Microsoft shuts the doors on Windows 7 pirates

McBanjo (User):

Does every dollar that Microsoft spends on Windows Genuine Advantage really generate an increase in sales? I wish they'd put all their genius effort into making a decent product instead.

TV Bis (User):

Quoting McBanjo:
I wish they'd put all their genius effort into making a decent product instead.

Is your home content available for all to use? Do you lock your doors? Would you like a stolen key to your property given to all who would like to use it?
No??
Well I guess MS has the right to protect its own property too.
Oh and by the way Windows 7 is a decent product!
If it wasn't for people’s criminal intents then I am sure MS wouldn’t worry about trying to protect its property to the degree it has now.
People can complain about these things but remember it is a problem that the people have caused in the first place……………..

Aubrey (Advanced member):

It is an interesting dilemma - The MS business model puts them in a difficult position re piracy. When there was no real competition, piracy could be attacked head-on because if they were successful, the ordinary user pirates simply had to fork over real money to MS. These days, with viable Linux desktop alternatives easily installed, MS is in danger of driving casual pirates to Linux if they crack down too hard. And if they continue to enlist Governments in their IP wars, the free alternatives become even more attractive for ordinary users.

With the changes going on in the way ordinary users access their apps, data and the internet, the MS business model is being tested on all fronts. Interesting times.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting McBanjo:
Does every dollar that Microsoft spends on Windows Genuine Advantage really generate an increase in sales?

I'd doubt MS could demonstrate any real increase in sales due to WGA by any accurate measure. Take into account that the number of legitimate users so frustrated with WGA that they are looking to alternatives and any fool (except apparently fools from Redmond)can realise MS are on a hiding to nothing with current strategies.


Quoting McBanjo:
I wish they'd put all their genius effort into making a decent product instead.

Isn't Genius effort something your supposed to get for a fee from a bar at your Apple store?
But seriously I'd have to agree with you that if efforts were directed towards product improvement and satisfying consumer demand, then MS would be in a much better position than the find themselves in from their current path, where the greed of the manufacturer is pitted against the greed of the disgruntled consumer.

The Mad Hatter (New user):

Quoting McBanjo:
Does every dollar that Microsoft spends on Windows Genuine Advantage really generate an increase in sales? I wish they'd put all their genius effort into making a decent product instead.

Yep. That's what Apple does, and they own the top end of the consumer market, with about 90% market share on systems worth more than $1000.00. If Microsoft spent all of the energy that they waste on "Genuine Disadvantage" on product development, Windows would be a better value proposition.

As it is, I refuse to use Windows any more. All of my home machines are either Macs, or run Linux.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting The Mad Hatter:
That's what Apple does, and they own the top end of the consumer market

They do? Did this happen overnight?


Quoting The Mad Hatter:
with about 90% market share on systems worth more than $1000.00.

Curiouser & Curiouser !! 90%? $1000.00 ????


Quoting The Mad Hatter:
If Microsoft spent all of the energy that they waste on "Genuine Disadvantage" on product development, Windows would be a better value proposition.

Back to reality at last.


Quoting The Mad Hatter:
As it is, I refuse to use Windows any more.

I'm sure MS are trembling in their boots at the loss of your sale! Thus far they have shown zero interest in the discontent of individual users.


Quoting The Mad Hatter:
All of my home machines are either Macs, or run Linux.

Which still has you very much in the minority. Windows has lost it's way and much of it's favour with an ever increasing number of users, and a MS appear either ignorant of their problem or incapable of steering the juggernaut,but dont kid yourself for a moment that the majority of desktop real estate is not running a form of Windows.

I believe its healthy to see the alternatives becoming real alternatives but let not kid ourselves about the market share Windows currently enjoys despite consumer favour being firmly locked in a Win XP holding pattern.

The Mad Hatter (New user):

Quoting Raindog:
Quoting The Mad Hatter:
That's what Apple does, and they own the top end of the consumer market

Quoting Raindog:
They do? Did this happen overnight?

