What is Digg?203 Comments
- CamZak, on 10/12/2007, -16/+89This is their product, if you're using a bootleg version of their product then they're allowed to put in whatever measures they want to annoy you. Now...if there were popups ever hour for legitimate users of windows, or if this somehow interfered with legitimate users of windows, then I'd be against it. But this is simply a company trying to protect its ability to earn money. Sure, they have plenty of money now...but that's the point of capitalism, to make money. Lets say you find out that you find out on your next paycheck you've been shorted $20. Wouldn't you be unhappy?
- bitcloud, on 10/12/2007, -4/+43Oh sure... Kind of like how Halflife 2 is allowed to include whatever protection necessary to ensure I *cannot* play their game despite paying $100 for it. Kind of like how windows once locked me out of my system forcing me to do a reinstall despite paying for it. Kind of like how Ipod's great autoupdater ***** up my ipod (until fortunately I was able to revert to an earlier version)
Auto updates/forced updates f*cking suck. Every time I update a software I wonder if its the last time I am able to use it. I don't *need* to update acrobat reader... it does the f*cking job fine... do you think that stops them nagging?
My computer is a quiet private place... not a shopping mall. - sneakerelph, on 10/12/2007, -2/+37that happend to me. but i didn't buy another copy. i figured i'm entitled to rip them off after they short me $300
- dlichteman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+36The problem I have is that my laptop did not come with a CD and I put in a new HDD. I have a legitamate key but no way to install and was forced to install a pirate copy because of PRO OEM vs PRO vs VLK and all that crap. Punishment for legitamate users
- vettelovr, on 10/12/2007, -2/+33If you have an illegal/bootleg version, sure, go ahead and make it annoying to use or completely disabled. However, I hope it's got a better implementation( yeah, right) than the product activation PITA that Windows XP used. Do you know how many times I have had to reactivate it due to system upgrades and/or regular clean reinstalls?? One of the guys I work with was told that he had reinstalled it too many times and they would not grant him another activation code, he had to buy another copy of XP. I'm all for protecting software from piracy, but it needs to be done reasonably and not create more of a problem for users.
- rhizome, on 10/12/2007, -6/+34Doesn't matter, this one will be cracked within days like all their other "protections."
- rewritable, on 10/12/2007, -2/+25I own a legitamate copy of windows but since upgrading my motherboard the compaq quick restore CD's wont let me reinstall windows xp on a "non compaq machine" so that forced me to either pay $199 for something I already own or download a pirate copy and be on my way. I dont really care since there will be a workaround to disable the pop-up in a day or two just I like I still get updates thru Windows Update with my pirated copy. They could let users in my situation enter a legit product and go on like no big deal. But oh well let them waste their time on this so i can waste a little of my time to apply the workaround.
- junkam, on 10/12/2007, -4/+27Using WGA is a hassle, last time my LEGIT copy of windows did not validated and I had to spend 30 minutes on the phone, passed 5 or 6 times before anyone could solve this problem.
Activation is bad enough, WGA is plain annoying - johnpombrio, on 10/12/2007, -2/+23I have several legit copies of Windows XP Pro with valid licenses. After having to go through their damn telephone to India a half a dozen times just because I put in a new hard drive or graphic card or reload windows, I found it easier just to use the workarounds. Validation can be intrusive as hell and happens to me 5-6 times a year!
- evangelion01, on 10/12/2007, -10/+30thats it, im switching to linux.
- madnoh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17http://news.com.com/Microsoft+piracy+check+comes+calling/2100-1016_3-6064555.html?tag=nefd.top
Link to a cnet article - johnthedebs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15What if someone who has purchased Windows doesn't want to keep proving that they've done so?
- junkam, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17Since this site is block by digg I had to set up a link from my site. Anyway here is the direct link to the story
Direct link: http://www.aviransplace.com/index.php/archives/2006/04/22/microsoft-is-taking-wga-to-the-next-level/ - Chordonblue, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Ya ever notice how those PC MS stickers just sit out in the open EVERYWHERE? Go to a restaurant or office - how long would it take you to write down that number, really? Seriously, I don't know why MS even bothers. Like any copy protection system, it simply punishes those of us who are legit users. But if you think validating an XP number to some guy in India sucks, try doing a Terminal Server license! HOLY HELL - some 48 digits (all read in phonetic format) and 35 minutes later only to find out the code doesn't work!
