Reactivation

[tommy6860]

Yeah, then the affordability for the majority would make Windows
unaffordable! Piracy is an issue, but not a reason (considering the
massive profits MS has made since Win3.0) to keep the MS products
(artifically) high using that reasoning.

 

[kurttrail]

Just live with it or switch to Linux. No one is forcing you to feel
like a thief, consider the activation as a cost savings measure that
you are helping with. If the piracy increased without bounds Windows
might cost a lot more than it currently does.

Activation is helping the consumer with any cost savings! And MS can
not prove any substantial lose due to piracy. Last time I looked they
were above $52 billion in liquid assets alone.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[kurttrail]

Activation is helping the consumer with any cost savings! And MS can
not prove any substantial lose due to piracy. Last time I looked they
were above $52 billion in liquid assets alone.

Should be: "Activation is NOT helping . . . ."

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Leythos]

Yeah, then the affordability for the majority would make Windows
unaffordable! Piracy is an issue, but not a reason (considering the
massive profits MS has made since Win3.0) to keep the MS products
(artifically) high using that reasoning.

You don't actually have a clue as to profit margins on anything they
produce, you can only report what you've been told elsewhere and even that
wasn't factual.

Competition and Demand and efficiency drive prices in the world. If they
can stop piracy it brings more customers. Competition will cause them to
create a better product and lower the cost.

 

[kurttrail]

You don't actually have a clue as to profit margins on anything they
produce, you can only report what you've been told elsewhere and even
that wasn't factual.

Competition and Demand and efficiency drive prices in the world. If
they can stop piracy it brings more customers. Competition will cause
them to create a better product and lower the cost.

http://www.computerweekly.com/Article117557.htm

As of 2002, 85% profit margin on Windows! Who is the real pirate?
Consumers or Microsoft?

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Alex Nichol]

It's amazing that Microsoft was able to push activation on the
public. "We're going to make you prove you are legitimate before
we'll allow you to use the software that you *just bought and paid
for* and by the way, you'll have to keep doing it every time you
make a major upgrade."

You did not as some claim buy the software. You bought a right to use
it on one single machine at any time. And with the spread of multiple
machines in the home, all at that time being ones to be upgraded,
Microsoft had to protect this position by some means. I even heard of a
*Law* firm with some 15 machines, and only only licensed copy of any
software between them The Activation system is there to draw attention.

You can reinstall on the same or 'substantially the same' hardware as
many times as you like with at most a 30 second Internet activation for
which you have 30 days. Or freely the same way after 120 days since
last time, no matter what changes. And at worst a ten minute toll free
phone call. If you can think of something they could have done with
less hassle, say so.

 

[kurttrail]

You did not as some claim buy the software. You bought a right to use
it on one single machine at any time. And with the spread of multiple
machines in the home, all at that time being ones to be upgraded,
Microsoft had to protect this position by some means. I even heard
of a *Law* firm with some 15 machines, and only only licensed copy of
any software between them The Activation system is there to draw
attention.

You can reinstall on the same or 'substantially the same' hardware as
many times as you like with at most a 30 second Internet activation
for which you have 30 days. Or freely the same way after 120 days
since last time, no matter what changes. And at worst a ten minute
toll free phone call. If you can think of something they could have
done with less hassle, say so.

I've heard of corporations that install VL copies of Windows on the home
computers of their executives, but I there ain't no PA to draw attention
to that!

Again, activation is meant to scare people into buying more copies of
software than they really need. Just look at the PA message that says
that the product key was installed too many times, when, in fact, there
isn't supposed to be any limit. MS has had 2 service packs to change
the wording of that deceptive message, yet they haven't. Why? Because
it scares the unsuspecting and ill-informed consumer into buying more
copies of software than they really need!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I've heard of corporations that install VL copies of Windows on the home
computers of their executives, but I there ain't no PA to draw attention
to that!

Why should PA draw attention to a well-known, widely-practiced, and
completely legitimate of a corporation's Volume License? Corporate
executives are expected to spend a significant amount of their time
working at home. They're using their computers (some of which will also
have been provided by the corporation) on company business, so it
behooves the company to provide the means.

Again, activation is meant to scare people into buying more copies of
software than they really need.

An outright lie.

Just look at the PA message that says
that the product key was installed too many times, when, in fact, there
isn't supposed to be any limit. MS has had 2 service packs to change
the wording of that deceptive message, yet they haven't. Why?

Because it's purely cosmetic, and not worth the trouble.

Because
it scares the unsuspecting and ill-informed consumer into buying more
copies of software than they really need!

How can the wording of the message possibly be construed as
"frightening?" Do you also jump at shadows?

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Tom]

You don't actually have a clue as to profit margins on anything they
produce, you can only report what you've been told elsewhere and even that
wasn't factual.

Wow, your reading skills really suck! Where did he say anything about
understanding/having a clue, to profit margins. It is no state secret that
MS has made big time profits from Windows , and it corresponding apps (as
noted by kurt in this thread [thanks for the link. kurt]). Also,
understanding what "profits" are, is fairly basic, and there is no doubt to
the profits MS has made!

