Nerdy Photo in Vista DVDs Thwarts Disk Pirates

Nerdy Photo in Vista DVDs Thwarts Disk Pirates 265

Posted by CowboyNeal on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:22PM from the tiny-family-albums dept.

maximus1 writes "Microsoft says that the tiny photo on the Windows Vista Business Edition installation disks is an anti-piracy feature. The tiny photo of three grinning men — less that 1 mm in size — is one of several images incorporated into the hologram's design intended to make it harder to replicate a Vista DVD, according to Nick White on Microsoft's Vista team blog. 'The real story is interesting, but conspiracy theorists will be disappointed to learn that it is not the result of a deliberate attempt to deceive,' White wrote."

Nerdy Photo in Vista DVDs Thwarts Disk Pirates

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If it were porn... (Score:5, Funny)

by rufo ( 126104 ) * writes: <`rufo' `at' `rufosanchez.com'> on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:23PM (#19513501)

...would Vista be pirated less or more?

The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:5, Funny)

by siddesu ( 698447 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:31PM (#19513563)

Then, if the disk is illegally copied, they send the soul to Microsoft Hell. And if the disk is genuine, the soul goes to Microsoft Heaven.

All I know is ... (Score:5, Funny)

by WrongSizeGlass ( 838941 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:32PM (#19513565)

... if I worked on the 'Vista' team I sure wouldn't want my picture printed on the DVD. What if someone recognized me on the street? Or in prison?? Or on /.???

Re:If it were porn... (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:32PM (#19513567)

If it were the same three guys it would be pirated less.

I Feel Ripped Off (Score:5, Funny)

by Nom du Keyboard ( 633989 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:33PM (#19513569)

The problem is that when I got my Vista upgrade discs through Dell for systems bought just before Vista was released, I don't have pretty hologram discs like that at all. I have just plain printed Dell labeled junk that anybody could counterfeit.

Re:All I know is ... (Score:5, Funny)

by wizardforce ( 1005805 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:36PM (#19513601) Journal

... if I worked on the 'Vista' team I sure wouldn't want my picture printed on the DVD. What if someone recognized me on the street? Or in prison?? Or on /.???

how can we recognize you unless you uploaded your own photo? for all we know you look like this: 8>)

"I buried Paul" (Score:5, Funny)

by $RANDOMLUSER ( 804576 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:45PM (#19513651)

Microsoft Corp. has clarified the identity of the mysterious trio on the installation disks for the business version of Windows Vista.
And no, you can't play the installation DVDs backwards and hear the devil talking, either.

Yeah, you have to play them forward to hear the devil talking.

At least... (Score:5, Funny)

by ceroklis ( 1083863 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:47PM (#19513669)

... they didn't use this one [trinity.edu].

Re:All I know is ... (Score:5, Funny)

by WrongSizeGlass ( 838941 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:49PM (#19513683)

how can we recognize you unless you uploaded your own photo? for all we know you look like this: 8>)
OK ... where's that hidden camera?

Re:The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:2, Funny)

by Joe U ( 443617 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:51PM (#19513703) Homepage Journal

Which one of those is 'dll hell'?

So this is why Vista is so expensive (Score:3, Funny)

by Kildjean ( 871084 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:53PM (#19513717) Homepage

Hmmm Embeded holographic images... So wait a second, is this why Vista is so Expensive? I mean are people who are paying $300 bucks for vista paying really $1 for the OS and $299 for the Hologram?

Sweet!

Re:The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:54PM (#19513735)

all three of them

Worried about being authentic (Score:5, Funny)

by mmarlett ( 520340 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:57PM (#19513747)

So does anyone have a torrent of this hologram? The Vista I have really needs it.

Re:fail (Score:5, Funny)

by GFree ( 853379 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:57PM (#19513749)

Dude, for most of us Slashdot might as well be the planet. So shut up and (sudo) get me a sandwich!

Nerdy Photo? (Score:5, Funny)

by GFree ( 853379 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @08:02PM (#19513787)

That's not a nerdy photo.

If there were really serious, THIS [informacyde.com] should have been the embedded image.

