How does Microsoft prevent people from using pirated Volume License Windows XP?

[Galen]

In Robert Moir <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

A corporation by definition cannot have any regard for morals or
ethics. Microsoft are no better or worse than any other corporation
in this regard, the whole damn system is setup to be corrupt by
default.
But I don't see what that has to do with piracy.

I don't see this as having much to do with the OP at all but I'll weigh in
here. People rant about MS being greedy. They're a corporation and the goal
of any company is to be profitable. That's it... It's not about saving the
world. It's not about being nice. As far as corporations go MS is really
fairly decent. Shall we compare them to Enron, Adelphia, or a slew of others
being investigated and prosecuted by SEC? Heck, that's only here in the
States.

Galen

 

[Alias]

"Robert Moir" wrote

Well when you look at Apple's "Family packs" for OS X and iLife, there is
no doubt that Microsoft could do better here. No arguements at all from me
here!

I already have three machines. And, I've already bought XP for all three of
them. I would rather use the money it would cost for a mac to upgrade the
three I have.

It would be nice if Longhorn had a family deal, with a copy of XP for each
member of the family at one family price. I could see the TV advert now,
Microsoft's Family Plan.

Alias

 

[Robert Moir]

"Robert Moir" wrote

I already have three machines. And, I've already bought XP for all
three of them. I would rather use the money it would cost for a mac
to upgrade the three I have.

Yes. I'm not suggesting you should buy a Mac, I'm suggesting that
Microsoft's model for XP Home licences should be work more like Apple's

It would be nice if Longhorn had a family deal, with a copy of XP for
each member of the family at one family price. I could see the TV
advert now, Microsoft's Family Plan.

Many of us suggested this very early on in the XP beta when activation was
first used, as a way of softening the blow of Microsoft finally enforcing
the terms they'd always claimed in their licences. We were ignored then, I
expect we will be now, too.

 

[ajv2003]

In Robert Moir <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:




I don't see this as having much to do with the OP at all but I'll weigh in
here. People rant about MS being greedy. They're a corporation and the goal
of any company is to be profitable. That's it... It's not about saving the
world. It's not about being nice. As far as corporations go MS is really
fairly decent. Shall we compare them to Enron, Adelphia, or a slew of others
being investigated and prosecuted by SEC? Heck, that's only here in the
States.

Galen

I don't blame Microsoft, I blame the lack of foresight of the DOJ.
Monopolies while not illegal do stifle competition and kill the flames
of innovation. They have distorted the PC market.

 

[ajv2003]

Yes. I'm not suggesting you should buy a Mac, I'm suggesting that
Microsoft's model for XP Home licences should be work more like Apple's




Many of us suggested this very early on in the XP beta when activation was
first used, as a way of softening the blow of Microsoft finally enforcing
the terms they'd always claimed in their licences. We were ignored then, I
expect we will be now, too.

My next PC is going to be a Mac with OS x tiger. Good buy Windows.

 

[ajv2003]

More like bitching because they can only be installed on one machine.

Alias

Just think, Mac OS comes with amajor upgrade 100 dollars cheaper than
Microsoft upgrade of W2k called XP. Than you have to apply the buggy
patches weekly

 

[Robert Moir]

Just think, Mac OS comes with amajor upgrade 100 dollars cheaper than
Microsoft upgrade of W2k called XP. Than you have to apply the buggy
patches weekly

You have to apply the patches *monthly* on Windows. As you do in OS X by the
way. Every month I run Windows Update on my Windows PC and the Software
Update tool on my iBook. And every month both of them ask me to update
something.

OS X is a great operating system but lets try to deal with the facts,
please. I run OS X as well as Windows. I know where both of them bury their
dead bodies.

 

[Robert Moir]

I don't blame Microsoft, I blame the lack of foresight of the DOJ.
Monopolies while not illegal do stifle competition and kill the flames
of innovation. They have distorted the PC market.

Have you ever read "The Corporation"?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Precisely why I stated that the reality is much different than the ideal.
Frankly, it doesn't make sense to me to deny patches to illegitimate
systems.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org