http://www.informationweek.com/windo...leID=198000211
"said a certain amount of software piracy actually helps Microsoft because it can lead to purchases by individuals who otherwise might never have been exposed to the company's products."
http://www.informationweek.com/windo...leID=198000211
"said a certain amount of software piracy actually helps Microsoft because it can lead to purchases by individuals who otherwise might never have been exposed to the company's products."
*nods* if the choice is between pirating MS software and buying a rivals cheaper product then of course MS win by piracy. Piracy helps stop rivals, thus reduces competition thus raises prices and lowers product 'goodness'![]()
chuckles... MS ohh MS...
Me want Ultrabook
This idea has been around for some time - however, more recently, tougher anti-piracy measures seem to have been introduced.
Piracy is an excellent tool for building up market share, and maintaining it, as users become accustomed to using the specific products in question. A combination of very high market share, unique (patented?) interface designs and closed file formats can create a really successful monopoly.
And, I suppose, once such a company feels secure that there is no effective competition for its products, with little risk of that market share being eroded, it's free to build up the pressure on software pirates. To me, things like Genuine Advantage programmes and product activation are a demonstration of this.
They have been in trouble in parts of India for this. Seems they turned a blind eye to indian companies and coucils using pirated software, almost even encouraged it, and now they are threatening to take them to court unless they buy it now. Its like marketing akin to the powdered babymilk suppliers in africa.
Its true though, and as Hexxeh has said a few times (or at least I think it was him) Piracy strengthens Microsofts stranglehold on the market. Who's going to try GNU licensed programs if they can get Microsoft products for free![]()
Yep, that's good old MS for ya.
Its a well know fact that MS have done this since the days of 3.1. Its all about market share. They would rather have everyone using windows even if its illegal copies, rather than another companies product. Part of the reason it been the dominant desktop OS for so many years. I dont know anyone who had a legit copy of 3.1 unless it came with the PC.
Bit like the drug dealer that allows you to have a bit for free to get you hooked!
as long as everyone is comfortable using windows (at home), then they can assume that most companies will be using windows too (because it takes a massive slice from the market share)
any companies using illegal copies need their butts kicked though!
This is an odd thing coming from a microsoft exec. Though even with all the pirated versions of their software they still make huge profits so its not exactly crippling them.
This has been a popular MS philosophy for years. I dont think I ever used a legal version of 95/98 even my school had pirated versions.
End of the day, it's just the age old tactic of getting everyone hooked then upping the price.
There's drugs, and then there's heroin! That one's as addictive as the nicotine in cigarettes.
The day microsoft can replicate that in software, we're all screwed.
Though I think that's what DirectX and the games lock-in might be all about (games with the potential to be quite addictive).
By reducing the cost of MS OS's, even halving the price would solve a fair amount of piracy, as most peeps would "probably" buy 2 copies (more depending on how many PC's) to use on seperate PC's legitimately, IMO.
.....~awakes from dreamworld~![]()
Yeah but like they said, only about 25% of instances are pirate, and the amount they would need to cut the price to encourage only some of those back would harm profits more than just leaving them to it.
Better to milk those sucker enough to pay than offer a fairly priced product to all.
"You've gotta laugh when you fall off a sofa!"
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