Re:It's all about the photo (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @08:02PM (#19513795)

REAL pirates primarily care about: Can I sell it and get away with it?

REAL pirates primarily care about: Can I SAIL it and get away?

It's a secret BECAUSE... (Score:4, Funny)

by TheDarkener ( 198348 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @08:12PM (#19513843) Homepage

Nobody has cared to look at the Vista Business Install CD.

Re:At least... (Score:2, Funny)

by dfsmith ( 960400 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @08:18PM (#19513897) Homepage Journal

Ah! Rights discovered: one [corbis.com] two [corbis.com] three [corbis.com] four [corbis.com].

Re:At least... (Score:3, Funny)

by KlomDark ( 6370 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @08:28PM (#19513977) Homepage Journal

Isn't that Geddy Lee's mom (dark glasses) in the picture?

Re:It's all about the photo (Score:3, Funny)

by Shabbs ( 11692 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @08:29PM (#19513995)

Aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrgh... 'tis true matey. On both statements. I was thinking about the smaller pirate, lower case "p". ;)

Cheers.

Kneel before ZOD (Score:4, Funny)

by jptechnical ( 644454 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @08:36PM (#19514039) Homepage

If an explosion occurs nearby, won't it shatter the hologram releasing these three criminals that were imprisoned on Krypton nearly 3 decades ago? You know they must be pissed! They would have super human powers, and superman is nowhere to be found!

Re:Nerdy Photo? (Score:2, Funny)

by nlitement ( 1098451 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @08:41PM (#19514081)

No, THIS [different-day.com], good sir!

Re:exactly (Score:2, Funny)

by AndrewNeo ( 979708 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @08:50PM (#19514141) Homepage

That's funny, the legal copy I got from Microsoft is in a thin jewel case, no box, and is a burned DVD with "Vista Vista RTM x86" written in Sharpie! My valid key is even written in pen on the little paper cutout insert. I think it was downloaded with this cool program called Microsoft File Transfer Manager.

Re:Avoid CLick through (Score:5, Funny)

by martinX ( 672498 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @08:50PM (#19514143)

But how can MS find them? They are so tiny and could hide anywhere.

Re:The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:2, Funny)

by kaizokuace ( 1082079 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @09:02PM (#19514237)

too bad microsoft's software cant tell if it is authentic or not! or do they also have false positive hell?

Fifth picture discovered (Score:5, Funny)

by walt-sjc ( 145127 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @09:25PM (#19514385)

In an even smaller spot, this picture [about.com] was found...

Re:The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:3, Funny)

by lgramling ( 1064562 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @09:32PM (#19514419)

they send the soul to Microsoft Hell. And if the disk is genuine, the soul goes to Microsoft Heaven.
What's the difference?

Cracked? (Score:5, Funny)

by Associate ( 317603 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @10:16PM (#19514665) Homepage

Will cracked versions feature a pasty white buttocks of the nerd that cracked it?

Vista by itself is enough to thwart piracy (Score:5, Funny)

by bl8n8r ( 649187 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @10:27PM (#19514719)

My sister's friend's brother's girlfriend has a cousin that went to china and said she saw them throwing out the vista cds and pirating the clamshells.

Re:If it were porn... (Score:0, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @10:33PM (#19514743)

or more... did you see the coming out party [engadget.com] at engadget today? EW!

YOU feel ripped off? (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @10:53PM (#19514877)

I just took a closer look at the Ubuntu disc my brother gave me. If you hold it at an angle underneath all of the print (which I'm starting to assume is just Sharpie marker)it says "Sony CD-R" on one side of the hole and "compact disc Recordable SUPREMAS 700MB" on the other.

Come to think of it I didn't have to agree to anything when I installed it! Aw man, I think it's a cracked copy! I've probably got a whole CPU full of Russian viruses!

Re:All I know is ... (Score:3, Funny)

by Score Whore ( 32328 ) writes: on Thursday June 14, 2007 @11:07PM (#19514967)

You sure it's not three virgins and no wise men?

Re:LESS THAT 1 MM IN SIZE (Score:4, Funny)

by normuser ( 1079315 ) * writes: <normuser@whyisthishere.com> on Friday June 15, 2007 @01:06AM (#19515631) Homepage Journal

LESS THAT 1 MM IN SIZE...

