AnswerManAug 27th, 2007 - 22:36:12

I've used one Microsoft operating system or another since DOS 4.2 came out. But, when Windows XP was released, I saw the beginnings of something I didn't like ... a corporate attitude on Microsoft's part that they had a RIGHT to use invasive software against their customer base. Guilty until proven innocent (of piracy) became Microsoft's policy toward consumers. And later, when Windows Vista was released, this attitude and policy were cemented in stone.

Congratulations, Microsoft. You've bitten the hand(s) that feeds you. And in retaliation for this bite, a lot of changes have transpired. First, on server software, corporations are abandoning Microsoft operating systems. More than 50% of all Fortune 500 companies now use Linux in their data centers. And that's just now. A 75% or higher percentage 5 years from now wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Secondly, for the first time in hardware seller/reseller history, companies such as Dell, HP, and CDW are offering potential customers the option of staying with XP or even getting a Linux installation. They wouldn't be doing this if they weren't afraid they'd lose sales. In short, ordinary consumers have begun to see the same light as the Fortune 500 companies.

Me? I started using Windows XP in 2004. When Windows Vista was released, and after I read their EULA (which reads like it could have been written by George Orwell), I promised myself I'd never upgrade to it. But, I've gone one step further ... and plan to go even further than that in the future.

I recently purchased brand new state-of-the-art desktop AND laptop systems. My desktop runs a dual-boot ... Windows 2000 Pro SP4 and Ubuntu. Why Windows 2000? Because that operating system has the NTFS advantage of XP and Vista without the verification and re-verification requirement of Windows Genuine Advantage ... nor does Windows 2000 require online activation. Why Ubuntu? It's the first Linux distro I chose to experiment with ... but may not be the last. Next on my list of distros to experiment with is Gentoo, followed by Mepis, followed by as many others as it takes to do all the things I want to do with a computer ... but WITHOUT WINDOWS.

In short, I've chosen to abandon Microsoft ... the way they abandoned me and every other honest user in exchange for the dubious security of police-state marketing. And once I do find the Linux solution that does address my computer needs, I'll convert my laptop to it as well (currently running Windows XP) so both computers are speaking the same language.

When that day comes, I'll delete Windows 2000 from my desktop and send an email to Microsoft saying, 'Goodbye old horse and thanks for the use of your buggy.'

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bobAug 27th, 2007 - 23:10:08

Being someone who likes to change components and mess with computers the WGA is a nightmare. This started back a long time ago with XP after a while I was tired of all the popup messages and having to revalidate my system. I believe there are a lot of things MS could have done differently in basic design to make a system not only hard to pirate but also secure as well. I have long since left Windows based systems and moved on to Linux. I had a learning curve but no popups, spyware, viruses, trojans, worms, blue screens, and so on. I do not regret the change so there is something that the consumer can do.

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TripleIIAug 27th, 2007 - 23:28:16

Now why would the do something as silly as rescind WGA? They have proof that 100% of their legitimate users agreed to, allow, approve and with no reservations whatsoever, accepted Microsoft's terms on how a user is authorized to rent time on their computer. It is hard to battle with 100% customer sign on for WGA!

Besides, they can take solace in the fact that WGA is helping eliminate piracy the world over, and so what if they got reduced functionality for a couple of days, it is no big deal for the massive discounts that are sure to follow when MS eliminates piracy and passes the massive savings along to their customers.

TripleII

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WGA is the wrong way to goAug 27th, 2007 - 23:53:04

WGA does not stop piracy. It's just another thing to add to a hack. Eliminate? That is so ludicrous it's hilarious. You been to Asia? They have shopping malls selling copied WinXP discs.

Within a few days, cracks for WGA appear all over the net every time WGA is upgraded to stop hackers. People using these would be totally unaffected every time Microsoft's servers fall down.

In short WGA does not hinder pirates for any real amount of time. It only hinders those legitimate users who wish to use the software hassle free. Why would you want to buy legitimate software when it can randomly lock you out for no reason?

Microsoft are definitely biting the hand that feeds it. Their anti-piracy measures have the wrong approach and are hurting only those people who legitimately use their products. The approach has to change to not presume guilt as the first poster has said.

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AnswerManAug 28th, 2007 - 00:48:46

TripleII,

Why WGA? Isn't online activation enough? Once the KEY number is registered to one system (online), a second system's online activation attempt would fail. If WGA has a purpose, it would be after a 2nd online activation attempt was made using the same KEY ... not before. And even afterward, WGA should be a temporary add-on (say for six months) requiring all uses of the KEY number to go through a WGA check. If a system with the same parameters logged on for six months ... with no other system making the same attempt, it would be reasonable proof that the 2nd activation was due to an 'upgrade' (or hardware change), not piracy.

