Vista activation circumvented... properly?

[fat jez]

I hope the Speedtouch 330 is okay with Vista32 as that's the one I'll be getting later this month.

*cough* buy a router *cough*

Cheers,
Stephen

[spazman]

For how long though Koolpc?

Seriously - if you want to use it buy it. If people continue to pirate it the price is only ever going one way...

Some people would argue that they pirate because its too expensive in the first place. I was lucky enough to have a housemate who works at MS here in Reading so i dint pay full retail price (far far from it) there is no WAY id pay the full retail price. I fully understand why people would do this, especially those in countries where wages arnt as high as here, would you want to pay 3 months wages just to have vista when you can buy a pirated version that is exactly the same for probably a few % of the price. A friend of mine came back from india recently with a pirate version of office it cost him TEN PENCE, why would your average indian pay hundreds of pounds when you can get the same for ten pence.

[Steve]

Some people would argue that they pirate because its too expensive in the first place. I was lucky enough to have a housemate who works at MS here in Reading so i dint pay full retail price (far far from it) there is no WAY id pay the full retail price. I fully understand why people would do this, especially those in countries where wages arnt as high as here, would you want to pay 3 months wages just to have vista when you can buy a pirated version that is exactly the same for probably a few % of the price. A friend of mine came back from india recently with a pirate version of office it cost him TEN PENCE, why would your average indian pay hundreds of pounds when you can get the same for ten pence.

While this doesn't excuse piracy, it is a valid point.

Also, I find it insulting that Microsoft sells cheaper, crippled "Basic" versions of Vista. It's not for anyone's benefit; it's to lure people into upgrading to get all the features they want but couldn't afford in the first place.

[steve threlfall]

Some people would argue that they pirate because its too expensive in the first place. I was lucky enough to have a housemate who works at MS here in Reading so i dint pay full retail price (far far from it) there is no WAY id pay the full retail price. I fully understand why people would do this, especially those in countries where wages arnt as high as here, would you want to pay 3 months wages just to have vista when you can buy a pirated version that is exactly the same for probably a few % of the price. A friend of mine came back from india recently with a pirate version of office it cost him TEN PENCE, why would your average indian pay hundreds of pounds when you can get the same for ten pence.

Why buy a car when you could just steal one?

I see your point though. Im glad my copy of vista business is free through MSDNAA (and my xp pro w/sp2). Vista is way overpriced so its hardly surprising that people are pirating it.

The basic version is a complete joke. A couple of uni mates got that crippled version through the express upgrade program.

[spazman]

I dont believe it to be the same as stealing a car, unless you somehow manage to duplicate the car so leaving the original there. Im not saying its right or ok, im just saying people do it because they dont want to pay ripp of prices and free is a nice alternative.

[Nick]

I was lucky enough to have a housemate who works at MS here in Reading so i dint pay full retail price (far far from it)

That's odd because, according to Microsoft, they no longer do staff discounts.

The reasoning, so they told me, was that if they own staff had to pay full whack rather than the massively discounted price, they'd see more value in the software and be more sympathetic when dealing with a user who's full price software has gone tits up...

This actually came up as a discussion point when I was whinging to an MS rep about how I had to re-activate my OEM XP Pro install after slapping in an extra Gig of memory and was then told by the call centre staff I had a pirated copy and there was nothing they could do.

(I didn't have a pirated copy, it was a bona-fide OEM version I bought when XP launched)

[Splash]

Some people would argue that they pirate because its too expensive in the first place. I was lucky enough to have a housemate who works at MS here in Reading so i dint pay full retail price (far far from it) there is no WAY id pay the full retail price. I fully understand why people would do this, especially those in countries where wages arnt as high as here, would you want to pay 3 months wages just to have vista when you can buy a pirated version that is exactly the same for probably a few % of the price. A friend of mine came back from india recently with a pirate version of office it cost him TEN PENCE, why would your average indian pay hundreds of pounds when you can get the same for ten pence.

I'd say we have a chicken/egg situation here. Also I suspect in countries with lower wages that the price of the software is adjusted accordingly.

