freedom - understand now? (Score:2, Insightful)
Thank-you Linus!
Thank-you devs!
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
Rus
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
Instead, it'll be the users asking the stupid questions.
"I bought your Linux at Barnes & Noble. Why doesn't it work?"
"Last week I called and you told me how to install your Linux. Why doesn't my Word Perfect CD work any more?"
"The other day you made me install something called StarOffice. I think that messed up my son's Doom 3 CD. It used to work before we installed your Linux."
That'll be fantastic.
Re:Microsoft NEEDS Piracy (Score:1, Insightful)
I kid you not. Autodesk sent the reps out to announce the policy change! Who reading this has NOT at least heard of autocad?
Re:Great. Just what I want to do. (Score:3, Insightful)
Rus
Re:Great. Just what I want to do. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Stupid (Score:5, Insightful)
The big pain in the ass in activating over the phone is reading the installation ID. It's not an actual person you talk to- you read the number aloud (as opposed to touch tone) to a computer. You have to speak slow and deliberately for it to understand the numbers correctly, and ultimately it will read a confirmation code back to you. The whole process takes about 5-7 minutes, depending on whether the computer understood you correctly the first time. That's the part that pisses me off about this. Whenever we have to reinstall Windows at my shop, it was easy enough to plug in to our router and activate in 2 seconds (all with legitimate keys mind you). If this holds true, it will piss off many many computer shops around the world. Two seconds vs. five minutes is a pretty big deal.
Wake up (Score:3, Insightful)
Some readers here live in a dream world; it goes a bit like this. Microsoft make crappy products; Microsoft (unsurprisingly) protect their crappy products; people ultimately realise this; switch to Linux.
Here's the reality. Microsoft make pretty average products that a heck of a lot of people use. Microsoft get most of their revenues from office and windows and want to protect this cash cow. Microsoft have product activation on, something that bothers a relatively minute fraction of it's user base, and tackle piracy head on. People still view Linux as a server OS, hard to use, and not friendly to people who have less than 5 minutes to read a help file. People stay on Windows. Slash dot community still angry.
This change just doesn't affect them - and importantly - until it does, please don't expect any mass migration to other operating systems. Microsoft rightly identified an exploit that pirates are using to rip them off- why shouldn't they patch it up? It really bothers me that so many people play this out as a big bad beast cracking knuckles again - it just isn't. Since when did support piracy become so acceptable to so many people?
Re:it will be bypassed... (Score:5, Insightful)
The simple fact of the matter is that Microsoft software, compared to its competitors, is far and away the most expensive desktop software ever. Most people I know who pirate Windows do so because they simply can't afford to buy a copy. Granted, that's not many people since Windows comes with the computer, but I can say that I only know two people who have paid for their copies of MS Office - everyone else either pirates it or uses OpenOffice because they aren't at liberty to drop over half a week's pay on it. And in college I didn't know a single person who actually paid for a legal copy of VisualStudio - the unscrupulous pirated, and the scrupulous moved to *nix.
Which leads me to my point - if Microsoft tightens Windows down too much, people are going to start thinking, "Holy shit, this is expensive, and I'm sick of hunting for friends with Windows CDs. Hey, my Mac using friend never has to reinstall his OS, and a Mac Mini only costs an extra two hundred. .
I honestly don't think Microsoft is free to get too strict with its licensing policies. Piracy is the only thing that is keeping skads of mildly dissatisfied people in their camp where they might not be contributing to M$'s coffers directly, but they aren't working against Microsoft's stranglehold on the market, either.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
Oh good lord (Score:4, Insightful)
How many times do you reinstall Windows?!
I can see maybe if you're in a strange company setting where they use a version that requires it, it may be a hassle, but I don't see most people reinstalling Windows more than once or twice a year. I guess more if you completely hose a system. That's what? 3-5 minutes? When I had to call them the one time my system had determined I changed hardware too much, it took about 1 minute for them to give me the hash I needed. I don't consider that bad at all.
Re:Stupid (Score:2, Insightful)
So who's more of an idiot, RupW or the person that modded him insightful?