- drwatson, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Cant get to the article, but WGA is quite annoying and intrusive, and it will only get worse, as someone with both legit and maybe not so legit copies of xp running, I must say Microsoft's profit margins are obscene and indicative of a monopoly. And yes that makes it okay to steal, I asked Robin hood.
- wardriver20, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14Good thing I'm using Mac OS X. I don't even have to enter a serial.
- MasterDwarf, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13How long do you suppose a work around will take?
- johnpombrio, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Nope. With an OEM version, the validation is easily triggered when hardware changes are made. The validation also kicks off when I do a windows reload. PERHAPS one out of every 5 or 6 times, it goes smooth but usually I have to make the call. Now I had to call 3 times in two days when I was running down a bug in the NVidia NForce chip software. I kept getting the same lady in India (Debbie, un huh). Both she and I were complaining about how much the validation sucked by the end. IF you do not fool with your computer much, no biggie. But trust me it can be a royal pain in the ass. I just use workarounds now. Much faster and easier!
- quanticle, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14This of course assumes that Microsoft's validation tool works perfectly each time and doesn't have a draconian policy on hardware changes.
And we all know how absolutely flawless Microsoft software is on release date. - Ralphy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11He means it's blocked to submit the website.
- dubski, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Anyone got the link for the crack?
- junk92, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9this will happen every time regardless if windows update is enabled or not
- zoid, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10My MacMini was the best purchase ever for my family. I have not had to run any spyware/virus detection at all (except at thanksgiving at my parents). This is probably the first year ever that I didn't have to re-install the OS. Went through one upgrade of the OS that was painless. Why would anyone run windows?
- drizek, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13ya, i have valid copies for all my computers but i only use cracked versions because they actually work better than the legal versions.
- spartan018, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8i think he meant will the update only be installed if WU is enabled.
and i'm assuming yes, unless M$ has some secret mechanism that allows them to post updates that will be installed reguardless of whether WU is enabled or not. i wouldnt be surprised though if they prevent you from ever using WU again until you install this upgrade. - Rice, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Front page digg quite soon: Circumnavigate the New Windows Genuine Advantage!
- chaosmachine, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10at this point, it's still more convenient to pirate. if they dropped the price down to about $40, maybe..
- CoolWind, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9I have a legit copy of XP Pro, but everytime I made any change to my hardware, like booting from a backup hard drive, I had to call India to get my system re-activated, so I just installed the corporate version which doesn't require activation.
The Genuine Disadvantage program is a sham, just like the Windows activation program, which creates problems only for legitimate owners, and doesn't bother pirates at all. Since I bought XP Pro I feel it's my prerogative to avoid any and all MS anti-piracy measures.
It sounds less and less like Vista is going to be the OS of choice next year. Maybe Apple will make OS-X available to "the rest of us". - Chordonblue, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12I WISH you were right. A student the other day spent two hours on the phone trying to get her computer 'revalidated' - whatever the hell that means. She apparently made too many changes to her machine - just added a new hard drive. Just because you haven't run into this BS, doesn't mean you won't.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11
They also discriminate against black copies of Windows XP. - quanticle, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Assuming you never change your hardware, you'll probably be fine. But for the enthusiast set, who enjoy messing with hardware and having the latest and greatest, this'll be a huge pain.
- lame, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7If you switch to Linux, you will very likely never have to think about paying money for software ever again. (You may not have such thoughts now, either.)
- Chordonblue, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10I think most copies of Windows XP should simply be patched with Linux. That'd put a stop to this 'activation' after your activation *****.
Nuke the site from orbit... It's the only way to be sure! - SmartITGuy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6"bitcloud "- I read you loud and clear.
I know exactly what you mean. I HATE phone-home software. I make it a point to use alternative software that does NOT phone home. And in instances where i have no choice, I turn off the phone home stuff. (usually some TSR (Terminate but Stay Resident) software that loads at system startup). "Usually" you can turn this stuff by deleting their keys from the registry. (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run)
and delete any entry related to the software that's phoning home.
Unfortunately Adobe does the check on starting Adobe, and not on system startup.