I'll be honest - I have in the past used pirate software, however I realised the error of my ways and have rectified the situation by buying legitimate licenses. I'm currently using the 120 day trial of Office 2007 home/student which I WILL be buying a copy of when I have the cash (around when the trial expires, which is handy!).

[Spud1]

I dont believe it to be the same as stealing a car, unless you somehow manage to duplicate the car so leaving the original there. Im not saying its right or ok, im just saying people do it because they dont want to pay ripp of prices and free is a nice alternative.

I disagree - it is more like stealing a car than you think. The reason is that you are not stealing Windows Vista, but more you are stealing the money from microsofts pocket. Whether you intend on buying the software at full price or not, the only legal way to run the software is to buy a licence, therefore by running it without a licence you are effectivly stealing the money out of their pocket.

So I guess an analogy of stealing someones cash out of their wallet fits better, but even though legally it doesn't quite work out like that, *morally* it is.

[IAmATeaf]

Some people would argue that they pirate because its too expensive in the first place. I was lucky enough to have a housemate who works at MS here in Reading so i dint pay full retail price (far far from it) there is no WAY id pay the full retail price. I fully understand why people would do this, especially those in countries where wages arnt as high as here, would you want to pay 3 months wages just to have vista when you can buy a pirated version that is exactly the same for probably a few % of the price. A friend of mine came back from india recently with a pirate version of office it cost him TEN PENCE, why would your average indian pay hundreds of pounds when you can get the same for ten pence.

I've got a friend who works for MS at Reading and according to him MS no longer give discounts to staff for software, well that's what he told me when I asked.

[directhex]

I disagree - it is more like stealing a car than you think. The reason is that you are not stealing Windows Vista, but more you are stealing the money from microsofts pocket. Whether you intend on buying the software at full price or not, the only legal way to run the software is to buy a licence, therefore by running it without a licence you are effectivly stealing the money out of their pocket.

So I guess an analogy of stealing someones cash out of their wallet fits better, but even though legally it doesn't quite work out like that, *morally* it is.

or consider that the product IS duplicated - if someone steals my car, the insurance people buy me a replacement. 2 cars where there were one. victimless crime, right?

[Nick]

Nope, cos then the insurance company payout... and to cover THAT cost they hike the premiums for everyone else... so we all pay.

Hang on...

[dangel]

I think it's more like killing children... No, wait - it's more like genocide.. Good grief, shades of grey people or do you all live black and white lives? Piracy has it's pro's and con's (which have debated here to death before) but in this case who really believes that piracy has much of an impact on MS in lost sales? Or are we applying RIAA-style logic to the marketplace?

[spazman]

That's odd because, according to Microsoft, they no longer do staff discounts.

The reasoning, so they told me, was that if they own staff had to pay full whack rather than the massively discounted price, they'd see more value in the software and be more sympathetic when dealing with a user who's full price software has gone tits up...

This actually came up as a discussion point when I was whinging to an MS rep about how I had to re-activate my OEM XP Pro install after slapping in an extra Gig of memory and was then told by the call centre staff I had a pirated copy and there was nothing they could do.

(I didn't have a pirated copy, it was a bona-fide OEM version I bought when XP launched)

I can assure you that me nor my house mate had to pay anywhere near the price quite how he managed it i have no idea but i got it cheap and he works at MS. If they have stopped discount to their own staff thats so very very lame, a kick in the balls to the people who worked on it.

[directhex]

I think it's more like killing children... No, wait - it's more like genocide.. Good grief, shades of grey people or do you all live black and white lives? Piracy has it's pro's and con's (which have debated here to death before) but in this case who really believes that piracy has much of an impact on MS in lost sales? Or are we applying RIAA-style logic to the marketplace?

who said it hurt microsoft? i'm pretty sure i didn't, repeatedly

[Agent]

Also, I find it insulting that Microsoft sells cheaper, crippled "Basic" versions of Vista. It's not for anyone's benefit; it's to lure people into upgrading to get all the features they want but couldn't afford in the first place.

Or a way of saving money for features people wont ever use?

When I have to upgrade the machine downstairs to Vista, there is no doubt it will be the home edition. There is just no point going with anything higher.

[dangel]

who said it hurt microsoft? i'm pretty sure i didn't, repeatedly

Who said you did?