If you are using anything other then 7000 your a Pirate

Brink · 22 Apr 2009

Howdr said:

"Supported"? but these other builds are intellectual property and are not "Supported" because they are not supposed to be in the hands of anyone but the people Microsoft gave it to confidential.

So the ones who "leaked this" broke the law? How am I wrong in this?

Microsoft will just not make a case out of Beta software thats all,

But it hurts Microsoft when XYZ uses build 7106 and its unstable and then tells 10 or more other people that Windows 7 is crap, does it not?

I guess I saying people are are not posting good information at times, telling us that there is a RC1 out there and that the 7106 was the newest build when it was not. I thought to put this out there, that not to judge Windows 7 by unstable builds.

No one says that you're wrong Howdr. It's just that Microsoft has been overlooking the unmodified leaks since it has been getting so much good free advertising for them. That's all.

copernicus · 22 Apr 2009

Arrrr!

Orbital Shark · 22 Apr 2009

copernicus said:

Arrrr!

you crazy fool

Dwarf · 22 Apr 2009

This is a tough one. Yes, it's true that the only official build so far is 7000. If MS really did want to stop people using the unofficial leaked builds, such as 7022, 7048, 7057, 7068, etc., then they would need to ensure that the beta product keys were only valid for 7000. They have the means to do this. As we all know, they are also valid for these unofficial builds as well. As regards the RC versions, it is possible that they will require new keys. We shall have to wait and see.

Orbital Shark · 22 Apr 2009

Dwarf said:

This is a tough one. Yes, it's true that the only official build so far is 7000. If MS really did want to stop people using the unofficial leaked builds, such as 7022, 7048, 7057, 7068, etc., then they would need to ensure that the beta product keys were only valid for 7000. They have the means to do this. As we all know, they are also valid for these unofficial builds as well. As regards the RC versions, it is possible that they will require new keys. We shall have to wait and see.

I would expect so, they would want the same focus on RC as they did on 7000. I suppose they get some sort of control if they change the keys (limited to RC only) which means that you can only use RC & the support base would be a lot greater & more refined, as opposed to having various builds scattered about the globe

Howdr · 22 Apr 2009

OK now that I have stimulated thought here...........

I think that MS should support registered users in using what ever build is out there.

What I'm saying is being open is better, as long as people understand they are testing and not getting a finished product.

So registered and in contact with MS then any build is ok officially.

I'm not upset with the other builds just that so many have no idea what they are doing and then complain. They at times compare what the build is to what the finished Windows 7 will be, to date the only build that is close to the finished available is 7077, there is new build I know of but its not yet available

Arrrrr

davehc · 22 Apr 2009

But you must try to see it from Vernons point of view, Howdr. It si not such a bad policy and is actually applied to another forum which I visit. There is no purpose in bug hunting builds which are not properly sequenced, and probably have uncorrected bugs from other builds. In the worst case, they could even have reintroduced bugs from much ealrier "experiments." These builds are quite often only sent out with one particular problem,- it could even be something as small as a syntax error.

SIW2 · 22 Apr 2009

There is no copyright infringement.

To prove that, the plaintiff has to show loss of income ( or potential loss).

7 is not for sale, so that is a non starter.

Romulinx2 · 22 Apr 2009

Just for info: You can still download the Win 7 beta 7000 if you have a Technet or MSDN subscription. :)

jimbo45 · 22 Apr 2009

Howdr said:

OK now that I have stimulated thought here...........

I think that MS should support registered users in using what ever build is out there.

What I'm saying is being open is better, as long as people understand they are testing and not getting a finished product.

So registered and in contact with MS then any build is ok officially.

I'm not upset with the other builds just that so many have no idea what they are doing and then complain. They at times compare what the build is to what the finished Windows 7 will be, to date the only build that is close to the finished available is 7077, there is new build I know of but its not yet available

Arrrrr

Did you not read the original Caveat when the "Official Beta" became available.

I can't remember the exact words but it stated something like this "THIS is BETA software and therefore NO support will be available" . There was of course a Send Feedback possibilty where you could report your errors.

These same Interim builds have NO OFFICIAL Microsoft status whatsoever outside the areas they were intended to be used in -- doesn't mean to say that you can't use them but don't expect any help if stuff goes wrong -- in any case we have W7 Forum don't we for help.

It's not Piracy in the "normal" meaning of the term since :

1) We are not using a product that is being sold or licensed commercially.

2) We (if we obey the rules of the Forum) are not distributing a "Copyrighted" product without the copyright owner's (in this case Microsoft) permission. Distribution includes of course posting direct links to where the product can be obtained from sources not sanctioned officially by Microsoft.

The fact we all know where those sources are is irrelevant. We just must keep our big traps shut.

3) We are not re-packaging the product for resale. Adding unofficial changes / customisations / registry hacks might be *frowned on* but for your own use there's not much MS can do to stop this.

So I don't think any users of builds > 7000 are "Pirates" in any sense of the term.

As pointed out before MS could easily stop this at a stroke by simply deactiving the Beta serial numbers. So long as the builds are genuine MS gets extra feedback and publicity. The problem starts when serious fakes like the chinese build 7106 appear. Most other "Fake" builds are spotted very quickly but 7106 just goes on and on.

Then if viruses / other malware is introduced Microsoft could be forced to act pretty quickly to stop damaging the decent reputation so far that w7 has been getting.

(Actually if you Love conspiracy theories -- How about Microsoft itself releasing a dubious build to a torrent site - and then using its muscle to say "I told you so".)

C'mon somebody this could make a good plot for a Novel. Big corporation secretly releases flawed version of OS. 100,000's of computers in mission critical instances go wrong - Nuclear power stations, etc etc.
Huge government contract awarded to "Clean the mess up".
Political prize given -- company director get to be President etc for "Saving the Planet".

So all with that I'm now off to the Pub to watch Manchester United and basically get 100% Sozzled -- great weather with "Warm" English ale and horrendous prices -- but still fun. Can finally have a go at the UK guys now -- their Banks are still in EVEN more trouble than ours which I thought would have been 100% impossible.

Cheers all -- Done for the day now.

jimbo