No, it happened over the last 5 years, as Apple proceeded to make a superbly designed equipment, that is virus proof.

Quoting The Mad Hatter:
with about 90% market share on systems worth more than $1000.00.

Quoting Raindog:
Curiouser & Curiouser !! 90%? $1000.00 ????

Check NPD's market stats if you don't believe me. Also check Amazon's popularity ranking, you'll note that the only computers worth over $1000.00 in the top 50 are made by Apple.

Quoting The Mad Hatter:
If Microsoft spent all of the energy that they waste on "Genuine Disadvantage" on product development, Windows would be a better value proposition.

Quoting Raindog:
Back to reality at last.

Reality is that Windows sucks.

Quoting The Mad Hatter:
As it is, I refuse to use Windows any more.

Quoting Raindog:
I'm sure MS are trembling in their boots at the loss of your sale! Thus far they have shown zero interest in the discontent of individual users.

True. And lack of concern for the user will kill them if they continue on in the same way. That's why Apple is selling so much expensive kit, people are willing to pay more for the extra value that they see. Great hardware, and immunity to virus and trojans.

Quoting The Mad Hatter:
All of my home machines are either Macs, or run Linux.

Quoting Raindog:
Which still has you very much in the minority. Windows has lost it's way and much of it's favour with an ever increasing number of users, and a MS appear either ignorant of their problem or incapable of steering the juggernaut,but dont kid yourself for a moment that the majority of desktop real estate is not running a form of Windows.

I believe its healthy to see the alternatives becoming real alternatives but let not kid ourselves about the market share Windows currently enjoys despite consumer favour being firmly locked in a Win XP holding pattern.

Actually it's locked into Microsoft's OEM bundling deals, not consumer favour. If it weren't for the bundling deals, Windows Operating System share would drop. If the Russian competition bureau goes ahead with forcing the unbundling of operating systems, it will be intersting to watch the numbers in that market.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting The Mad Hatter:
No, it happened over the last 5 years

Not on this planet.



Quoting The Mad Hatter:
as Apple proceeded to make a superbly designed equipment

Aston Martin produce superb equipment by your logic they must dominate all automotive sales, or even all premium automotive sales?


Quoting The Mad Hatter:
that is virus proof.

Your kidding right? :>



Quoting The Mad Hatter:
Also check Amazon's popularity ranking,

or perhaps something more representative like say Logie award nominations?


Quoting The Mad Hatter:
Reality is that Windows sucks.

So do Daewoo Cielos, doesn't stop them being a sales success either.


Quoting The Mad Hatter:
That's why Apple is selling so much expensive kit, people are willing to pay more for the extra value that they see. Great hardware, and immunity to virus and trojans.

There is that viral immunity thing again. Surely your joking?



Quoting The Mad Hatter:
Actually it's locked into Microsoft's OEM bundling deals, not consumer favour.

And consumers favour bundled deals, your point is?


Quoting The Mad Hatter:
If it weren't for the bundling deals, Windows Operating System share would drop.

Indeed! By a great margin. But it still does not change the fact that Windows is the preference by a considerable margin. Apple on Apple is lucky to scrape into double figures, same for Linux.


Quoting The Mad Hatter:
If the Russian competition bureau goes ahead with forcing the unbundling of operating systems, it will be interesting to watch the numbers in that market.

If the Bulgarians dictate Linux as mandatory watch that market too? If the UK bans operating systems altogether that market will change as well. If Kevin Rudd does a backroom deal with MS watch the AU market. IF's are just that.

Don't like bunding don't buy it, simple really! I'm far from a fan of recent iterations of Windows (just ask about), but back here on earth the pressing reality is that MS bundles still represent the most attractive option for most consumers. I have no issue with MS slashing their pricing on bundles that is simply competition at work. I only have issue when pressure is applied on vendors to not also offer alternatives.

As windows fails to evolve and becomes more consumer hostile that bundling will represent less and less value, but lets not kid ourselves of the numbers.