BUT - there is still a solution at least for Acrobat Reader. There's a (freeware) product called PDFSpeedup, that stops all that crap, and other Adobe reader annoyances. - cwcheang, on 10/12/2007, -4/+102 days. Maxxuss maybe? LoL
- Optimus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7"People will be able to decline the tool download or uninstall it..." "Whats the point then?"
To prod folks into using a legit copy of XP without pushing them into a rage. - Nerf, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7From the Cnet Article
"People will be able to decline the tool download or uninstall it, said David Lazar, director of the Windows Genuine program at Microsoft. They can also suppress the alerts by right-clicking on them when they appear during the running of Windows."
Whats the point then? - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I have several licenses for both Home, Pro and X64 and I'm in the same boat. I change/update my hardware very often and I have better things to do that waste time to MS on the phone.
I use pirate windows on all my PCs, even though I have the proper licenses for them.
Auto Update is all thats needed to keep the OS patched, the extra crap you get from the windows update service is mostly worthless. - junk92, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9If digg would stop banning sites then people would not need to set up a redirect. The reason there is a redirect is that digg for some reason banned Aviran's Place
- optikburn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I bought a legal copy of Windows Xp Pro.. but the activation really gives me a hardtime everytime I do a reinstall.. so, I bought a pirated CD for 2 dollars (9 in 1 with Service Packs integration).. and boy it works really smooth, pirated copies are better than the original.. since that incident, I began using Linux on other machines.. I don't want my Windows to ***** up and lock my computer with all my important files... WGA sucks..
- sneakerelph, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6i'm buying a mac
- jgstew, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Because its a pain in the ass to all of us who legally own XP, but upgrade our systems so often that Activation goes nuts on us regularly. There's something wrong when you prefer a cracked version over a lagit version just because it wont nag you. Evidently MS's solution to this problem is to make the cracked versions nag you slightly more than the lagit versions. Great, what a triumph for quality of software.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8However there are good news for those who still don’t wish to validate their copy (and no it is not GEICO). THERE IS A WAY FOR USERS TO TURN OFF THE NOTIFIER but it may be turned back on in the future as they try to download the latest updates to IE or Media player or take advantage of the Buy Local offers through their local system builder.
- FluffyArmada, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10Screw them. I'll keep using my old Windows XP Pro CD on whatever computer I see fit. I paid for it and I refuse to buy another copy. And it's not like I have Windows installed on 50 computers at the same time. I just happen to have installed it in many different x86 emulators. [ not at the same time ]
All they are going to do is make my windows experience suck even more so that whenever Vista does come out, I won't buy it at all. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -6/+12I'm not worried about this at all. I wont lie. I have an illegal version of Window$.
I work at CVS Pharmacy and make $5.50 an hour and goto college. I refuse to pay upwards of $200 for ANY software, let alone Windows. This WGA bull will be cracked within weeks. If theres a will theres a way.
Thank you Micro$oft for your wonderful product. I enjoy using it at absolutely ZERO charge. ; ) - MatttK, on 10/12/2007, -8/+13Just to highlight from the article madnoh posted...
"Those who use a legitimate copy of the software won't see any messages, Microsoft said."
If you have an illegal copy of Windows, you don't have the right to complain. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6"I cannot believe that anybody would try to make a solid argument against this. It is their software. They can add anti-piracy measures as much as they want and I won't feel sorry for any of you. When you pirate something you have absolutely no say in what MS does with their software"
dont be a tool.... when antipiracy efforts affect no1 but the legit user theres a serious problem. - johnpombrio, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8LOL. Yeah, those stickers are everywhere. Our office had new HP laptops with Win XP Pro licenses on the bottom but the company was still using Win 2000. I got a half a dozen free serial numbers that way.
- gotamd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I have a legal copy of Windows and WGA is a problem. When you frequently change out components and/or reinstall the OS, you end up having to call into MS. I've had to call them more times than I can count to activate perfectly legal copies of Windows XP being used in ways not in violation of the ToS. Of course, I've never once been denied activation, but it's annoying to have to go through that in the first place. It's a waste of my cell phone minutes (don't have a land line) not to mention my time.
- CraigJ, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6If I'm going to pay out the ass for an operating system, I'm going to pay for a good one. Just waiting for the next release of Mac OS...
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