Microsoft new Piracy checks!
Jul 26 2005
Windows XP Update Users Face Anti-Piracy Check as of Today
Beginning today, users of Microsoft Windows XP will have to undergo a mandatory check to ensure that their copy of the operating system is not a pirate copy. If this is the case, the user will be faced with two remedial options.
Illegal users can send in their installation CD along with details of where they obtained it will be rewarded with a free legitimate version of XP. Those that don't have a CD can purchase a copy at a reduced rate.
In both instances a piracy report is required from the user. The Windows Genuine Advantage anti-piracy check does not apply to security updates since Microsoft does not want to deny any users access to virus protection.
Jul 27 2005
#2
Toxictears wrote:
Illegal users can send in their installation CD along with details of where they obtained it will be rewarded with a free legitimate version of XP.
Dear Microsoft, here is my CD. I got it off a bloke called Mark in a pub.
thanks
Fozzie.
Jul 27 2005
#3
Hi JDMF
I agree. Microsoft would rather you ran a pirated copy than no copy at all.
Love
Chris
Jul 29 2005
#4
It may get people using more open source stuff, but mostly I think it will get people just sending off their CDs for a free legit version. I might try and find an xp disc myself to send off, always handy to have a proper version around and you can get something for free that is 'worth' a fair bit of money.
And what you say about india/china I dunno about china but I know that the indian government has been using Open Source software for a while.
Jul 29 2005
#5
Aren't both methods of reporting effectively shopping yourself to them as well?
I think it could see an increased uptake of open-source stuff.
Aug 2 2005
#6
My copy of xp has been scratched and doesn't work properly anymore - couldn't see any details about this on the irish microsoft site though... Could anyone out there help me out with a copy of XP pro? if so please pm me.
Aug 2 2005
#7
couldn't be bothered with the PM but www.ubuntulinux.org
Aug 3 2005
#8
ubuntu looks promising. I'm a debian linux user usually, is ubuntu just an user friendly version of it?
Aug 3 2005
#9
Yeah it is, I'm actually putting ubuntu on a laptop at the moment (having trouble with the ethernet card so a friends looking at that for me). Still the computer in my folks gaff runs on xp and i could do with a copy if anyone's got one going.
Aug 4 2005
#10
Well hopefully more people will finally get bored with dicking around with (often flawed, or only partially featured) pirate software on M$ platforms and put the small amount of effort it takes to get used to the easy options amongst free software. Gaming is probably the major thing that's holding it back really, and more and more major games (well mostly ID and related ones) are having opensource-platform apps released for them anyway.
Aug 4 2005
#11
Speaking of which, how do wireless networks fare on ubuntu?
Aug 4 2005
#12
Saii wrote:
Speaking of which, how do wireless networks fare on ubuntu?
I would have thought that'd be the same regardless of which distribution of linux you're using (as they're all essentially just a copy of the linux kernel, GNU utils and their own sets of applications over the top). Best bet is looking up your network card and linux or if you're looking at buying a card, find a list of cards with good kernel support (as most drivers for this sort of thing are built into the kernel as modules).
I'm pretty sure there's workable support for wifi because there are "penetration testing" distributions of linux like Whoppix which contain wardriving software and stuff like that.
edit: just googled and apparently they've had some sort of Wireless LAN stuff going on since 1996.
http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/Wireless.html
what do you anarcho-geeks think about this? I mean for sure one reason why M$ has a monopoly now is because of piracy - it has enabled them to have the whole computer using population be very familiar with windows and therefore that is the skillbase companies will have to make their IT decisions on.
I think had they enforced anti-piracy policies stronger in the past they would have not go to this position. Me thinks they conveniently overlooked the piracy in the past, but now being in such a strong monopolistic position they can start again. I bet they wont enforce this in India and China like they will do in the west!
Some Linux and open source folks have argued for ages that stronger piracy control moves from m$ would lead to higher uptake of OSS products - opinions on this?