The Reluctant Pirate

[Guest]

I get my Vista RC1 Beat copy in the mail, and install it. I love the OS, but
it’s buggy. I got RC2 my email, and it was improved. Close enough to stable,
so I kill my dual-boot config and start using it, knowing I’ve got 6 months
before it expires and that I can easily buy it retail by then, that was the
plan anyway.

So a few weeks go by and I see RTM on the Internet, but I don’t get a copy
of that one in the mail. MS no doubt wants me to buy it. I’m thought that
wouldn’t be a problem, but I can’t find it. I own a telecom company in
Dallas. I have a few hundred Win2K3 licenses, and a dozen or so XP License on
workstations: spending plenty of money with MS, but my vendor doesn’t have
Vista, and I can’t find a vendor on the MS Partner site to sell it to me. I
leave all kinds of voicemails with these rinky dink outfits, but no one
really has it to sell me TODAY. Not even retail like Best Buy, or CompUSA,
nobody.

But I see it all over the Internet, my techs have it, my friends have it,
but I don’t have it. So I download it, and read the details. It seems that
this pirated RTM copy simply installs and pretends to be a beta. Now we all
know even the RTM is going to have quite a few patches in the next few
months, so in my mind the only difference is that this “beta†is a little
newer than RC2. So I install the pirated copy, apply the crack, and I’m on
Build 6000 that thinks it’s RC2.

Well, that worked for a few weeks. Then MS released some Genuine Advantage
Activation thing, I UNCLICKED that update knowing it wasn’t a good idea to
install on my “pirated†copy, and it installed anyway. Then Vista disables my
Aero (not sure why that even matters, but I miss it), and brings up the
Software Licensing window at awkward times, steals focus, and generally
pisses me off. But I had a previous experience with Genuine Advantage on XP,
and you could complete the form, give MS your Credit Card, and they’d sell
you a legitimate license right then. A truly ingenious move on the part of
MS, no telling how much money they made off that one feature, converting lazy
pirates to customers.

But in Vista, there is no such option. The Buy Now button sends you to
option screens, that send you to companies that can’t even sell you the
product, not even a volume license, for any amount of money.

So can someone, anyone, tell me how to buy the damn product today? I don’t
care what it cost, I don’t even really care what version it is. I just like
the basic features and want to upgrade my personal machines, and my office
machines.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You got an RC2 in the mail?

I get my Vista RC1 Beat copy in the mail, and install it. I love the OS,
but
it’s buggy. I got RC2 my email, and it was improved. Close enough to
stable,
so I kill my dual-boot config and start using it, knowing I’ve got 6
months
before it expires and that I can easily buy it retail by then, that was
the
plan anyway.

So a few weeks go by and I see RTM on the Internet, but I don’t get a
copy
of that one in the mail. MS no doubt wants me to buy it. I’m thought that
wouldn’t be a problem, but I can’t find it. I own a telecom company in
Dallas. I have a few hundred Win2K3 licenses, and a dozen or so XP License
on
workstations: spending plenty of money with MS, but my vendor doesn’t have
Vista, and I can’t find a vendor on the MS Partner site to sell it to me.
I
leave all kinds of voicemails with these rinky dink outfits, but no one
really has it to sell me TODAY. Not even retail like Best Buy, or CompUSA,
nobody.

But I see it all over the Internet, my techs have it, my friends have it,
but I don’t have it. So I download it, and read the details. It seems that
this pirated RTM copy simply installs and pretends to be a beta. Now we
all
know even the RTM is going to have quite a few patches in the next few
months, so in my mind the only difference is that this “beta†is a little
newer than RC2. So I install the pirated copy, apply the crack, and I’m on
Build 6000 that thinks it’s RC2.

Well, that worked for a few weeks. Then MS released some Genuine
Advantage
Activation thing, I UNCLICKED that update knowing it wasn’t a good idea to
install on my “pirated†copy, and it installed anyway. Then Vista disables
my
Aero (not sure why that even matters, but I miss it), and brings up the
Software Licensing window at awkward times, steals focus, and generally
pisses me off. But I had a previous experience with Genuine Advantage on
XP,
and you could complete the form, give MS your Credit Card, and they’d sell
you a legitimate license right then. A truly ingenious move on the part of
MS, no telling how much money they made off that one feature, converting
lazy
pirates to customers.