Fornax (User):

I think MS should release a credit card like the linux one and with it you should get a free starter edition of Windows 7 and then as you accumulate points you could use them to unlock higher windows versions eg home premium and other MS products like office. MS still makes money but the consumers don't feel likes it costing anything.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Fornax:
I think MS should release a credit card

They could call it "Microsoft Money" thats free now. :>

Tin (Regular user):

Hardly worth writing about. 99% of people who want to pirate Windows 7 will be running the RC at this stage. Few would have used that Lenovo key unless they were checking if the old methods still work.

Once OEMs start rolling out machines for sale, the problem for pirates goes away... MS can't easily revoke the keys without ticking off hundreds of thousands of users, and some big money OEMs.

The Big Baboo (User):

Er :( How do we know that it's actually "Genuine Microsoft Software" I mean do all the people that write that stuff actually work for the company or are they just a bunch of free-lance weekend code writers who do it for a hobby like "Bill" used to?

Me In Oz (Cornerstone member):

Good on you MS!
Pirates are never going to buy ANYTHING. They do it for kicks and are usually well to do financially anyway. They hack and pirate as a trophy badge.

Tin (Regular user):

You obviously missed the part where this is only one key that was leaked. They didn't stop anything. The same technique will work once OEM copies are out legitimately (and that's going to happen within the 90 days an unlicensed copy will run).

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Me In Oz:
Pirates are never going to buy ANYTHING.

never huh.



Quoting Me In Oz:
and are usually well to do financially

Curious then that so many choose to reside in impoverished areas of the planet?

Me In Oz (Cornerstone member):

Quoting Raindog:
choose to reside in impoverished areas of the planet?

Yes! Like Bondi and the Eastern Suburbs

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Me In Oz:
Yes! Like Bondi and the Eastern Suburbs

True and Romania,Brisbane etc. Their is no accounting for such odd choices. :>

The Big Baboo (User):

Quoting Raindog:
True and Romania,Brisbane etc. Their is no accounting for such odd choices. :>
Heh,Heh "Raindog" I reckon I've just about hacked the life out of Adelaide ;) Do you think I should move east now and hack a piece out of the rest of Australia :) I'm not going to worry about Perth tho' 'cause I've got some really good friends over there :)

Pazin (User):

this is annoying as with xp i purchased 15 versions of windows xp pro. and they were all from the legit pc store locally, yet they were all pulled up as not "genuine" the cd has the genuine holograph and the cd key was untampered. called microsoft and complained. 2 months later got a "sorry, our mistake" message on my answering machine.

rizwandean (New user):

I think Microsoft should take the necessary action and block the OEM key. Failing to do this means that Lenovo is putting thousands of genuine customers at risk by shipping 7 with the pirated key.

The problem here is that piracy is no longer simply about sending a message that software prices are atrocious - it now means stealing any and every software simply because the market demands are so huge for pirated goods.

Windows 7 is a great OS and after testing it, I find that it's amazingly stable, even if it's got the RC tag attached to it. I hope that anyone who is planning to get a copy of Windows 7 will do it legitimately.

Tin (Regular user):

Quoting rizwandean:
The problem here is that piracy is no longer simply about sending a message that software prices are atrocious - it now means stealing any and every software simply because the market demands are so huge for pirated goods.


This doesn't make much sense to me. Most people who pirate do it because:
a) it saves money.
b) it can be easier to pirate than correctly license.
Both can be rendered not an issue if companies like MS wake up and start pricing at sane levels, and stop selling 100 differently licensed versions of the same thing.


Quoting rizwandean:
I hope that anyone who is planning to get a copy of Windows 7 will do it legitimately.


Well maybe if they make it worth buying. I'd probably buy a few legitimate licenses at around $50. But at $500, I won't be buying any.

The Mad Hatter (New user):

Quoting Tin:
Quoting rizwandean:
The problem here is that piracy is no longer simply about sending a message that software prices are atrocious - it now means stealing any and every software simply because the market demands are so huge for pirated goods.

It's not piracy. The proper term is "Copyright Infringement"