What is Digg?150 Comments
- moshpitmayhem, on 10/12/2007, -6/+121Is anyone else surprised that the number of non-genuine installs isn't higher than that?
- ElliotShoe, on 10/12/2007, -1/+88Don't forget some of us are smart enough not to try and validate or install the wga tool... I'd say the rate is obviously higher.
- mutabi, on 10/12/2007, -2/+54@skidogallard
Keep blocking him, and quit giving him publicity. Simple. - Noobuntu, on 10/12/2007, -2/+43Inaccurate percentage, many illegal copies were made genuine with a hack.
- Ghozt64, on 10/12/2007, -3/+39Is it really piracy when you have a valid corporate key?
/me laughs at people with non-genuine Windows. - Bradl3y, on 10/12/2007, -7/+41@deltabourne: sarcasm much?
@Renton: If Windows crashes on you 3 times a day you suck at "driving" it. Never had a crash since windows XP that wasn't related to hardware/bad drivers. - m3mn0n, on 10/12/2007, -12/+46I was expecting 30-40%.
But then again, there is ways around detection and Mac + Linux have picked up steam recently. - virtualball, on 10/12/2007, -4/+30I would have posted my opinion 10 seconds sooner but the WGA screen kept me at login :)
- foolfromhell, on 10/12/2007, -6/+27FCKGW-
- skidogallard, on 10/12/2007, -20/+38@diggermirror
Oh my God, you *****. Quit spamming Digg! - sirloin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17another 11% uses windowsupdate.62nds.com
another 11% have found the student key
another 11% just use wga patchers
that leaves about 45% that are actualy genuine. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15"Yea just go to work, school, library and get a license that's good for hundreds of computers. Anyone who doesn't do so doesn't know wtf they're doing."
anyone who doesn't steal a license doesn't know what they're doing? - kyote, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13I have to wonder what percentage of those people commeting "linux ftw!" etc. are typing that on their pc running windows xp. . .
- fiver22, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11I work for a copany that MS hired to handle WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) calls: the typical call goes as follows:
Caller: "yeah, I'm getting this notification that my Windows is not "genuine", but I bought my PC from (Dell, HP, whatever huge vendor) so it must be "genuine".
Me: "what version of Windows are you running?" -I ask because the WGA kit costs 99$ for "Home" users, and 149$ for "Pro" users.
Caller: Answer 1) "XP Home" (most users know what version they are running -good for them!) Answer 2) "um, I don't know".
**IF ANSWER 2: [remember that most ppl have gotten Windows pre-installed on their PC, so it's, obviously, an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) but I REALLY hope I didn't need to explain this to MOST diggers] so I say: "click START then MOUSE OVER "My Computer">right click and then select "properties" -This displays a bunch of info -but what we are looking for is what the "System" says. -And so, the customer reads out: " um, 'Windows XP Professional version 2002 etc. etc.'" (it's always Professionalm btw).
Me: "did your version of Windows come pre-installed on your PC when you bought your PC -or did you but Windows seperately?"
Caller: "it came pre-installed"
(it is now a good time to recognize that the VAST majority of pre-installs of XP -or OEM versions of Windows, are much more common in the HOME version)
Me: could you look on the tower of your PC and find the multicoloured, rectangular, sticker that has your product key -and read to me the wording on that sticker"
Caller: "Yep....ok, here it is: 'Microsoft Windows XP Home.' Product key: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.(Note: it i sthe *version* of Windows that is important -NOT the product key)
Me: "well the version that *should* be installed on your PC is WinXP Home -but you've told me that it is ACTUALLY WinXP Pro. -What this suggests to me is that at some point you've had a problem with your PC that drove you to seek out support from a PC builder in your area -what that person did was reinstall a non-Genuine version of XP Pro -as opposed to reinstalling YOUR version of XP Home"
Caller: " oh yeah, I did leave my PC with "such, and such, PC fixers"
Me: " I'm sorry to say that they installed an illegal (although we are told not to use the term "illegal", or "pirated") copy of Windows on your PC which leaves you with 2 options: 1) buy the WGA Kit from us, or 2) Re-install YOUR OEM version of Windows." -Note: We are discouraged from mentioning number 2.
