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Why Windows Genuine Authentication is Bad

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Originally posted by: yukichigai
I'm seriously this (holds fingers really close together) far away from switching to Linux completely. The only reason I haven't yet is because I'm a gamer, and not just a gamer but a modder as well. Until Windows emulation on Linux comes far enough that I can get equal or better game performance running Linux versus running Windows I'm stuck using MS products.
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Because people don't switch to Linux the game companies don't bother with it.
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Because people don't switch to Linux the game companies don't bother with it.
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Screw the game companies, I just need someone to make a really good Windows emulator. 😛

They're getting close. I heard something about there being one out that gets you on average 75~85% of the performance you'd get in Windows.
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Originally posted by: yukichigai
I'm seriously this (holds fingers really close together) far away from switching to Linux completely. The only reason I haven't yet is because I'm a gamer, and not just a gamer but a modder as well. Until Windows emulation on Linux comes far enough that I can get equal or better game performance running Linux versus running Windows I'm stuck using MS products.
Click to expand...

Because people don't switch to Linux the game companies don't bother with it.
Click to expand...

I'm going to say until Direct X moves to Linux, game companies won't bother with it.

I can't see DX moving any time soon (for obvious reasons).

If Linux had something as powerful, maybe companies would code games for Linux. It's going to be a tough thing to get started though. Linux has such a small userbase, like you said, it's the classic "chicken before the egg" scenario.

I've never really thought of using Linux for my main computer before, mostly because I too like to game, however lately MS has been pretty awful. It started with the Windows Activation thing, just one more hoop for people to jump through.

Obviously their updating of Internet Explorer is terrible.

Now this Authentication program... seriously.

If Windows wasn't SO overpriced no one would pirate it. $250 Canadian for the XP Pro upgrade. $250 Canadian for XP Home Retail. $130 for XP Home Upgrade...

That is a serious chunk of change for a lot of people. Why does Dell get XP for almost free? I don't want a Dell. ugh I have to quit I am going to rant here
 
Originally posted by: yukichigai
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Because people don't switch to Linux the game companies don't bother with it.
Click to expand...
Screw the game companies, I just need someone to make a really good Windows emulator. 😛

They're getting close. I heard something about there being one out that gets you on average 75~85% of the performance you'd get in Windows.
Click to expand...

Neat. I didn't know there was a Windows emulator out there at all.
 
Originally posted by: Varun

I'm going to say until Direct X moves to Linux, game companies won't bother with it.

I can't see DX moving any time soon (for obvious reasons).

If Linux had something as powerful, maybe companies would code games for Linux. It's going to be a tough thing to get started though. Linux has such a small userbase, like you said, it's the classic "chicken before the egg" scenario.
Click to expand...

OpenGL.

I've never really thought of using Linux for my main computer before, mostly because I too like to game, however lately MS has been pretty awful. It started with the Windows Activation thing, just one more hoop for people to jump through.

Obviously their updating of Internet Explorer is terrible.

Now this Authentication program... seriously.

If Windows wasn't SO overpriced no one would pirate it. $250 Canadian for the XP Pro upgrade. $250 Canadian for XP Home Retail. $130 for XP Home Upgrade...
Click to expand...

There are crakcs out there for $3 shareware. It doesn't matter if Windows cost a penny, people would pirate it.

That is a serious chunk of change for a lot of people. Why does Dell get XP for almost free? I don't want a Dell. ugh I have to quit I am going to rant here
Click to expand...

Don't buy retail.
 
OEM is almost $200 Canadian as well (which is what I bought)

Ok, let me change my original statement - if XP wasn't SO overpriced, not anywhere near as many people would pirate it.

OpenGL is great, however as far as I know it is only a 3D graphics API. Direct X includes:
Display
Sound
Music
Input
Networking

Perhaps if OpenGL was expanded to include these other items under one API, it would start to regain popularity. It is refreshing to see such a blockbuster game like Doom 3 being an OpenGL format, and that bodes well for its future.

The OpenGL API is every bit as powerful as D3D, and it would be nice if there was an open standard like this for the other aspects of gaming.
 
BTW, if you guys want to continue to use MS Antispyware Beta after the expiration date, just change your system time back before the expiration.... works like a charm, then change the date back to current date.... TADA.
 
How about a way to not even install WGA and still be able to DL updates without turning on automatic updates with SP1a? I do have a legal copy of XPSP1a, but I think this WGA crap is total BS.
 
