I do the same. But, I don't buy the boxed versions at stores, because I want all the money I spend to be donation, not for pretty colored boxes and already-burnt cd's. Except, I did buy RedHat (I think 7.2), because I needed it for my laptop, which can't read homemade cd's.
I downloaded the iso for vectorlinux *for free* but I donated an equivalent amount .
I consider it paying for my OS
I consider it paying for my OS
I have a version of Office that was hacked by a friend, though I really don't use it. I use WP. But I've never stolen an OS. OEM copies are fine with me., and have the price. Just ordered XP OEM.
beatle
Diamond Member
- Apr 2, 2001
- 5,661
- 5
- 81
I got my copy of XP Pro for free from VT, but I gave up on calling M$ every time I reload the OS. They're not always so friendly about your installs, especially if you have to reinstall 3 times in one month due to hardware failures. :| So I'm running an illegal copy with a legal license... does that make sense?
paid for win2k, i duel boot that with Suse 8.2. I'm gonna wait until 1) I get the hang of suse 2) when the next major version comes out before i "purchase" it...although its still legit since it is linux, i support what I like.
I've used pirated that software that someone, somewhere paid for and shared with the world, thereby breaking the conditions of the products use. One could rationalize overclocking of a CPU to be just as ethically repugnant.
I should check with my school to see if I have any type of a discount plan. I've received e-mails about discounts that still result in a substantial price, but I have never made an active effort to see if better discounts exist. It's a well regarded school with a top-10 Computer Science department, but alas I'm not a Computer Science major. Maybe there is still a chance at WinXP for a decent price. Wouldn't that be nice, my first legal OS in over 7 years since my first computer came with Win95 from Best Buy.
I should check with my school to see if I have any type of a discount plan. I've received e-mails about discounts that still result in a substantial price, but I have never made an active effort to see if better discounts exist. It's a well regarded school with a top-10 Computer Science department, but alas I'm not a Computer Science major. Maybe there is still a chance at WinXP for a decent price. Wouldn't that be nice, my first legal OS in over 7 years since my first computer came with Win95 from Best Buy.
TheNoblePlatypus
Senior member
- Dec 18, 2001
- 291
- 0
- 76
Oh yeah, and pirates hurt Microsoft's bottom line enough to warrant them charging $300 for XP. I'm positive this would be oh so affordable without software pirates. Yeah, horse sh*t.
Nothing really warrants Microsoft charging $300 for XP except that people will still buy it.
No, pirates are not the sole reason for the extravagant pricing of Microsoft's software.
However, if you are using pirated software, you are stealing the use of that software. Theft is still (last time I checked) more than frowned upon...some people would even go so far as to say it's wrong :Q
If you don't want to pay for their software, there are many alternatives.
I don't want to pay for a shiny new BMW and I think their prices are outrageous, but I don't think that gives me the right to go out and steal one, whether or not theft is what makes them expensive.
No, pirates are not the sole reason for the extravagant pricing of Microsoft's software.
However, if you are using pirated software, you are stealing the use of that software. Theft is still (last time I checked) more than frowned upon...some people would even go so far as to say it's wrong :Q
If you don't want to pay for their software, there are many alternatives.
I don't want to pay for a shiny new BMW and I think their prices are outrageous, but I don't think that gives me the right to go out and steal one, whether or not theft is what makes them expensive.
Not Michael bashing by any means. I was talking more to the people in the thread who say they're using pirated software and then try to rationalize it.
It is not OK to steal, whether it is from a big heartless corporation or not.
I am well aware that a large portion of the software that people use is in one form of license violation or other, and I think that is a sad state of affairs; like I said in my earlier post, if you don't want to pay the exorbitant prices, use one of the many available alternatives.
It is not OK to steal, whether it is from a big heartless corporation or not.
I am well aware that a large portion of the software that people use is in one form of license violation or other, and I think that is a sad state of affairs; like I said in my earlier post, if you don't want to pay the exorbitant prices, use one of the many available alternatives.
Nothinman
Elite Member
- Sep 14, 2001
- 30,672
- 0
- 0
Noone said that the reason was financial. Do you really have any idea what goes into writing, testing and packaging an entire OS plus all the extra crap MS throws in? $300 probably barely pays for 1 programmer's salary for a day let alone an entire team of programmers, QA testers, test machines, etc. I do think XP should have just been a SP or FP or even Plus! pack for Win2K, but it took them 4-5 years of work to get Win2K launched. $300 is not a bad price for Win2K (or XP if you havn't bought Win2K).
I would like to see how you would feel if you started programming and everyone just cracked your program instead of paying for it. Amazing how many people find software that's so usefull that they can't live without it but yet they can't seem to fork over a little cash to use it.
TheNoblePlatypus
Senior member
- Dec 18, 2001
- 291
- 0
- 76
Zablat said: "If jackasses like you didn't steal every bit of software that they use everyone could afford to buy it."
Yes, someone did. I really don't care what goes into a piece of software, thats not my concern. My concern is Microsoft charging exorbitant amounts of money for software on an almost locked market. They charge that much because they can. Legality aside, is Microsoft's fleecing of the public any more right than Joe Public getting a copy of XP off Kazaa? If it was "a little cash", this wouldn't be an issue.
Microsoft isn't fleecing anyone who doesn't put up with it. If you don't want to pay that much, then don't. Use other software.
And yes, it IS worse to steal a copy of XP than it is to charge money for it.
And yes, it IS worse to steal a copy of XP than it is to charge money for it.
TheNoblePlatypus
Senior member
- Dec 18, 2001
- 291
- 0
- 76
TheNoblePlatypus
Senior member
- Dec 18, 2001
- 291
- 0
- 76
Really? You can run Star Wars Galaxies, Unreal Tournament 2003, Diablo 2, Starcraft, Photoshop, and every other Windows compatible program on your "alternative" operating system? No? Then its useless for me. Which leaves me with no other choice.
Actually, I can run all of the ones you listed (with the possible exception of Star Wars Galaxies). Funny that 4 out of the 5 things you mentioned were games.
TheNoblePlatypus
Senior member
- Dec 18, 2001
- 291
- 0
- 76
Funny how that isn't relevant in the slightest, except to some elitist notion that anyone that plays video games is a kid. The point still remains, I can't switch operating systems to anything but Windows. Which also leaves a huge part of the home PC market with no other choice. Thats fine and dandy that you are happy with a limited software horizon, I can't throw away all of the software I have and find replacements on another OS.
I play games too on occasion, no elitism about that here. I'm also not a 'nix zealot...use whatever works for you.
I just don't like it when someone tries to say (as several people have in this thread) that people are being forced to steal software because bad old Bill (or Steve) made you do it. Using software that is pirated is wrong. If you can't afford to buy the software, you shouldn't steal it. End of story.
I just don't like it when someone tries to say (as several people have in this thread) that people are being forced to steal software because bad old Bill (or Steve) made you do it. Using software that is pirated is wrong. If you can't afford to buy the software, you shouldn't steal it. End of story.
TheNoblePlatypus
Senior member
- Dec 18, 2001
- 291
- 0
- 76
Well, thats fine. You feel its wrong, I don't. I feel it should be equally as wrong to charge $300 for a piece of software that someone HAS to use. With how cheap PC hardware is, some people ARE forced into pirating it.
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