As to your "lock-in arugment" the reasoning is equally faulty. In all the years MS has been in business they have consistently tried to increase their anti-piracy attempts, therefore it is inconsistant to assume they will suddenly reverse that policy. Furthermore any attempts thus far that MS has made to negate pirated versions have been quickly and easily circumvented, in all releases and service packs of every Windows OS ever released.
Microsoft Self Destructs, Film @ 11 (Score:3, Insightful)
Moves like this only accelerate the vicious circle. Marvelous! Thank you, Redmond! Wow, when was the last time I said that?
And we have years and years of entertainment watching MSFT's fall from the peak market dominance. Like watching that one video of an extreme skier who lost it and rolled down the mountain...seemingly forever...unable to stop the fall and it was just one agonizing tumble after another. The only difference is you felt sorry for the skier, sort of. No pity for MSFT. Wo-ho!
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
People are perfectly able to understand the difference between Windows, OSX and Linux - they just don't particularily care. And in that situation, yes, put up enough roadblocks to Windows use and people will gradually switch, just like US people abandoned domestic cars for Japanese ones when they became compelling enough. Not everybody switched, and not all at once (since everybody has a different tipping point), but certainly enough to change the commercial landscape.
WOW! I'm loading up on Apple shares! (Score:2, Insightful)
So Win2k was the zenith then (Score:2, Insightful)
Win2k for me then has to be the Microsoft OS of choice. It's stable, and it's (relatively) fluff free. I used to forgive Microsoft a lot when Win2k first came out.
That said, I'll be phasing out MS stuff when I can now - I just can't be bothered with it all. My computers are mine. The companies that made them can eff off.
More OEMs need to offer linux (Score:2, Insightful)
More OEMs need to offer linux. However, just as importantly there needs to be an return to discussion of software based on technical merits rather then just tossing up a five-star review based purely on the MS "look and feel". Currently the rating is more often than not an evaluation of the advertising revenue, not the tool. Also, federally funded public service programs like the ones in the UK [bbc.co.uk] and Finland [tietoturvaopas.fi] need to stop shilling for Chairman Bill and point out other software and systems.
Disabling online MS-Windows Product Activation could be a real windfall for Linux service providers and distributors if they play their cards right.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:4, Insightful)
People aren't stupid. Let me say that again: people are not stupid, they are not dumb, they are not morons
Yes, they are. People are stupid. Individuals are intelligent. People are not. Here is a little advice for you. If you go through life thinking people are stupid you will be a lot less dissappointed. Keep your expectations set low and you will seldom be let down.
--
All spelling, gammer, and logical mistakes are intentinal because I'm to fucking lazy to look it up. If you don't like it, Fuck Off!
Comment removed (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Microsoft to Disable Online Windows Activation (Score:2, Insightful)
Come on, like MS or not, it is their product, they should be paid for it. Financially it makes sense. Who wouldn't want 90% of illegal Windows users leave to another OS (and become their headache) and pick up the other 10% as paying customers.
It's great to have 'free' OSs out there and let them be a viable alternate for some users, but we all know currently there is not a magic bullet to jump to. Let the media start commenting on the lack of a mom and dad installable OS as an alternative and MAYBE everyone will have something to be happy about, an alternative will rise from the ashes of smashed phones.
Also, maybe people might actually start paying attention to their surfing habits and NOT open themselves up to non-removable spy/ass ware. I'm guessing that anyone who got that on their machines? Can lay blame right back to the person the see in the mirror.
If you haven't heard it before:
There is no FREE Money
You can't get Paris' video for free
Those 'free screensavers' are STUPID
Look outside the damn window or go to www.weather.com, forget the 'bug'
Don't say YES when installing software from any company you wouldn't want your Mom to know about.
Go outside and see the daylight.
:p
Finally, what is everyone going to say when the music industry starts asking people to pay for CDs?
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
That's a rather biased statistical sampling though. Yes, you will get an unending stream of remarkably stupid people calling tech support. As a total percentage of computer users, however, they make up rather less than you think. The GP post is correct - the majority of people don't really care (because it is not important to their lives) about Linux, but that doesn't mean they will be stupid enough to try and run Windows software on Linux.
Yes, you will have an unending stream of stupid people who tried to run Microsoft Word on Linux and don't understand why it works. Remember that you also had an unending stream of people that couldn't even use Windows either. If everyone was as stupid as the average tech support caller the internet would be practically content free.
