Posted on 11/26/2004 8:55:01 AM PST by JusticeTalion
MICROSOFT Corp. is staging another attack against software pirates with an amnesty program for unwitting users of bootlegged copies of its Windows XP operating system (OS).
The project enables the software giant to collate information about the sources of pirated software and quickly work with authorities to capture illegal traders.
In addition, the company also wants to get to the source of the problem, which it suspects is the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) sector. It promised not to prosecute individuals.
In its website, Microsoft announced the Windows XP Counterfeit Project for users who are “unsure” if they are using legitimate versions of the OS that came pre-installed in computers.
The company suspects that most pirated Windows XP copies were from resellers of OEM computers, which explains why the Counterfeit Project largely targets pre-installed versions.
Microsoft will require suspicious users to have their software submitted to them for analysis.
Users would have to apply online, then send the illegal copy -- as well as the official receipt of the PC they bought and a witness statement -- to Microsoft’s Redmond office.
Microsoft will replace the counterfeit versions, according to their terms and conditions of offer.
However, the deal only covers PCs bought before November 1.
The project also covers some European countries. There are no definite plans to make the project a worldwide activity.
Pirating XP? Why? I've never worked with such a miserable operating system. Perhaps this money and energy could have been put to better use improving the product.
I think XP is great. Except for the Service pack 2 update - some things about that really suck.
I bought one of these OEM versions because it was the cheapest way to go. According to the vendors who do this, the OEM version must be sold with "hardware" but the word "hardware" is not necessarily defined as a new computer. I received a "free mouse" with my software which supposedly qualifies it as OEM.
I do not know if this is legal or not. I figured the vendor did their homework.
It is hard to put reason into business planning when you are the defacto monopoly righ out of the chute in this, or any other industry. MS is still blinded by arrogance and greed, and it shows in their predatory marketing, which has become more important than trying to erase their image of putting out half-baked software to keep stockholders happy, while putting the consumer through "service pack hell".
It is standard MS. I still do not understand why someone has not made a competitive OS for the computer user/consumer (no not Linux) and taken a large share of MS's market. It is there for the taking.
Two and 1/2 years no problems here. Had to fix a couple things after SP2, but no biggie.
BTW, I've got 98SE on another machine and that's been very reliable too.
Been using Microsoft products for over twenty years since CPM came bundled with my Kaypro II.
Why not Linux?
I agree with you and the others about SP2. I may just format my new machine without it, beef up my firewall and anti-virus and see what happens.
Pirates! Arrrrrr, where's me bird?
Seriously though, MTOrlando has a good point. I am in the computer business (mostly repair and support), and there is almost no possible way to sell an honest PC with duly licensed software anymore. The competition from the garage builders and volume dealers like Dell makes it very unprofitable for a small computer dealer to sell honestly licensed systems.
I got out of the hardware business a couple of years ago... every now and then I quote a system, and I've found I can usually get pretty close to Dell and Gateway, but the pirate builders around here are cutthroat - they'll sell a white box with the latest OS and pro version of Office for 5% over hardware cost.
I have a couple of Red Hat machines here, and like it a lot. But it is not ready for the masses yet, and still needs some geekish playing around to make it work, especially with some hardware, and there are just too many things for "Joe Plug and Play" to learn and adapt to at present.
Ximian is a great email client. Linux represents a lot of work by a lot of people.
Just a little more time.
What...you've never worked with Windows 95?
Exactly. To get something workable, one has to go through and turn off all the crap that runs and/or reports home in the background (auto update, that auto backup thingy, the playskool interface, win messenger, that layer of dumbing-down drek between user and file manager, and so on and so on).
Do all that and what one is left with is Win2k.
BTTT
Same here, I have a storefront business, doing 99.9% repairs and upgrades. With all the brother in laws, and folks out there who 'know a lot about computers', I get to untangle a lot of thier messes as it is. Then there are the people who want you to make a home serice call and spend 3 hours dealing with their problems, while the dog barks at you, kids mess with you, constand questions, etc, and then want to pay you $25.00 like they did 'that other guy' who came over last time.
LOL - I tell them to call him back; seems like they can never get hold of him again.
Computer hardware is a commodity anymore, the only profit is in moving large volumes of it, and even then, the profits are razor thin.
I would suggest that the one using a Windows computer is the GEEK... With my Mac G5, and OSX, I don't need to be bothered with technicality! I get to use my computer, without always "tweeking"...
Not flaming, since you obviously have no clue, anyways! Apparently, you just wanted to bust on a product, superior to that which you are happy with... enjoy yourself!
Firefox, a linux program from Mozilla, is a great browser, too! It's almost as stable as Safari... or do you use IE?
Maybe you should be oldcats instead of newcats. J But I'm right there with you. I've worked with the same old stuff.
I am quite familiar with Linux which I use for scientific work. But Linux is not an operating system for the "consumer user" -- a great system though for the enthusiast, or very advanced user, who is willing to put the time in to learn the system. Frankly, if Linux had the aftermarket support that Windows has, or even a reasonable fraction of it, it would be my primary...as opposed to secondary.
I certainly am for the 'open source' initiative, and hope that Linux gains more support with upcoming releases.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.