(sorry for the long post)
(this is the 2nd 'hey, I work for MS' reply I've made tonight -NOT an MS fanboy -please don't mistake me for one.) - masamunecyrus, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15@skidogallard: I suggested to the digg staff that they add a "Mark this user as a spammer" button next to the "block" button. A "mark this post as spam" button would work just as well, too.
In any case, I'm still waiting for a reply. I think it'd be a good idea and it would make the job of banning them much easier as I'm sure the community would help out and mark spam accordingly, making the job of actually finding the spam and banning the users that much easier on the administrative side. - hhOwArdrOarKk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9You can't possibly believe that 78% are genuine?
- damentz, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13Make it 23% when I start my own business.
- brstilson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I've tried to update and been blocked by WGA. I've reinstalled XP so many times that my key has been invalid for a few years now. Every time I reinstall I just run the hack because I don't want to have to call India in the middle of the night so they can give me a new code over the phone. It's pretty sad that I'm pirating software I legally own (it's the copy that came with the PC)
- LabThug, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8"which grants that user a free replacement copy of Windows."
So, let me get this straight. I can buy Windows for whatever the cost is, or I can call up Microsoft and say I have a counterfit copy and get a free replacement? Is this true? If so, what is the motivation for anyone to be legal? - Mandeep, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Instead of installing ***** why don't you go out and try talking to a girl?
- codeninja42, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8That's nothing! Linux piracy is terrible! I don't know anyone who actually paid for their copy!
- ryanstein, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Actually the percentage would be much higher. Heck, even Paul Thurrott had a few false-positives, and he's the Windows god. Essentially, WGA is ineffective and only stops the genuine user (opposed to giving the genuine user the "genuine advantage." Hey, just like DRM!)
- EBFoxbat, on 10/12/2007, -5/+120% of my MS OSes are genuine.
100% of my Apple OSes are genuine.
100% of my *nix OSes are genuine.
100% of my OSes cost $0.00
Funny how that math works. I do plan to buy a Leopard upgrade and I don't plan in usving Vista for many months. I will however buy Vista if I can justify it's cost in home-IT-support-time-saved (which has inspired my move to Apple). - estvir, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9I think that'd be < 1 percent.
- Kwipper, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9God damn it! I was hoping the numbers to be around 40 - 50%
Come on people! We need to try harder! We can do better than a measly 22% I want those numbers up! - theblooms, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8@renton
www.*****.com
But seriously, the while the keygens can theoretically work, it is mostly blind luck for one to spit out a good serial. You can literally tweak the keygen for DAYS AND DAYS ON END without any luck whatsoever.
Much easier just to install the WGA workaround. You can still get on windowsupdate just fine, and there is a "magic regfile" that will let you install IE7, WMP11, Windows Defender, so on and so forth.
Personally, I am sick and tired of the massive bloatware, and I gave up on Windows. Between installing XP, downloading the scores of patches, downloading all the other stuff crap you need like Office and it's myriad of patches, and all the other crap, it honestly take the better part of a day do set up a simple ***** computer. That is insanity and completely uncalled for. And that's with SP2 already slipstreamed. Even more time if you have to install the Service Packs. In all honesty, Linux really IS 1000X better in this regard. Put in Kubuntu or Suse (I like KDE better than Gnome, pick your own poison) and 45 minutes later (after the hda format of course) you are nearly completely finished. Linux is beyond a piece of cake to install. - GuyHitByTruck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I knew it was too good to be true!
*hangs up the phone* - samdu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@Slasher
Google "Change Windows XP Key" and you'll find instructions on how to change the bogus key you're using to the valid one on your notebook. There're even pages at Microsoft.com that explain how to change the key. - Renton, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Can you tell me what the hack is? I still have to go through the genuine advantage BS every time Iog in Windows on my upstairs computer.
- thewump, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5By coincidence, 22% of windows installations are also functional.
