Continuing the Fight Against Piracy.

[seekermeister]

Yes, the variety of hardware certainly is a factor in compatibility, and that is something that should be addressed much better than it is. If there were a uniformity in hardware, software development would be much simpler, thus cheaper. In the real world, my ideas are not terribly realistic, but all sectors of the industry would have to cooperate far far more than they do. If someone could make this come about, it would solve a lot of problems, besides just the theft aspect.

 

[Lens Pirate]

Very interesting thread. It seems some of us feel they are entitled to MS O/S at the price of their choosing.

My suggestion to those folks is if you do not like the use rights MS sells you to their intellectual property then do not buy it. If the restrictions MS places on the use of its product chafes your skin, do not buy it. If it is to much money for you then do with out.

You have open source options. Why not use those exclusively? I will tell you why. Its because the open source can not compete with the software, the infratructure, the distribution system, the global compatability, produced by a industry driven by profit. Profits are good.

Why not write it yourself? You lack the skill, money, depth and ability. But you think others owe this to you as a gift.

 

[Tepid]

see my sig.

 

[Frostmourne]

What about censorship? Manhunt 2 AO is only available uncut in the US, Canada, and Mexico on DirectDrive. So I can wait if it ever comes out (not likely as its been banned and censored nearly everywhere) or get it another way in 2 hrs.

 

[gizbug]

Hi Tews
I can't say I've NEVER used a torrent

jimbo

My life would be incomplete WITHOUT torrents

 

[noobvious]

I have actually never torrented. Granted, for a long time I had no computer though. But with my luck, I would be the one the RIAA caught in the act....so I'm not going to start now.

 

[BWK]

What does it cost to make an OS?
What does it cost to mass produce large quantities of cd/dvd's of that?
There is huge profit in it or we wouldn't have one of the richest people in the world in charge of the company. Thanks Apple for giving us him.

 

[Indiana Jones]

It's interesting how many people(in this forum, for example) actually paid for their OS.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Does downloading from Technet (paid subscription) count as "Paid for OS".

Cheers
jimbo

 

[pparks1]

It's interesting how many people(in this forum, for example) actually paid for their OS.

Well, with respects to my OS...I simply don't trust a pirated version of the OS running on my machine. To me, it's like buying a really crappy off-brand mobo and then plugging all state of the art components into it...a bad base just isn't going to lead to good results.

For many people, their OS's are legit because it came with the computer they purchased. While many of us here like to build our own machines...there are probably quite a large number of people who just bought an off the shelf prebuilt machine which of course came with a properly licensed and paid for operating system.

As jimbo mentioned, many around these parts have invested in a Technet subscription. For $250-$350..you get handfuls of licenses for all of the Windows desktop OS's, server OS's and Office products. For many, paying that sum of money to have legit copies and licenses for that many products is simply worth it.

For me, it's a matter or principle. I'm a fan of Linux and open source. But I also feel that Windows and commercial software has it's place. However, I don't believe that I can praise the benefits of running Microsoft Windows without having to be subject to the cost and licensing restrictions. So, for me, I have to pay the $200 or so for the OS and then find the value of doing so in order to tell others that it's a good OS. If I don't feel it's worth the $200...then I should just run something that doesn't cost $200...and there are tons of options available.

 

[valtonray]

see my sig."
____________________________________________
To each according to their needs, From Each according to their ability. - Marxism 101"/QUOTE]

marxism works better in idealism than in reality. unfortunately the world we live in is real and inhabited by real people with real desires beyond their needs.

 

[heres2ferrari]

all i have to say is it's AMAZING how many people i know who pirated the upgrade from windows 7 versions to windows Ultimate

 

[valtonray]

well my win ultimate came courtsey of microsoft as a launch party host, but it's sad that so many people pirate it especially considering most of them have no use for the professional features. sure the built in xp mode is nice but their are other options.

 

[pparks1]

well my win ultimate came courtsey of microsoft as a launch party host, but it's sad that so many people pirate it especially considering most of them have no use for the professional features. sure the built in xp mode is nice but their are other options.

If you are going to pirate Windows 7 (the host OS), why would you really care about getting the versions that provide XPM. Wouldn't you just pirate Windows XP as well???? Or likely have already pirated it?

 

[valtonray]

i know people that pirated vista to put on OEM machines equipped with xp, then went back and installed a pirated version of xp on the same machine and are now running pirated 7 ultimate(mostly just because it's the most expensive version)

 

[smarteyeball]

Hi there
Does downloading from Technet (paid subscription) count as "Paid for OS".

Cheers
jimbo

It does to me

EULA - not so much.

 

[HJA]

When MS went public they created more millionaires over night than any other company ever. However when you look at the product it's defective. They have a Beta then after say a year they put it out for sale. The problem is it is still Beta, only #2. They have patches, updates, etc. They have the public test it, then they sell it, and then fix it constantly until they decide to do it all over again. All other software mfgrs must modify their product to make it work with MS. I know, there are millions of lines of code but look at it. It fits on a 25 cent cd/dvd. They spit these out by the 10's of thousands, and charge up to $300+. But we pay for it!
Why? They have a monopoly. I know there is Linux, etc but it's all about money. Software mfgrs go where the profit is. MS makes billions and everyone wants a cut.
This PC I just got will last me 10 years like the last one. I guess if you average it out ....Oh well.

 

[Colonel Travis]

HJA - Windows isn't perfect but it ain't defective, and what does that have to do with employees becoming millionaires? If you don't like a product, don't use it. I used Macs for many years because they made superior products. I don't think they do any more, thus I don't use Macs.

If you're that worked up against MS, invent a better product than they do. Go work for a company that competes against them. Don't buy MS anything. You live in a country where you are free to gripe - but you are also free to change your lot in life if you really want to. Or you can just complain about how crappy you think capitalism is and be miserable.

 

[HJA]

Or you can just complain about how crappy you think capitalism is and be miserable.

I realize I have a choice, but with mass production generally things go down in price. This hasn't happened with MS OS. It's interesting when a company controls the market and prices. No competition is what we have. If more programs would be produced for Linux I might try it. And if it's not defective why updates, patches and SP's. What if you had to take your car in once a month for a "Service Pack"? I'm not trying to cause an argument. Just a comment. Just an observation. Win7 is the best system from MS yet.

 

[pparks1]

If more programs would be produced for Linux I might try it.

Tons of applications are available for Linux. However, you have to accept that many are alternatives to Windows versions and are thus different. For me, gaming is the massive lacking area...however I generally console game so I don't mind much. The biggest issue for average users and Linux is just complexity...as not much that they know from Windows translates into using Linux.

And if it's not defective why updates, patches and SP's.

No software is perfect and will be updated and patched. This is true for Windows, Linux, Apple OSX and almost every application that I have ever used. And even if not patched for being defective, as new hardware is releases, additional support is often needed, or newer drivers or patches to properly make use of it. This is no fault of the operating system.