Love/hate relationship with Microsoft

[ChiPCGuy]

Ya know, I really do like WindowsXP. It is a good OS, and the best Microsoft has put out.

The thing is, I often change my hardware. I don't usually go more than a month without changing *something*. My last change resulted in a re-activation message that indicated I had activated "too many times."

So, I called the Microsoft number provided and got the 3rd degree.

1. "How many times have you activated this copy?"
2. "Why three times now, Mr. so and so? What are you doing that is causing you to need to reactivate so much?
3. "Are you running this copy on only one PC?"

I understand Microsoft's desire not to have their software pirated--but I am a legitimate user. I do not like the 3rd degree. I don't like recalcitrant software that thinks it has been loaded too many times. I was pretty pissy with the guy on the phone...I let him know what I thought of his questions and the whole Microsoft Activation scheme.

I guess I feel better that I have vented.

 

[M00T]

Originally posted by: ChiPCGuy
Ya know, I really do like WindowsXP. It is a good OS, and the best Microsoft has put out.

The thing is, I often change my hardware. I don't usually go more than a month without changing *something*. My last change resulted in a re-activation message that indicated I had activated "too many times."

So, I called the Microsoft number provided and got the 3rd degree.

1. "How many times have you activated this copy?"
2. "Why three times now, Mr. so and so? What are you doing that is causing you to need to reactivate so much?
3. "Are you running this copy on only one PC?"

I understand Microsoft's desire not to have their software pirated--but I am a legitimate user. I do not like the 3rd degree. I don't like recalcitrant software that thinks it has been loaded too many times. I was pretty pissy with the guy on the phone...I let him know what I thought of his questions and the whole Microsoft Activation scheme.

I guess I feel better that I have vented.

You think that guy liked explaining company policy to you? He probably has to say the same thing every day over and over to hundreds of people.

If you really want to protest, stop buying M$. Be an advocate for open source.

 

[Jiggz]

Originally posted by: M00T

Originally posted by: ChiPCGuy
Ya know, I really do like WindowsXP. It is a good OS, and the best Microsoft has put out.

The thing is, I often change my hardware. I don't usually go more than a month without changing *something*. My last change resulted in a re-activation message that indicated I had activated "too many times."

So, I called the Microsoft number provided and got the 3rd degree.

1. "How many times have you activated this copy?"
2. "Why three times now, Mr. so and so? What are you doing that is causing you to need to reactivate so much?
3. "Are you running this copy on only one PC?"

I understand Microsoft's desire not to have their software pirated--but I am a legitimate user. I do not like the 3rd degree. I don't like recalcitrant software that thinks it has been loaded too many times. I was pretty pissy with the guy on the phone...I let him know what I thought of his questions and the whole Microsoft Activation scheme.

I guess I feel better that I have vented.

You think that guy liked explaining company policy to you? He probably has to say the same thing every day over and over to hundreds of people.

If you really want to protest, stop buying M$. Be an advocate for open source.

If that is the case, then maybe MS needs to come up with a better anti piracy scheme! Sure the worker for MS don't like explaining things more than once but neither the customer.

 

[Evander]

Yeah, I don't like the idea of this verification nonsense either (though I've personally never had to activate xp since I used my compaq system restore disk instead of the xp installation disc, even though i've since added lotsa extra hardware). MS ain't the only people doing it, TMPEGEnc started it with Encoder Express 3.0 (but the "DVD Easy Pack" version which I own doesn't do it).

I recently got a laptop with a busted hard drive so I tried the Ubuntu Linux 5.10 Live CD on it last night (no prior linux experience here). Seemed pretty nice and user friendly, language and keyboard layout can be changed easily upon boot, and hardware detection was good with sound and internet support working out of the box (or "off the cd" in this case). And i was surprised that somehow the whole screen was easier to read even though I was using the same res as xp (with clearview ON). With Windows Vista supposedly being DRMed up the wazoo (disable my Tv out? WTF) I think I might at least start making an effort to learn Linux. Probably will try a dual boot when I get a new hard drive. Fortunately, several apps I use are cross platform, such as firefox, thunderbird, NVU (page builder), Azureus, Nero, Filezilla ftp, open office, audacity (sound editor), and some Japanese stuff i use. That would make the transition easier
I haven't searched at all, but I'm concerned I won't easily find the equivalent of dbPoweramp or Tmpegenc or ePSXe or Visual Basic on Linux though. Or if I do, will they be as good?

 

[bersl2]

Originally posted by: Evander
Yeah, I don't like the idea of this verification nonsense either (though I've personally never had to activate xp since I used my compaq system restore disk instead of the xp installation disc, even though i've since added lotsa extra hardware). MS ain't the only people doing it, TMPEGEnc started it with Encoder Express 3.0 (but the "DVD Easy Pack" version which I own doesn't do it).

I recently got a laptop with a busted hard drive so I tried the Ubuntu Linux 5.10 Live CD on it last night (no prior linux experience here). Seemed pretty nice and user friendly, language and keyboard layout can be changed easily upon boot, and hardware detection was good with sound and internet support working out of the box (or "off the cd" in this case). And i was surprised that somehow the whole screen was easier to read even though I was using the same res as xp (with clearview ON). With Windows Vista supposedly being DRMed up the wazoo (disable my Tv out? WTF) I think I might at least start making an effort to learn Linux. Probably will try a dual boot when I get a new hard drive. Fortunately, several apps I use are cross platform, such as firefox, thunderbird, NVU (page builder), Azureus, Nero, Filezilla ftp, open office, audacity (sound editor), and some Japanese stuff i use. That would make the transition easier
I haven't searched at all, but I'm concerned I won't easily find the equivalent of dbPoweramp or Tmpegenc or ePSXe or Visual Basic on Linux though. Or if I do, will they be as good?

VB is a disease. But I hear Tcl/Tk most often compared to VB. I don't even know what the other three are, but that first one looks like another sound program. There's a big list of apps, and I know Ars just recently ran an article explaining the architecture and applications of sound editing.

 

[phisrow]

I don't mean this to sound nasty or self-righteous, I think it sucks that you can't use a product you pay for without being made to feel like a criminal; but that sort of behavior just isn't going to stop. Or worse, it'll stop once the hardware does it for them, automatically.

Back when purchasing an OS was just like buying any other tool, this didn't bother me so much. Ok, you aren't supposed to shoplift the box or anything; but that isn't a huge problem. Now, though, it reserves the right to call home. If it isn't happy, it just sits there until you crawl to Microsoft and prove to their satisfaction that you have purchased the product in question. Soon enough, with the DRM, you'll have to do the same thing, for a product specifically engineered to keep your computer from doing what you want it to do. We will pay for the priviledge of being hounded whenever the software package that controls what used to be our computer decides that it isn't satisfied by our honesty. Doesn't that strike anybody as a bit crazy? Are we citizens here, or merely consumers?

 

[Tbirdkid]

That is just the beginning of someone else putting their dirty little d1ck skinners in your sh1t if you stay with microsoft. Which, is why i hope somehow, someway linux or some kind of os will come out to directly compete with their crap. Im in the same situation. I change my hardware monthly, kinda like my undies, only i wait until i have skidded up all four sides of them before i change them.
There is one solution, i have found, and that is to just dual boot and use windows for gaming and use linux for all of your other apps. Thats what i do, and i still have to reregister, but its alot easier if i dont have time to play games to just not have to register until i am ready. It helps, but it isnt the solution.