Microsoft Giving away windows XP for free

[Juice Box]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=23044

Stolen from Hot Deals...MS is going to mail out free copies of XP to people who report to them where they got their bootleg copy....so MS can go after the "bad guys' Pretty good idea IMO except everyone can just say 'I downloaded it'

 

[codeyf]

Originally posted by: Juice Box
...except everyone can just say 'I downloaded it'

Not quite:

In a scoop, BetaNews says users of dodgy copies of Windows XP need only fill in a wee form, hand over the receipt they got from the bloke in the grey mac in the pub that they bought it off and send off the pirate disk to Vole Central.

 

[cjgallen]

Let's see:

Bootleg copy that doesn't require activation/registration/phone calls/etc

versus

Free copy from Microsoft that requires activation/phone call if you change too much hardware/etc

. . .

 

[Juice Box]

Originally posted by: codeyf

Originally posted by: Juice Box
...except everyone can just say 'I downloaded it'

Not quite:

In a scoop, BetaNews says users of dodgy copies of Windows XP need only fill in a wee form, hand over the receipt they got from the bloke in the grey mac in the pub that they bought it off and send off the pirate disk to Vole Central.

ohhh....heh...who the hell will provide a reciept for something like that?

 

[SaturnX]

Meh, I got my copy for free.. thank you MSDN Academic Alliance.

--Mark

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

I ain't no snitch

 

[dugweb]

isnt this really old news?

 

[Pepsei]

Originally posted by: SaturnX
Meh, I got my copy for free.. thank you MSDN Academic Alliance.

--Mark

yes, turn in MSDN.

 

[codeyf]

Originally posted by: Juice Box

Originally posted by: codeyf

Originally posted by: Juice Box
...except everyone can just say 'I downloaded it'

Not quite:

In a scoop, BetaNews says users of dodgy copies of Windows XP need only fill in a wee form, hand over the receipt they got from the bloke in the grey mac in the pub that they bought it off and send off the pirate disk to Vole Central.

ohhh....heh...who the hell will provide a reciept for something like that?

Exactly. What's funny is, give it enough time and someone will start giving out fake cd's WITH a fake receipt just so they can turn around and get a legit license!

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: cjgallen
Let's see:

Bootleg copy that doesn't require activation/registration/phone calls/etc

versus

Free copy from Microsoft that requires activation/phone call if you change too much hardware/etc

. . .

For the majority of all people that use Windows XP, this is simply not an issue.

 

[cjgallen]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: cjgallen
Let's see:

Bootleg copy that doesn't require activation/registration/phone calls/etc

versus

Free copy from Microsoft that requires activation/phone call if you change too much hardware/etc

. . .

For the majority of all people that use Windows XP, this is simply not an issue.

The majority don't bootleg it either. I my experience, it's the hobbyist system builders that will opt to bootleg it rather than pay for it. Of course I have nothing to back this up other than my own personal observation.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: cjgallen
Let's see:

Bootleg copy that doesn't require activation/registration/phone calls/etc

versus

Free copy from Microsoft that requires activation/phone call if you change too much hardware/etc

. . .

For the majority of all people that use Windows XP, this is simply not an issue.

Let's face it, the average pirater isn't exactly your average Win XP user.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

This will go well for all those folks who bought WinXP for, like, $30 from some "company" in the Philippines.

 

[Juice Box]

Originally posted by: cjgallen

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: cjgallen
Let's see:

Bootleg copy that doesn't require activation/registration/phone calls/etc

versus

Free copy from Microsoft that requires activation/phone call if you change too much hardware/etc

. . .

For the majority of all people that use Windows XP, this is simply not an issue.

The majority don't bootleg it either. I my experience, it's the hobbyist system builders that will opt to bootleg it rather than pay for it. Of course I have nothing to back this up other than my own personal observation.

its so true....why pay $150 for a copy of a program you can get for free....when that $150 can go towards better hardware?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: cjgallen
Let's see:

Bootleg copy that doesn't require activation/registration/phone calls/etc

versus

Free copy from Microsoft that requires activation/phone call if you change too much hardware/etc

. . .

For the majority of all people that use Windows XP, this is simply not an issue.

Let's face it, the average pirater isn't exactly your average Win XP user.

I don't really think you understand what this is aimed at.

Piracy on a commerical level is much more rampant in the EU and Eastern Asia (note, I'm talking about where it's created right now, not where its purchased. I know the article talks about the US). I'm talking about people going into a store in a random part of town, and thinking they're purchasing a legitimate copy of Windows XP. Or getting a pre-assembled computer with what they think is a legitimate copy of Windows XP. Or ordering from those shady websites online.

This is what Microsoft is aiming for. The factories that crank out hundreds of thousands of copies of the software that is professionally done to look legitimate. They send these copies into the US, and people get swindled.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Originally posted by: BigJ
I don't really think you understand what this is aimed at.

Piracy on a commerical level is much more rampant in the EU and Eastern Asia. I'm talking about people going into a store in a random part of town, and thinking they're purchasing a legitimate copy of Windows XP. Or getting a pre-assembled computer with what they think is a legitimate copy of Windows XP.

This is what Microsoft is aiming for. The factories that crank out hundreds of thousands of copies of the software that is professionally done to look legitimate. They send these copies into the US, and people get swindled.

I agree completely. Don't do after the leechers, go for the distributors

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
I ain't no snitch

 

[rh71]

thinking from a pirater's perspective... why would they take this deal knowing it could shut down their opportunity for the next release of Windows ?

 

[EKKC]

bootleg corp windows > legal windows

i install my bootleg corp on all my dell with legal windows xp pro licenses too.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Maybe i could snitch my old workplace that has all bootleg copies and i get a free copy.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: dugweb
isnt this really old news?

yes, the program was announced a month or two ago

 

[Cheezeit]

wow, good incenitve, but thats stupid about all the infor thing.
I mean, whos gonna give you a recipt for an illegal copy?

 

[EKKC]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
Maybe i could snitch my old workplace that has all bootleg copies and i get a free copy.

were you the one that installed the bootlegs?

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: EKKC

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
Maybe i could snitch my old workplace that has all bootleg copies and i get a free copy.

were you the one that installed the bootlegs?

No

 

[2cpuminimum]

the average pirate is in china and bought a copy from a local store.