But in Vista, there is no such option. The Buy Now button sends you to
option screens, that send you to companies that can’t even sell you the
product, not even a volume license, for any amount of money.

So can someone, anyone, tell me how to buy the damn product today? I don’t
care what it cost, I don’t even really care what version it is. I just
like
the basic features and want to upgrade my personal machines, and my office
machines.

 

[Gene Fitzpatrick]

Sure, get the $600 subscription to MSDN or Technet.
You are experienceing exactly what Microsoft wants you to. This is why
Microsoft put those systems in place.

Vista has not been released to the public. It's release date is slated for
January 30, 2007. It is sending you to places where you will be able to buy
the license after it is released. Downloading pirated software is not a good
idea. Microsoft's press release said that these are the things you will
experience with WGA and SPP. The time of Microsoft's "Blind eye to piracy,"
is over. And Microsoft is sending that message out in a major way.
the only choices you have are either to deal with reduced capability, or
remove it and put RC1 or RC2 back on and wait for the market release of
Vista. I know it sucks, but that's the breaks.
Besides, lets be honest, hacked copies are crappy anyway. and buying a
license for a hacked copy is straight foolish. Be honest, do it right.

Just a thought.

 

[Guest]

No, R! in the mail, RC2 by email

You got an RC2 in the mail?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

OK, you got the download link in the email. Got it.

 

[Guest]

Cool, can I sign up for Technet online now, or is that one of those things I
have to fill out a ton of paperwork for an wait for my secret decoder ring in
the mail?

 

[Colin Nash [MVP]]

I get my Vista RC1 Beat copy in the mail, and install it. I love the OS,
but
it’s buggy. I got RC2 my email, and it was improved. Close enough to
stable,
so I kill my dual-boot config and start using it, knowing I’ve got 6
months
before it expires and that I can easily buy it retail by then, that was
the
plan anyway.

Hmm well you can buy a Technet or MSDN subscription which costs and includes
a lot more but by the time you receive it, Vista will be in retail.

Just a few more weeks!

(Slightly off-topic: Vista RTM will install and work for 30 days without
requiring you to enter a key but the edition [Home Premium, Ultimate etc]
you choose during setup must match the key you eventually punch in or you
need to do a full reinstall. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft uses this
new system at some point to allow people to just download Vista and order
the key online, burning their own physical media. I'm just guessing there
though, but it makes sense.)

 

[Jeff]

Here ya go

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/default.aspx


Jeff
decoder ring included

 

[Gene Fitzpatrick]

I am sure you can sign up for it online and pay the money, but I don't see
the point in paying like $600 just to get an activation code for a program
you will be able to buy for $400 or less in 2 months.
Me, I am running RC2 still and happy with it.
As far as the secret decoder rings, they never work. I have decoded each
message and they all say "Drink more Ovaltine" Something tells me it's a
scam!

I didn't mean my original message to sound harsh, but this is something I am
seeing more and more, not only in this group, but in many of the other Vista
groups I frequent.

Now, whether you are okay with piracy, or not okay with piracy, that really
isn't my big point. It is just that Microsoft is taking a stand against it.
And they are doing it in a fairly interesting way. Can you download it?
Sure, I can get it on Bit Torrent easily, you can even get about a dozen
cracks that will make it activate, but in the end it will go reduced on you.
"We can't stop you from downloading it, so we are going to let you load it,
make you think every thing is hunky dory, then throw a monkey wrench in the
works."

Sorry, wish I had better news.

 

[Chad Harris]

Comp USA since Nov 30 Lincense-->Iso; 2 License Plans; one allows payment
plan.

I've posted detail on this : View---Find--Comp USA.

If they told you differently, they told you wrong.

Call 1-800-MICROSOFT and they'll confirm.

CH

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The TechNet servers are getting slammed. Keep trying.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I think it is the new trial edition.

I get my Vista RC1 Beat copy in the mail, and install it. I love the OS,
but
it’s buggy. I got RC2 my email, and it was improved. Close enough to
stable,
so I kill my dual-boot config and start using it, knowing I’ve got 6
months
before it expires and that I can easily buy it retail by then, that was
the
plan anyway.

