What % of Windows is pirated?

[Ready]

I don't know the answer but I bet a huge percentage of windows being used out there is pirated. What if Microsoft was able to end pirating of their software? Do you think it would backfire on microsoft because popularity of cheaper operating systems might go up?

 

[Rip the Jacker]

15?

 

[Appledrop]

needs a bigger pole

 

[bleeb]

You can choose to start using other operating systems.

 

[Cuda1447]

Someone will figure out how to pirate it. Thats the nature of the beast, someone ALWAYS figures it out.

 

[meltdown75]

i thought Microsoft was somehow going to introduce some type of upgrade pack that would only be available to legit users, making pirated versions of the OS obselete. was that sp2?

 

[BigJ]

They only really care about the big time pirates who have factories setup overseas to duplicate and distribute illegitimate versions of Windows, not Joe Blow that got a copy from his friend off of IRC.

And they are actively combating this.

 

[radioouman]

50

 

[clickynext]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
i thought Microsoft was somehow going to introduce some type of upgrade pack that would only be available to legit users, making pirated versions of the OS obselete. was that sp2?

Then a patched version of the upgrade pack will come out for pirated versions.

 

[Ready]

Originally posted by: bleeb
You can choose to start using other operating systems.

I would like to but it's difficult with the lack of hardware support for my existing hardware. And of course I don't know what games would run on other operating systems. Personally I like the idea of Microsoft ending all piracy, might force alot of hardware and software developers to make their stuff work with something besides windows.

 

[Deeko]

Much lower that you'd think. Consider the number of companies that buy massive amounts of computers at a time. Think of the companies that make massive upgrades at one time. This of the huge retail business. Think of all the colleges that provide students with fee, legal copies. The percentage of the average computer nerd might be rather high, but I'd bet overall its very, very low.

 

[TheGeek]

93% give or take 70

 

[Zee]

Now windows update is allowed if you do it through automatic updates. If you try to do it through the website it will fail to authenticate, but M$ decided to forego that authentication process through automatic updates. for critical updates only of course.

 

[40Hands]

It will be impossible to end all piracy and if it we're even remotely possible (which it isn't) then people would probably just switch to Linux or whatever other OS that would come out if it happened.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

just consider how many people actually build their own custom computers, that is a very small amount of computer users. even assuming that 100% of people who build custom computers are pirating Windows, that's still a small minority of users.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
i thought Microsoft was somehow going to introduce some type of upgrade pack that would only be available to legit users, making pirated versions of the OS obselete. was that sp2?

they recently introduced MS Genuine Advantage which is implemented with Windows Update. When you go to download upgrades / fixes, it asks for this check... but it was cracked within a day.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

127%

 

[klah]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Much lower that you'd think. Consider the number of companies that buy massive amounts of computers at a time. Think of the companies that make massive upgrades at one time. This of the huge retail business. Think of all the colleges that provide students with fee, legal copies. The percentage of the average computer nerd might be rather high, but I'd bet overall its very, very low.

Think of China.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4076982.stm

Piracy Rates

China: 90%
Indonesia: 87%

Combined population 1.55 Billion.

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: meltdown75
i thought Microsoft was somehow going to introduce some type of upgrade pack that would only be available to legit users, making pirated versions of the OS obselete. was that sp2?

they recently introduced MS Genuine Advantage which is implemented with Windows Update. When you go to download upgrades / fixes, it asks for this check... but it was cracked within a day.

really? heh... i did not follow up on that, but wow.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
i thought Microsoft was somehow going to introduce some type of upgrade pack that would only be available to legit users, making pirated versions of the OS obselete. was that sp2?

Yes. It was SP1, SP2, WGA, SP3 will be the same thing. Simply put, it's IMPOSSIBLE to end piracy.

 

[spidey07]

It would have to be pretty low.

I'd guess less than 5%.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: Zee
Now windows update is allowed if you do it through automatic updates. If you try to do it through the website it will fail to authenticate, but M$ decided to forego that authentication process through automatic updates. for critical updates only of course.

Er, no? Are you new at this?

 

[mchammer187]

very low

since OEM's sell computers with windows which account for the vast majority of windows users i'm thinking 80%+

i'm sure a small fraction of them will run a non-legit copy on them but this is few and far between

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: klah

Originally posted by: Deeko
Much lower that you'd think. Consider the number of companies that buy massive amounts of computers at a time. Think of the companies that make massive upgrades at one time. This of the huge retail business. Think of all the colleges that provide students with fee, legal copies. The percentage of the average computer nerd might be rather high, but I'd bet overall its very, very low.

Think of China.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4076982.stm

Piracy Rates

China: 90%
Indonesia: 87%

Combined population 1.55 Billion.

:thumbsup:

Piracy is a huge problem for Microsoft in Asia, and is definitely a problem for them in Europe. Which is what I alluded to in my above post.

 

[mitmot]

vewy vewy small.