Jedidiah.
Re:call center (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:4, Insightful)
The idea of a company selling you on something with quality and good service is so, well 70's
Get with it.
Freedom is no longer a right, it is now a pivilege.
Re:Oh good lord (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't care if it takes .0001 picoseconds and happens automagically in response to my brainwaves.
It's not an issue of convenience. It's an issue of principle.
I swap hardware in and out of my PC all the time. More importantly, I reserve the right to swap hardware in and out of my PC whenever I damn well please.
Windows Product Activation limits this right by labeling me an Evil Pirate if I modify my system too much, or in the "wrong" way, and forcing me to grovel to Microsoft for permission to use my own computer again.
This is unacceptable no matter how "convenient" they make the groveling process. I simply do not accept the premise that they have the right to lock me out of my PC based on how I modify the hardware. I don't want my computer playing cop.
It's for this reason that I've kept my Windows box at home on Windows 2000, which has no such onerous "gotchas". When Windows 2000 becomes an untenable platform (which by all appearances will be Real Soon Now), it would be nice if there was a version of Windows that was compatible with my principles. If not, I'll wipe the disk and run Fedora full time, or buy a Mac.
If it comes to that, it'll be a shame; there are a lot of nice things about the Windows environment for the home user, and I'll miss being able to play the latest games. But there are some things that are simply not negotiable, and "I own my system" is one of them.
Re:On phone activation... (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Microsoft to Disable Online Windows Activation (Score:4, Insightful)
- I disagree, personally I have so many CDs (software, audio, backups, etc.) that I keep everything in CD wallet/notebook binders (whatever they're called). For me it's far easier to find the CD than the case. I'm much more likely to lose the case than the CD. I don't think I'm alone either, most all the people I've helped fix their computers keep their software CDs in binders too, it's really easy to put all the software in one small wallet and keep it by the computer, much more compact as well.
But getting back to your statement, if you've lost the case, you've lost the CD. Or, if you DO backup the CD to another CD, wouldn't you write the code ON the CD...I mean, you're going through all that trouble to back up the media, so why not back up the code?- Well yeah, I do, but what about your average user who got a computer from an OEM and just thought to back up the CDs, not realizing they needed to write the codes down? That's the people this is going to hurt, you and I (and the whole
/. crowd) will have our codes on the backups and we'd be fine. Well maybe not fine, we'd likely be ticked at the inconvenience, but we'd not be up the creek without a paddle.
But regardless of all this, MS is shooting themselves in the foot. The only one's they're hurting are the legit owners of their products...as always when it comes to piracy issues. It's like no one really get's it.One thing I wonder about is the article says the customers (aka victims of unscrupulous computer companies) will have to answer a series of questions to basically prove they at least _thought_ they had paid for a legit copy. What are they going to ask to prove this? "Do you swear allegiance to Microsoft and promise to buy all our future products?" :) Seriously though this seems even more moronic as what idiot isn't going to answer the questions in such a way to make it sound like they thought they'd bought a legit copy of Windows on their PC?
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
Of course, you'll also have to add being able to buy software off the shelf, and Plug and Play hardware, and not having to learn how to compile or write drivers, or search forums filled with people calling you a "st00pid n00b" to find said drivers.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
It is like a law of nature, probably closely related to the Second Law of Termodynamics.
Simply, when company reaches certain size, no matter how bright the individual leaders or technologists are, they loose the ability to critically think and reason as a whole. Call it "BigGerman's Law Of Corporate Evolution"
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:1, Insightful)
The life of a MS Activation Specialist. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
Mod down, (-1, Astroturfing) (Score:3, Insightful)
At this moment, there are two main reasons why people don't migrate to Linux: (1) XP has more games, (2) XP comes preinstalled. None of these reasons are affected by this XP activation issue. However, this new restriction in activation is certainly not something that will increase Microsoft's revenue.
If you consider that most people buy computers with the OS preinstalled and call an expert whenever a re-install is needed, you are right that this new inconvenience won't bother many people. But it's certainly an additional unneeded inconvenience, and it won't bother pirates at all. It bothers the legitimate user and doesn't affect the illegitimate ones.