Anyway, using the logic from your previous post," If the piracy increased
without bounds Windows might cost a lot more than it currently does."

Again, what tommy said was true, if it were really such an issue, MS would
have to make prices higher than they are now, in which they're sales would
fall, because the majority couldn't afford it. Considering they already make
massive profits, in spite of the years of piracy, they keep their profit
margins high, while not passing any savings onto the consumer who abides by
their (EULA, anti-piracy PA & WGA) rules.

Competition and Demand and efficiency drive prices in the world. If they
can stop piracy it brings more customers. Competition will cause them to
create a better product and lower the cost.

LMAO! Competition! Where is it, since MS has about 95% of the world desktops
with Windows on them? If there were real competition (regardless of
piracy), Windows would be considerably less expensive, and the demand for
better quality and better service would be the onus of MS. You would also
think that MS would lower prices to get piracy down, since having exorbitant
pricing schemes is one of the primary reasons that piracy exists.

(waiting for a non-sequitur)

 

[Steve N.]

Why should PA draw attention to a well-known, widely-practiced, and
completely legitimate of a corporation's Volume License? Corporate
executives are expected to spend a significant amount of their time
working at home. They're using their computers (some of which will also
have been provided by the corporation) on company business, so it
behooves the company to provide the means.





An outright lie.

Not really a lie since it effectively works to that end.

Because it's purely cosmetic, and not worth the trouble.

No, THAT message is an outright lie and should have been corrected long
ago. It is not "purely cosmetic", it is real words with real meaning
that often misleads innocent people into believing they've somehow got a
pirated copy of Windows and what's the quickest solution? Go to Staples
or Wal-mart and by a new copy, then jump through all the flaming hoops
to do a repair install. Now, how many average users do you know that can
successfully do any sort of installation of Windows? It's backhanded,
Microsoft is well aware of it and has done nothing to correct it. Why?
Because it will mean lost potential revenue from confused customers.
It's sneaky and dishonest and plays upon consumer ignorance, which is
well documented here and elsewhere.

How can the wording of the message possibly be construed as
"frightening?" Do you also jump at shadows?

OH? What about the sacro-sanct wording of the EULA? You're all over that
bandwagon. The activation failed message is an exception? Why? It comes
from the same source, namely Microsoft. We are supposed believe
everything the Windows screens tell us except that one? Why heck, the
EULA is just another shadow to jump at by your assesment.

You guys are all over anyone who even HINTS at dishonesty when it comes
to the possibility of pirating MS products, even casual piracy,
eliminating which is PLAINLY the primary purpose of PA. You call people
thieves, pirates, law-breakers and question their morality, but when MS
is in the sights for dishonesty you turn a blind eye. Wake up. Honesty
works BOTH ways or it doesn't work at all.

Steve

 

[Leythos]

LMAO! Competition! Where is it, since MS has about 95% of the world desktops
with Windows on them? If there were real competition (regardless of

Sure, MS has about 95% of the desktop market, but that's due to thinks
like Apple not having an open OS and they way they restricted access to
programming services - which MS didn't do. MS marketed to the masses.

The difference for all of those that have been asleep and just remember
how it was is that many of the Linux Distros are now povided with viable
desktop interfaces and can do all that most home users need. In fact, many
of those Distro's are just as easy to install - Mandrake, SUSE, Fedora,
etc... they all installed on a bunch of test computers without any serious
issues, and they come with Office and browsers and email clients and even
the ability to code web sites in some. They also come with server services
and the GUI to manage them.

piracy), Windows would be considerably less expensive, and the demand
for better quality and better service would be the onus of MS. You would
also think that MS would lower prices to get piracy down, since having
exorbitant pricing schemes is one of the primary reasons that piracy
exists.

MS is in a new age, started a couple years ago, when the other OS's
started being viable on the typical home users (no, not the tech/IT types)
computer.

Since you don't know how much was invested into XP as an example you
can't really say they made a profit on it yet. If could be, like many
software vendors, that they build a product and then get the ROI based on
actual and estimated sales over a period of months/years - this lets more
people purchase it, but takes longer to recoup the investment. It also
means that piracy can really cut into the ROI.

Piracy exists because of one thing - people that will steal anything, it
doesn't matter if Windows XP sold for $10, people would still pirate it,
and that's just the way it is - anything worth using will be pirated by
the masses.

The funny thing is that since there are alternatives, good ones, to
Windows XP, people still pirate XP - so cost is not really a consideration.

 

[kurttrail]

Why should PA draw attention to a well-known, widely-practiced, and
completely legitimate of a corporation's Volume License? Corporate
executives are expected to spend a significant amount of their time
working at home. They're using their computers (some of which will
also have been provided by the corporation) on company business, so it
behooves the company to provide the means.

Yeah, you thinks so? LOL!

An outright lie.

Prove it!

Because it's purely cosmetic, and not worth the trouble.

Then they are the one's who are lying. The message is deceptive. I
know it, and almost everyone else that knows MS's policies, knows it.
And by not changing it after all this time, it tends to bolster my
opinion that it is deceptive for good reason, that is to sell more
copies to consumers that don't really need to!