If you must comment on your penis size, Please use your journal.

Re:The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:3, Funny)

by mjwx ( 966435 ) writes: on Friday June 15, 2007 @03:21AM (#19516187)

Then, if the disk is illegally copied, they send the soul to Microsoft Hell.
Where you're forced to use a Mac

Re:"DRM" tag...? (Score:2, Funny)

by Hanners1979 ( 959741 ) writes: on Friday June 15, 2007 @03:55AM (#19516323) Homepage

Actually, the tag is correct - In this case, DRM stands for 'Dudes, Really Miniature'.

Re:exactly (Score:4, Funny)

by ArsenneLupin ( 766289 ) writes: on Friday June 15, 2007 @04:12AM (#19516407)

You forgot one word. Lemme correct it for you:
That's for the $10 copies. There are, however, the $400 copies, in which case people are fooled into thinking that the $400 they're paying for this program is going to Microsoft instead of some other thief's pocket.
hehe...
(And yes, this is in fact theft. The data might not be "stolen", but the $400 definitely was stolen.)
I completely agree. In both cases!

Re:It's all about the photo (Score:3, Funny)

by rvw ( 755107 ) writes: on Friday June 15, 2007 @05:00AM (#19516625)

REAL pirates primarily care about: Can I sell it and get away with it?
REAL pirates primarily care about: Can I SAIL it and get away?
Then it would be: "Hasta la Vista!" But it would be more appropriate if those three men wore sailor suits.

Re:Avoid CLick through (Score:3, Funny)

by Tim Browse ( 9263 ) writes: on Friday June 15, 2007 @05:15AM (#19516677)

an arrogant ex-CEO who sits and rocks backs and forth like he's at the special olympics

The Dark Ages called. They want their crass ignorance back.

Re:If it were porn... (Score:2, Funny)

by b1ufox ( 987621 ) writes: on Friday June 15, 2007 @07:28AM (#19517069) Homepage Journal

Make those three as -
1. Novell
2. Xandros
3. Linspire

Re:fail (Score:3, Funny)

by dangitman ( 862676 ) writes: on Friday June 15, 2007 @07:47AM (#19517187)

Vista will also be a roaring success.

Did they copy Tiger or something?

Re:Fifth picture discovered (Score:4, Funny)

by master_p ( 608214 ) writes: on Friday June 15, 2007 @08:23AM (#19517455)

In an even smaller spot, this picture [wikimedia.org] was found...

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

If it were porn... (Score:5, Funny)

The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:5, Funny)

All I know is ... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:If it were porn... (Score:5, Funny)

I Feel Ripped Off (Score:5, Funny)

Re:All I know is ... (Score:5, Funny)

"I buried Paul" (Score:5, Funny)

At least... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:All I know is ... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:2, Funny)

So this is why Vista is so expensive (Score:3, Funny)

Re:The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:1, Funny)

Worried about being authentic (Score:5, Funny)

Re:fail (Score:5, Funny)

Nerdy Photo? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:It's all about the photo (Score:5, Funny)

It's a secret BECAUSE... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:At least... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:At least... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:It's all about the photo (Score:3, Funny)

Kneel before ZOD (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Nerdy Photo? (Score:2, Funny)

Re:exactly (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Avoid CLick through (Score:5, Funny)

Re:The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:2, Funny)

Fifth picture discovered (Score:5, Funny)

Re:The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:3, Funny)

Cracked? (Score:5, Funny)

Vista by itself is enough to thwart piracy (Score:5, Funny)

Re:If it were porn... (Score:0, Funny)

YOU feel ripped off? (Score:1, Funny)

Re:All I know is ... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:LESS THAT 1 MM IN SIZE (Score:4, Funny)

Re:The three guys trap your soul ... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:"DRM" tag...? (Score:2, Funny)

Re:exactly (Score:4, Funny)

Re:It's all about the photo (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Avoid CLick through (Score:3, Funny)

Re:If it were porn... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:fail (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Fifth picture discovered (Score:4, Funny)

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