If you have done any comparison on recent versions of Linux and XP, you'll have noticed that Linux is already easier and faster to install from scratch than XP. Why create more obstacles to the legitimate clients?
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
Amazing how that works, isn't it. I could see it being worth it if everyone loved Windows. But the only reason people even use it in the first place is because it's easy. Something idiotic like this makes it a LOT less so.
Hmm.. how does this make XP a 'LOT less' easy to use?
Like most people that tinker about with their home machines, I regularly re-install XP, not as a consequence of anything wrong with MS's package, just as a result of what I've screwed up on it. As a consequence my XP almost never activates on-line, the site seems to allow a certain number of activations with a period of time.
So.. go to activate, Windows pops up a nice, clear, concise window that tells me there is a problem activating my product over the internet, and asks me to dial a number. The number is in a nice clear font, so little chance of me failing to read it correctly.
I call, get connected to an MS rep within a minute, read out the text string on the screen, following the clear guidance from the MS rep. They tell me a code to type in, I press a button, and voila, Windows is activated.
Sure.. its a pain in the arse having to do that, but it is easy. Its going to take a heck of a lot more to make people stop using Windows than this.
This is getting to be a regular thing that annoys me on /., the absolute insistance that the tiniest thing MS do 'wrong', is the one thing we've been waiting for that'll push people to Linux in droves. Get over it, and get some kind of sense of perspective. Its going to need a seriously big screw-up by MS to force people over to Linux. Its also going to need a killer app for home users to be only available on Linux, which we're yet to see.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
If I, as a service tech, have to sit on the phone waiting for product activation after someone messes up there system, I'm going to charge them for that time and If I'm onsite, while I'm waiting I'll be explaining to them why this is going to cost more and I'll be explaining what the alternatives are.
Does anyone know which 20 manufacturers are affected? I'd like to be able to warn customers of the extra charges ahead of time, should this come to pass.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
The parent tells the guy to learn about MS activation/support policies before spouting off and you reply with this? Is it it a toll free call? What do you think? Here let me help. I searched for 'product activation' at the MS web site and this is from the first hit.
To activate Windows XP over the telephone, you can simply call a toll-free* number displayed on your screen.
I'm not fan of this change in policy, but damn, at least lets have some intellegent discussion about it. How this got Modded up I don't know (I notice it has dropped by one as I reply to this though).
Re:Cool! (Score:3, Insightful)
I've been building PC's for about 15 years. Now though, it is more economical to buy systems which are already built. Unless you are trying to get the absolute fastest PC you can get your hands on, in which case, I find building from parts to often be cheaper.
You do have choice though and as you've stated, you are exercising it. You don't have to buy Apple hardware or their software. Apple gets a lot of stability and excellent interoperability through the fact that they largely control both the software and hardware that makes up their systems.
Apple systems are for people who just want to buy a computer which works very well out of the box. That is why Apple does the "choosing". They deliver on that expectation and that is why Mac users tend to remain Mac users. Who wants to lay down cash on systems which you have to fight with to use (MS)?
You must remember that Apple delivers the whole system. They are not delivering a generic OS to go with someone elses highly variable hardware and drivers. To achieve that, they need to limit what hardware they ship. I don't see that as them controlling you, but rather them controlling the quality of the systems they deliver you.
PS, I am predominently an OpenBSD and NetBSD user who has OSX on an old clamshell iBook. I recently ordered a Mac mini because I love using OSX too. I don't fight with OpenBSD or NetBSD, since once I set them up, they just keep going. They're not as pretty as OSX though. ; ) Microsoft products though, give me no end of grief.
Re:Great. Just what I want to do. (Score:3, Insightful)
Yeah... except for the fact that the first thing you really should do when you buy a new system is wipe the hard drive and reinstall windows to get rid of all the crap that OEMs load your computer up with. No.... I don't want musicmatch jukebox or Real Media Player.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
The people under discussion here are trying to use a complex piece of computing machinery and expecting to be able to use it out of the box, without putting any effort into learning how to operate it effectively.
Maybe I'm just another jaded support tech.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
Then they call tech support.