How can the wording of the message possibly be construed as
"frightening?" Do you also jump at shadows?

By not allowing activation of the very expensive software that was sold
to the hapless consumer, for a stated reason that is deceptive, at best,
if not an outright lie!

http://microscum.com/bruce/

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[David Candy]

If you go to certain Unis then you can install Windows/Office for free. MS has many licensing deals. One is all staff and students get free MS software if the uni buys MS for the campus.

 

[.]

You guys are all over anyone who even HINTS at dishonesty when it comes
to the possibility of pirating MS products, even casual piracy,
eliminating which is PLAINLY the primary purpose of PA. You call people
thieves, pirates, law-breakers and question their morality, but when MS
is in the sights for dishonesty you turn a blind eye. Wake up. Honesty
works BOTH ways or it doesn't work at all.

And they keep turning their blind eye to the fact that the only people
that end up jumping through M$'s activation hoops are the people that
bought the software because the people that have hacked/cracked copies
don't have to activate because that part of the software has been
deactivated via the hack/crack.

Only the honest owners of Windoze are the ones that have to prove they
didn't steal the stupid software. I read where one of the
M$/Activation supporters on here said that we will have to learn to
live with it. I guess that's true in a way as the honest owners of
Windoze will be the only ones that have to learn to live with it
because the hackers/crackers that use hacked/cracked versions of
Windows will NOT have to learn to live with it since they don't have
to activate their stolen copies of Windoze.

M$'s way of doing business: If you are honest then you are assumed
dishonest until you prove your are not via their activation scheme.
If you are dishonest, then no one knows because you have circumvented
any M$ scheme to find out if your are or not dishonest.

And M$'s activation scheme has done nothing to curb the piracy of
their software. The Hackers/Crackers are a hell of a lot smarter than
anyone at M$ as evident by the fact that for every scheme M$ comes out
with to keep their software from being pirated, it only takes a few
days for the hackers/crackers to figure out how to circumvent it. I
did some research and found out that I didn't have to buy my two
copies of XP because I could have gone to one of 100's of web sites
and downloaded a copy that had the activation part of the software
deactivated. I now read where M$ is going to make it where such
pirated copies will not be able to use the M$ Update facility but then
I read where the hackers/crackers have already circumvented that
roadblock also.

So it comes down to the fact that no matter what idiot schemes M$,
Symantec, Adobe, etc. come up with, they will not keep their software
from being pirated. All they end up doing is putting the real honest
owners of their software though even more hoops and tricks.

Hint for M$.... Honest people will continue to purchase their
software because they are honest while Pirates will continue to pirate
their software because they are software pirates and there is nothing
they can do about it. And putting the honest people through more and
more schemes and hoops does nothing but alienate and disenfranchise
honest people to their cause.

But after watching one of the latest TechTV episodes, the above may
not be true any more as it may be that continued and more aggressive
activation schemes may be pushing otherwise honest people in to
downloading pirated versions of Windoze. Example of email read on
TechTV a few weeks back on the Screen Savers.... Person is a
tinkerer... changing stuff in their white box all the time. Getting
tired of having to reactivate their paid for copy of XP each and every
time they change the least little thing in their white box. They
emailed TechTV asking them their thoughts on this person giving up
their paid for copy of XP and downloading a hacked/cracked copy of XP
that has the activation scheme deactivated so they don't have to be
bothered with activating each and every time they touch the insides of
their white box. Of course TechTV said their thought on the subject
was that this is Piracy and therefore they have no comment on the
subject (grin).

Someone on here said that soon or later, these activation schemes will
turn around and bite M$ on their arse.... I think maybe that is
already started in a small way and will do nothing more than grow as
M$ adopts more and more aggressive and evasive schemes to make the
honest purchasers of their software prove that they didn't steal it.

Wonder if he still thinks that "640K ought to be enough for anybody"?

 

[Leythos]

Someone on here said that soon or later, these activation schemes will
turn around and bite M$ on their arse.... I think maybe that is
already started in a small way and will do nothing more than grow as
M$ adopts more and more aggressive and evasive schemes to make the
honest purchasers of their software prove that they didn't steal it.

Activation has never been a reason to not consider installations of MS
products, except for thieves.

 

[Alias]

Activation has never been a reason to not consider installations of MS
products, except for thieves.

It turns otherwise honest people into thieves. Validation will be worse.

Alias

 

[Roger]

Activation is helping the consumer with any cost savings! And MS can not prove
any substantial lose due to piracy. Last time I looked they were above $52
billion in liquid assets alone.

Yeah, but with a wife that is giving it away in chunks of 750 million
that's not too much of a pad.

 

[Alias]

Yeah, but with a wife that is giving it away in chunks of 750 million
that's not too much of a pad.

You're confusing Bill's assets with Microsoft's assets. Not the same thing.

 

[kurttrail]

Activation has never been a reason to not consider installations of MS
products, except for thieves.

Huh? I definitely consider not to install any software product that has
it's balls cut off by activation.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Leythos]

It turns otherwise honest people into thieves. Validation will be worse.

It doesn't turn anyone into anything. If you abide by the EULA and
purchase valid licenses there are not problems.