- GuyHitByTruck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I would figure that businesses are actually bigger targets for enforcing the DMCA than individual users. Just something to think about..
- sbrar83, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6very true, all those poor people who buy OEM copies without media. Are they expected never to have to reformat??? Are they expected to rely on backup partitions? They are bound to get their computer infected with something. They just go get their neighbors CD and install it... now they are screwed. Unless of course you have a volume copy with a volume license key that hasn't been posted on the internet and is still valid.
- kcpwnsgman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5keep in mind a lot are verified that are non-genuine... such as installing 2 copies with same key, on different pc's and calling Microsoft to verify the key, in which they will ask you a few questions about your product, and its verified.
- crazaalex, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7http://depositfiles.com/en/files/327845 *cough
- evilspoons, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8I agree that their pricing scheme is ridiculous. They'd probably sell 30% more copies if they lowered their prices 30%, and therefore have a larger user base and have to waste less money on anti-piracy methods. Instead, what do we have... Vista costs MORE than XP, which costs more than Windows Me, 98, and 95 did, even taking into account ten years of inflation...
- theratster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I believe they give you a free copy on the condition that you tell them where you got your copy from. If you tell them I downloaded it off the web, I don't think they will be too impressed.
- brundlefly76, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Microsoft cannot have accurate stats on WGA because at some stages of WGA's bumbling evolution the tool had failed to authenticate genuine software because of errors in the authentication methodology.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4What happened with the controversed WGA patch at Windows Update? It's no longer listed. Did Microsoft really pulled it off, or did they hide it in a fake security update to sneak it into our computer?
- PDave, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Ahhhh, bury this comment... uhhh... I LOVE GEORGE BUSH, JACK JOHNSON AND WINDOWS VISTA!!!
- joerod, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4dug because i'm part of that 22%
- Tripper44, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This post should be renamed to "22% of dumb ass newbie users who have pirated windows have actually attempted to register thier copy" :P haha
Noobs - okgo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5How many of these unlicensed users do you think are actually people that had to reinstall windows after something horrible went wrong and Windows crashed????????? I personally know many of them.
- doolittle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4maybe they will use openoffice?
- LilRabbitFooFoo, on 08/11/2008, -0/+4Note that there is no way to DOWNGRADE an XP Pro install to XP Home...ahem. Smooth move, Microsoft.
- BabyWookie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4So, if I tell them that I got it for $3 from Uncle Kolya in the 17th row of the open air market in Kiev, Ukraine, I can get my legit copy for free? Awesome! :)
- KibibyteBrain, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I would imagine that if the number of "installs" counted was "user installs" and not preloads by Dell and friends, the number would be a majority.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"Yeah, that's only one of the biggest employers in the US you're ripping off. If you want to impact the maximum number of people, then pirating Windows is probably the software to do it with."
Oh, come on. MS employees are get some of the best treatment there is. Full health converage (medical, dental, etc. with no deductible and no payroll contribution), job sharing, three weeks paid vacation right off the bat (4 weeks after 6 years, 5 weeks after 12), life insurance, free grocery delivery, free dry cleaning, free Starbucks, and on and on... The only thing that's missing is a solid gold toilet.
And all the while, Microsoft still manages a 41% operating margin...
http://members.microsoft.com/careers/mslife/benefits/plan.mspx - GuyHitByTruck, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It says 78% aren't getting their money's worth.
- ishmal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I am so sick of my friends and acquaintances asking me if I will give them a copy of Windows for their old PC. For heaven's sake... Buy Windows Home (it's cheap now) or install Linux, but please, please quit living in the el-cheapo world. The latest Fedora and OpenSuse are beautiful. If you don't want to pay, then try those instead.
- traverse, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I only wish that pirated copies of Windows actually hurt Microsoft. Aside from representing some "lost" revenue, these people are still running Windows. As far as Microsoft is concerned this is still WAY better than switching to a different operating system, because they still win by maintaining their monopoly.
I pine for the days when Linux (or even Macs) reach critical mass on the desktop... That 22% represents a big opportunity if Microsoft decides to tighten the noose and force the move. -
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