Re:Original Media (Score:2, Insightful)
For instance, take all the service packs and hot fixes that are constantly thrown at windows. If I have to do a clean reinstall of XP and the copy I have is pre SP1, I'll be owned the second I hook up to a network (assuming I'm too stupid to turn on the firewall first). Without most of the hotfixes I'll be close to the same situation. By having a copy on a hard drive, PC manufacterers can keep very up to date images shipped with machines instead of the huge lag time of having the correct CD's pressed and shipped with the computer.
The only "proof" that you "own" Windows is that dinky bar code sticker, so there isn't much need for a CD itself really. And fdisk in the hands of most people means they are screwed anyway =)
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
When I leave Fry's I sometimes have the receipt out for them to glance at, and I rarely break stride on my way out the door. Wal-mart has been checking receipts for unbagged or large items, too; so far I've been with my girlfriend every time and don't want to embarrass her, but the fact is that once you buy it, the product and the receipt are both yours and you are well within your rights to just walk on by.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
The scam they're looking for is you walking out with (say) an iPod and some headphones but the cashier only charging you for the headphones. Then you take the iPod to a fence and you and the cashier split the proceeds. That's why harass you for the most stupid and cursory check.
So yea, they suspect you of being a criminal, but their employees hate them so much (and vice versa I suppose) that what you're actually seeing is a manifestation of a festering pool of mutual hatred.
Really makes you want to go and shop there, right? For stuff they sell, stick to mail order.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
Most people just now entering the market for computers aren't "trying to fly the plane", either. To continue the analogy, these people want to be passengers but are instead told they need to learn to be pilots.
This trend is not new to computers-- earlier this century the first radios required considerable setup and weeks to learn to use. The first phonographs were notoriously hard to use, again taking several weeks for smart folks to learn to use.
The only reason radios and record players (now CD players) are so widespread is their usage was simplified. The earliest ones even had two competing incompatible standards (Edison vs. Victor.) Sound familiar?
The book "The Invisible Computer" by Donald Norman goes into gory detail on why the continuing efforts to blame the users for failing to learn their equipment aren't going to work:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Booksources/
This doesn't mean that in the current state of things people should be lazy about their responsibilities with a networked computer-- e.g. not patching because "it's too hard" is a lame excuse.
If this is too hard, then disconnect from the network or find a computer/OS combination where it isn't too hard. If there is no such computer/OS combination, then start asking the manufacturers for one.
Re:Original Media (Score:3, Insightful)
Actually, it is as simple as that!
There was a court case in Germany, where OEM versions of Windows were being sold without any machine. MS didn't like it and went to court, but the court told them they aren't allowed to place any restrictions on the resale of these legally bought items.
I can buy WinXP Home OEM (new) for 80 Euros right now, on its own, perfectly legally.
I don't think the one-PC-only thing is fair at all. It's very consumer-unfriendly.
-- Steve
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
Yet another ploy? (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:4, Insightful)
Ya know, if MS were to say "Since this will cut down on piracy, we're going to pre-emptively lower prices..." I might be a little less offended. But this never happens, does it? I mean, billions and billions of dollars are claimed to be lost due to piracy, but has Valve made HL2 cheaper? Ugh.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
The cost of Windows would have to skyrocket dramatically before any significant number of "average users" would care enough to look for an alternative like Linux.
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
Sun and Microsoft and others jumped the appliance idea about 5 years too early. Broadband is almost ubiquitous now in large metro and suburban areas, and WiMax threatens to bring it to rural areas. It's now just a matter of time before the average computer is a window onto someone elses computers where the management and operation is done for you.
When we have HDTV on demand over broadband, that's when we'll start to see a massive shift in consumer computing. More people are already using Yahoo or Hotmail for email and contact management and scheduling than Outlook or Outlook express or Netscape. This trend will continue to accelerate when Word and various other desktop offerings can be delivered via broadband.
Look at how Valve has simplified software delivery with Steam?
Re:Good Move Microsoft!!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
I think I called the police once, on a guy who stole a $0.95 auto-trader magazine. It was pretty funny :)
For 0.95$? And you are proud of yourself? Did you ever wonder how much of your own tax money you wasted by calling the cops? Any idea of HOW MUCH this cost to ALL the others around you?
This may appear funny to you, but it appears rather pathetic to me. First because you actually did call the cops for such an insignificant event, AND wasted OUR money by doing so.
Too bad they are no doorman checking against stupidity