Let's be honest.

[George Hester]

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/genuine.mspx

"Counterfeit copies of software are illegal in many places, less reliable
than authorized copies, and unsupportable because of the risks they
pose[...]"

It ought to be illegal everywhere. Trouble is how is it going to be
enforced and with what dedication? Microsoft is taking an initiative I hope
succeeds. But I have doubts.

How is pirated software less reliable? In my book that is an excuse for
software that IS unreliable. Which I have mentioned about bona fide
Microsoft software many times.

What are the risks with unsupportable software? To me it is more risky
going down the associated road of support such as security updates than not.
Not always but there is a risk involved in installing Microsoft's Hodgepodge
of security fixes and I don't want to read any damn crap about that risk.
You know it is there and those that excuse it are likely prone to
disimulation in other regards. Such as Microsoft themselves.

 

[Guest]

You speak the truth. Im sure this whole thing is directed towards home users
that do not know much.

Pirated software IS usually VERY reliable and less annoying.

The risks of software being unsupported are:

Microsoft doesnt make any money from people calling asking how to jump
through all these hoops n loops of "validating" & "updating"

Probably none to the end user since if they are using pirated software they
know enough to solve problems themselves and not call microsoft.

 

[Blithe]

As a Windows user since 1990 starting with Windows 3.0 - I have been saying
and thinking ditto for years.

Has Microsoft and the industry in general been honest to the hardware and
software consumers? Was the emphasis on profit and not quality control?
Buyer beware versus building consumer trust? How many dollars did we spend
on worthless hardware & software, both retail and OEM, also discovering that
so-called tech support was a crying scam. Did anyone laugh as bitterly as I
whenever Gates mentioned the word "INNOVATION?"

How many times did Microsoft users find their online troubleshooting "Help"
articles advise you to ask the network 'administrator' when you were the
administrator? Great technical writing!

My last PC came with an OEM Windows WP. All the routine problems I was
having with XP vanished when I downgraded to Windows 2000 - in my opinion
and experience,the only stable worthwhile OS Microsoft ever produced.

I never used a pirated product but I will never go to another OS unless it's
Linux or a pirated Microsoft OS. I figure I already paid the price for
buggy, over hyped Microsoft software and updates big time.