Hmm well you can buy a Technet or MSDN subscription which costs and
includes a lot more but by the time you receive it, Vista will be in
retail.

Just a few more weeks!

(Slightly off-topic: Vista RTM will install and work for 30 days without
requiring you to enter a key but the edition [Home Premium, Ultimate etc]
you choose during setup must match the key you eventually punch in or you
need to do a full reinstall. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft uses
this new system at some point to allow people to just download Vista and
order the key online, burning their own physical media. I'm just guessing
there though, but it makes sense.)

 

[David Wright]

It makes a lot of sense to do it that way, imagine the savings in
production/distribution costs. :-o

 

[Lang Murphy]

I have not been looking for Vista in retail shops, but I've seen a few posts
in here saying folks have seen the Business version on shelves in the US.
Are you in the US?

Lang

 

[Guest]

Too late, I just bought the MSDN. I am just excited Microsoft thought I was
worthy enough to take my money. Now I shall wait by my mailbox, because the
largest company on the planet apparently doesn't have the security or means
to do instant activation of MSDN accounts for some reason. I didn't even get
a receipt by email, hmmm...

I get my Vista RC1 Beat copy in the mail, and install it. I love the OS,
but
it’s buggy. I got RC2 my email, and it was improved. Close enough to
stable,
so I kill my dual-boot config and start using it, knowing I’ve got 6
months
before it expires and that I can easily buy it retail by then, that was
the
plan anyway.

Hmm well you can buy a Technet or MSDN subscription which costs and includes
a lot more but by the time you receive it, Vista will be in retail.

Just a few more weeks!

(Slightly off-topic: Vista RTM will install and work for 30 days without
requiring you to enter a key but the edition [Home Premium, Ultimate etc]
you choose during setup must match the key you eventually punch in or you
need to do a full reinstall. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft uses this
new system at some point to allow people to just download Vista and order
the key online, burning their own physical media. I'm just guessing there
though, but it makes sense.)

 

[Guest]

A new trial edition? edition of what, Vista?

 

[Michael Cecil]

A new trial edition? edition of what, Vista?

Longhorn.

 

[Chad Harris]

Lang--

It's not "on shelves" but Comp USA has partnered with MSFT to sell licenses
and there is a way to go on line to get Vista Business and Office 07 via the
two license paths. I have all the details down to the code numbers in a
post I did prior to Nov. 30 when this started.

They can ans. questions about it at 1-800-Microsoft Presails option.

CH

 

[mlai]

I thought there was a Technet Download only subscription called Technet Plus
Direct? It cost around $300-400 and allows you to download Vista and
everything else (office 2007, longhorn, and more) for evaluation purposes?

Too late, I just bought the MSDN. I am just excited Microsoft thought I
was
worthy enough to take my money. Now I shall wait by my mailbox, because
the
largest company on the planet apparently doesn't have the security or
means
to do instant activation of MSDN accounts for some reason. I didn't even
get
a receipt by email, hmmm...

I get my Vista RC1 Beat copy in the mail, and install it. I love the OS,
but
it’s buggy. I got RC2 my email, and it was improved. Close enough to
stable,
so I kill my dual-boot config and start using it, knowing I’ve got 6
months
before it expires and that I can easily buy it retail by then, that was
the
plan anyway.

Hmm well you can buy a Technet or MSDN subscription which costs and
includes
a lot more but by the time you receive it, Vista will be in retail.

Just a few more weeks!

(Slightly off-topic: Vista RTM will install and work for 30 days without
requiring you to enter a key but the edition [Home Premium, Ultimate etc]
you choose during setup must match the key you eventually punch in or you
need to do a full reinstall. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft uses
this
new system at some point to allow people to just download Vista and order
the key online, burning their own physical media. I'm just guessing
there
though, but it makes sense.)

 

[David Wilkinson]

Too late, I just bought the MSDN. I am just excited Microsoft thought I was
worthy enough to take my money. Now I shall wait by my mailbox, because the
largest company on the planet apparently doesn't have the security or means
to do instant activation of MSDN accounts for some reason. I didn't even get
a receipt by email, hmmm...

UnionDataCom:

You do know that the MSDN license is only for testing, evaluation and
development (or some such phrase) and not for day-to-day use?

David Wilkinson