It's 2013, and Windows Activation Is Still Frustrating 435
Deathspawner writes "There's little that's more frustrating than being a legal customer and getting screwed over by the company you're supporting. If there's a perfect example of this, it's with Microsoft's OS and its millions of customers that have had to ring its tech support lines for activation help. Recently, a Techgage writer got bit by an issue with Windows 8 — caused by Microsoft itself — and wasn't even able to call to fix it. Microsoft has two problems to solve here: it needs online chat support (like most large companies in 2013) and it definitely needs an activation system that doesn't make things difficult for its legal customers on a too-regular basis."
It shouldn't use activation at all. (Score:3, Insightful)
There's no benefit WHATSOEVER for the customer, and it's not even made the product cheaper. All it's managed to do is piss of just about everyone, probably including the poor bastards in tech support in Microsoft.
Re:Linux on the Desktop (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Dreamspark etc. (Score:4, Insightful)
Its obtuse only if you have paid for it. For the pirates, the activation is included in the ISO
No Good Solution (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Dreamspark etc. (Score:4, Insightful)
I've never had to talk to a guy in India, I've always gotten an automated phone system. You read the key, it processes for a second then gives you a long-ass number to put in. It's a nuisance but less horrible than issues we've had with Adobe software activation.
Re:Linux on the Desktop (Score:4, Insightful)
2003 was the year of Linux on the Desktop for me. Has been ever since too.
Comment removed (Score:2, Insightful)
It's 2013, why are you still using Windows ? (Score:5, Insightful)
It's 2013, and Windows Activation Is Still Frustrating
It's 2013, why are you still using Windows ?
Already has the best antipiracy (Score:2, Insightful)
They don't need any other antipiracy measures. With Windows 8, they have created the best anti-piracy every; they created software nobody wants.
Re:Dump Microsoft (Score:4, Insightful)
Open Source is more like a house full of IKEA furniture. You need some basic skills and sometimes a bit of improvising to get what you want, but the end result is pretty useable and very versatile, even if some of the edges are still a little rough.
Windows is a furnished apartment. It looks better and the stuff that you need is all there and works great. You need absolutely no skills because the landlord will take care of it, but you can't do a lot of renovations. Fortunately, your landlord has gone around to all the furniture stores in town and made sure that most furniture you can buy will fit in your apartment.
Re:its 2013 (Score:0, Insightful)
Maybe a decade ago...
Today, I can't think of a single piece of hardware that doesn't work very well under Linux.
Re:its 2013 (Score:5, Insightful)
seriously, its your own damn fault.
Yeah - I guess it's my fault for needing Photoshop, Solidworks, AutoCAD, Excel, Word, etc. to share files with my customers.
Re:It's 2013, why are you still using Windows ? (Score:1, Insightful)
Because modern and open gaming still isn't viable and stable on another platform.
And if you say consoles I will laugh in your face.
Re:Which version of Word? (Score:4, Insightful)
Who gives a shit about Word? How about everything else he spoke about. Do you not understand the bigger picture here? People run businesses, not Half Life festivals
Re:its 2013 (Score:2, Insightful)
It's a disjointed mess (Linux) that never "just works". There's always issues with hardware compatibility or issues that honestly I don't get or see as someone who maintains thousands of desktops running Windows.
This is my own experience though and this is Apples to Oranges I understand in terms of the hardware side. But the community is horrible and you need to realise it's your type of attitude that makes it that - Apple aren't stupid enough to attack MS by bagging out Windows (well sort of - they attacked the usability through the "I'm a Mac" videos but not the product), they provide a VERY good alternative that people use and people jump. Linux fanboys have this idea that by attacking Windows it will make people move to Linux?? How about you make a product deserving of people making the switch and the people will do it themselves.
Re:Linux on the Desktop (Score:5, Insightful)
Java or metro?
Because if its java you are at the best unknowledgable. Users generally don't have a clue that java is what they use to communicate with their office over a remote access appliance. However they do know that they took their computer to "some guy" and now they can't connect to their work network anymore and I have to clean up the mess you made.
Please only fix what is actually broken on a customers machine and don't put your own personal biases of what is "necessary" software into the equation. You obviously don't know what users do, and even THEY do not even know what they do or need.
You should at least know THAT!
Re:Thank me later. (Score:3, Insightful)
Yes, this right here folks is why Linux has never and likely will never take off on the desktop. From usenet to forums to Slashdot, the typical response to "I can't get this distro to do what I need it to" is usually "fuck you, you hopeless moron, die in a fire".
Re:Linux on the Desktop (Score:5, Insightful)
I had a customer with 3 virus scanners installed and running at once, causing major slowdowns and strangeness. I could not convince him that was a bad idea. But he insisted to leave them installed. So I did. If they say no - it's no. I never do anything without discussing it with the customer first..