Microsoft went too far. Coupled with that, Microsoft shipped a flawed operating system. Vista still has a number of issues with certain drivers and certain non-Microsoft software. Treating a customer as a potential criminal and exacerbating this treatment with a flawed OS and you end up with a recipe for marketing disaster.

Last month, Microsoft crowed that Vista sales had topped 60,000,000 units. But it wasn't really a 'sales' figure ... it was a 'shipped' figure. Earlier this year, when they crowed about sales of 40,000,000 units, a columnist from PC Magazine asked Microsoft to differentiate that figure between in-the-box sales of Vista and installations of Vista on systems that hadn't even been purchased yet. Microsoft declined comment.

When I bought my HP notebook, it was one of the last systems on the shelf that had XP installed (the rest had been Vista-fied). And one of the first things I did was register it with HP ... giving me access to their support forum. As it was then, even now, one of the most asked questions in that forum is how to downgrade Vista to XP. I'm certain this is repeated in other forums ... people dumping Vista for XP (or something else). These downgrade figures go unreported but will surely affect Microsoft's future ability to sell extensions of (or upgrades to) Vista. In fact, according to this blog article:

www.pcadvisor.co.uk/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=1181&blogid=5

some industry insiders feel that many PC users will skip Vista altogether and wait until the newer Windows 7 comes out in 2010. But if Windows 7 has the same EULA in tow as Vista, along with WGA requirements, it may be the last operating system Microsoft sells to a market where they dominate.

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James HarringtonAug 28th, 2007 - 07:35:40

I recently installed Office 2007 (Volume licence copy) onto a test machine. Even volume licence now requires validation which is why it won't be going into my office of 500 pc's. There is a new *feature* in Internet Explorer 7 called protected mode. If you have protected mode switched on WGA fails.

Great one Microsoft!!! Micro should be careful. Now that I can install OS X on my Intel system I can get the benefits of the Adobe Suite and use Ubuntu or Fedora for my day to day office needs, and as one other user pointed out Windows 2000 for my gaming needs

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KBRBAug 28th, 2007 - 16:56:41

I helped a friend re-instal her XP, using her legitimate key, from the sticker on her Compaq laptop. Darn thing now asks for validation every time it is started. Then it validates, ALL OK! next power-down it asks again, forever... M$ server errors are the LEAST of the problem. Bleh!

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vista=poopAug 29th, 2007 - 00:05:01

i've been using vista since it's release, and it lacks many things, but that's another story. i dont see why m$ insists on protecting their software when people can consistently and continuously work around it. i wish they would read my post.

how much did it cost them to develop and implement WGA?(programmers, hours worked, etc) is that cost more or less than the amount they would lose due to piracy? did they even consider that? think about it this way...m$ spends money on WGA, to stop piracy. at this point, they've essentially saved money, but less than a week later someone develops a workaround, and all that money spent on WGA is wasted, and the number of pirated users either increases or stays the same(pirated copies are typically used by people WITH A BRAIN, so you can almost rule out a decrease in pirated copies). what happens next? they develop WGA more, spend more money, and days later it gets debunked again, with more money wasted, and piracy sustained. what's the point?!

since the release of the 360 i've noticed m$'s view on business has been whatever saves them or makes them money in general, with less focus on customer satisfaction. i was amazed at their 360 recall...but then again it only dropped their shares by what, a few cents?

last time i checked apple's osx discs had no cd key requirement! come on...focus on making reliable products, not protecting it; the more reliable the os, the more customers you get; for those wishing to leave vista/xp, since apple's release of intel core computers, im sure the os must be compatible with the chip(duh), ie it could be used on a pc(find out how)...or linux; linux is good but requires a learning curve as someone already mentioned

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GaryAug 29th, 2007 - 00:33:44

Default - If we are down, are customers are thief's!
Talk about the Pot calling the Kettle Black...

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Jono CrackerSep 22nd, 2007 - 22:35:47

I Seriously have to agree on the open slating of microsoft and the and their pathetic way of treating client's.
I have every copy of windows ever released and have paid for them.
Not even the first nt version of 2000 works anymore as they have simply stoped supporting these systems .
Im also not worried about getting arrested as i live in the murder capital of the world 'watch 2010 South Africa Soccer world cup for proof of victums of serious and violent crime'
Greed Never gets anyone anyware!
So before considering ever working for this company lick the basin of a publick toilet seat, it will probably leave a better tast in your mouth.

Bill Gates not that smart but definitly a mafiosa when it comes stealing peoples money 'I would like $5000' but next year $5000!

by the way office is seperate and so is VS etc etc etc

So we as collective developers are boycotting microsoft and have a national hacking program to steal software just as they steal our time with an incomplete os ,errors ,Microsoft made virus's 'just to sell there silly Virus protection'.

Watch this space if i dont see them in court ill see them in hell
jono.5gbfree.com for full article

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