Originally posted by: SkaarjMaster
How about a way to not even install WGA and still be able to DL updates without turning on automatic updates with SP1a? I do have a legal copy of XPSP1a, but I think this WGA crap is total BS.
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Run Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, download the patches it indicates you need, and install them. Any questions? 🙂

 
You have to validate to download MBSA. I don't see what the issue is. You take 10 seconds to validate, and you dont have to do it again, whether you are downloading from the Download Center or WU/MU. Is that really such a hardship for you? You could've validated in less time than it took you to write that post, and you would be done.
 
STaSh, it's the whole principle of the thing. Yes, I could just give in to corporate BS and install WGA, but if there is a way around it I'm taking it.
 
What principle, what corporate BS? WGA is there to protect you. It isn't designed so much to be a way to reduce piracy. It is designed to let consumers know if they unknowingly purchased a counterfeit version of Windows.

I don't see what you gain by spending all this time trying to work around something you have no reason to work around.
 
Originally posted by: Varun
OEM is almost $200 Canadian as well (which is what I bought)

Ok, let me change my original statement - if XP wasn't SO overpriced, not anywhere near as many people would pirate it.

OpenGL is great, however as far as I know it is only a 3D graphics API. Direct X includes:
Display
Sound
Music
Input
Networking

Perhaps if OpenGL was expanded to include these other items under one API, it would start to regain popularity. It is refreshing to see such a blockbuster game like Doom 3 being an OpenGL format, and that bodes well for its future.

The OpenGL API is every bit as powerful as D3D, and it would be nice if there was an open standard like this for the other aspects of gaming.
Click to expand...



http://www.libsdl.org/index.php - live it, love it, learn it.

Or use OpenGL combined with OpenAL

or

http://www.khronos.org/openml/

The tools are there, its just that nobody wants to belive they are. They know directX, and because they know it, everything else is bad. Trust me, as a programmer, we see this everyday. Why isn't this written in ASP, php sucks. Why did you choose C++ instead of python. Why did you use perl instead of bash. Etc. Now add to that that big companys dont want to loose their existing slave labor and their skill set. Giving their programmers time to learn the ends and outs of something new would cost money. So with the exception of great companys like Epic, Bioware, ID, and a few Indys. It will be rare to see games come out for linux until they can make more money then windows.
 
Originally posted by: STaSh
What principle, what corporate BS? WGA is there to protect you. It isn't designed so much to be a way to reduce piracy. It is designed to let consumers know if they unknowingly purchased a counterfeit version of Windows.

I don't see what you gain by spending all this time trying to work around something you have no reason to work around.
Click to expand...

Here we go again with the "Holier Than Thou" Anandtech attitude. Why is it almost everytime I ask a question here someone says "you don't need to do that" or "why are you doing that?". I'm just asking a simple question about something that I feel stronger about spending time on doing with good reason and am trying to get some answers. If that's the kind of attitude I'm up against here, then just forget it and I'll find my answer to this question somewhere else.

 
Here we go again with the "Holier Than Thou" Anandtech attitude
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Uh, what attitude? I asked a simple question too. What do you gain by doing this? I've heard you say that you feel strongly about why you want to do this, but not why. That's just a question, not attitude, try not to be too defensive.
 
Originally posted by: STaSh
Not 1.2.1, or not from here at any rate
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Who wants to use old busted stuff, when you can have new goodness 🙂
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The new goodness doesn't scan for Office2000 vulnerabilities, though. I might take one of each version, however 🙂 OMG THAT MEANS I WILL HAVE TO VALIDATE, TEH NOES!!!!!11!!1one! :shocked:
 
Originally posted by: STaSh
Here we go again with the "Holier Than Thou" Anandtech attitude
Click to expand...

Uh, what attitude? I asked a simple question too. What do you gain by doing this? I've heard you say that you feel strongly about why you want to do this, but not why. That's just a question, not attitude, try not to be too defensive.
Click to expand...

sTaSh, if you can't see my reason for wanting to work around this, then you need to open your eyes and quit being blinded by M$ corporate BS. Let's get real here. What's next, making us enter our social security number and credit card numbers to get access to updates? It's just one more step in the WRONG direction.

 
Originally posted by: SkaarjMaster
you can't see my reason for wanting to work around this, then you need to open your eyes and quit being blinded by M$ corporate BS. Let's get real here. What's next, making us enter our social security number and credit card numbers to get access to updates? It's just one more step in the WRONG direction.
Click to expand...

Wait, you have to enter some information to get updates now? 😕
 
Let's get real here. What's next, making us enter our social security number and credit card numbers to get access to updates? It's just one more step in the WRONG direction.
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Yes, let's get real here. Please tell me how WGA is one step from sending SS and CC numbers. Please. I'm waiting with bated breath for that explanation.
 
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