What is Digg?307 Comments
- info, on 10/12/2007, -17/+157I say bring it on!
This will just send more everyday people over to Mac and Open Source. - info, on 10/12/2007, -4/+97I got my dog to click the "I agree" button.
So I'm off the hook, right? - robbh66, on 10/12/2007, -3/+82@ Nezarri
I agree, they may have a right to- but I also have a right not to be F'ed over by them.
I have a Toshiba laptop. It has a XP Pro key on the bottom of the laptop. I have tried time and time again to re-install windows on it- every time it refuses the key. I call MS, they tell me to call Toshiba. I call Toshiba, they tell me the key is valid and I cant have another.
Obviously I already paid for XP pro on that computer. I'm not paying again. - derlin, on 10/12/2007, -16/+93In the words of Dave Chapelle, "microsoft is effin up!".
- inturnaround, on 10/12/2007, -3/+73Nezzari, just because you have the right to do something doesn't mean it's right to do something or that you should do something.
Such a kill switch will invariably break some legitimate users' computers, too. - daofma, on 10/12/2007, -5/+71Seriously, WHO reads the EULA?
- r00tus3r, on 10/12/2007, -8/+64Go ahead, we dare you, Linux users (particularly ubuntu) would quadruple over night. They haven't got the minerals!
- MikeSD34, on 10/12/2007, -12/+67"Quit bitching, get a job and quit breaking the law and then crying about it!"
I believe this falls under copyright infringement, not theft, which makes it a civil issue, not a criminal one. - rewritable, on 10/12/2007, -9/+63If Microsoft does this i will build a faster pc, switch to linux, and use an emulator t run BF2, GTA, and AOE II. This will be the last ***** straw. I run an unlegit copy of windows xp pro because the retarded quick restore CD's wouldn't let me re-install windows xp pro on a custom built pc I upgraded to and there is NO way in hell I am gonna shell out another $200 for somthing I ALREADY HAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Then M$ changes their EULA so that you arent allowed move a OEM install to a new pc even if the old pc doesn't even have windows installed on it anymore. Open source here I come.
- rasterbator, on 10/12/2007, -0/+50that is a really WIDE corner.
- OddWeaselBoy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+52The more they tighten their grasp, the more we'll slip through their fingers. Do your best, MS, I look forward to laughing in your faces. :)
- neoknight, on 10/12/2007, -9/+56suddenly those MAC Switch campaigns started playing in my head.
- jrizzo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+47Hackers > Microsoft...
They can try as they may, but the hackers will always find a way around it. And chances are, it will be "legitimate use" of software that you own. When will people like Microsoft and the RIAA realize that they canNOT beat the Internet nerds at their own game? Start giving us legitimate reasons to play by your rules instead of threats. - pbaehr, on 10/12/2007, -4/+46@info: Maybe...but your dog's looking at some hard time. Fortunately, life sentences are substantially shorter for dogs.
- StatusQuoRules, on 10/12/2007, -2/+43Yep, right around the corner - its like a year away at least
- merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -3/+39From the article:
"I purchased a SEALED OEM copy of XP Professional. WGA said the license key was already used. I called MS and they said I should uninstall and buy another copy. I told them I wasn’t made of money and hung-up."
This guy's paid full price for a legit windows license, and microsoft won't do anything to assure that he can actually use it. I'm pretty sure in this case, it'd actually be completely morally and legally acceptable for this guy to use a pirated copy of windows: _he owns a license to use the software_!
WGA would prevent him from using something he's legally paid for. - phpirate, on 10/12/2007, -4/+40That actually sounds extremely possible. With vista right around the corner, they have no reason not to... it only means more money for them.
- merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+35"So it is okay to steal, so long as you've purchased a copy before?"
Using software you have a license to use is in no way theft. You've confused licensing something and purchasing it -- they're totally different concepts.
"does that work for automobiles from the dealership"
Completely invalid analogy. You buy a car. You license windows. Apples and oranges. - dapete, on 10/12/2007, -5/+35pfft...Windows already comes with THOUSANDS of kill switches. What's one more?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -7/+37**Exactly this** is why open source software is the future!
you don't have to worry about evil people trying to control your life - Scruffydan, on 10/12/2007, -4/+33MS has to realize that users running a pirated version of Windows is better for them than users running Linux or OSX.
Current users if pirated windows are more likely to buy windows than users of Linux or OSX. - rasterbator, on 10/12/2007, -9/+38Dateline: Los Angeles
October 2006
Reports of computers exploding and killing people are happening all over the city and the country. It really is a kill switch! (video of Steve Ballmer dancing and playing the violin around Redmond, WA as buildings are burning around him) - crimpshrine, on 10/12/2007, -9/+36I hate the comparison everyone makes on how breaking copyright is like stealing a car, stealing from your mother, etc...
It's NOT, I wish people would make proper comparisons. If a car dealership had the means to "clone" cars on premise for 1/1000th of the original cost with no harmful byproducts produced then yes you can use the comparison that copying a program is like stealing a car from an automobile dealer. - JangoFett, on 10/12/2007, -5/+30So if I don't agree with installing WGA, does that mean Microsoft will revoke my license and disable my Windows?
And if so, will I get a refund for the $200 I paid for XP? - chrono13, on 10/12/2007, -6/+28In English: you are renting the software for an undetermined period of time with some serious restrictions.
Microsoft has all the rights to say when, who and how you use their software.
Like Info said - we can only hope MS does this. Some major estimates places Windows piracy at 30-40 percent (much of which is likely legal, just re-installed with an illegal disc/key).
Microsoft, like the RIAA/MIAA, is now viewing each illegal install as a lost sale. If they throw the switch and kill all those systems - imagine how happy people will be about sticking with such a company.
If MS kills even just 15 percent of Windows installs - that's an easy 5 percent jump in alternate OS usage (OSX, Linux, etc). That doesn't take into account the governments that would then fear running such a system (China, as an example, would have been proven right in their paranoia). Mac and Linux both would see a massive jump. I would guess about 10 percent each.
Bring it on Microsoft - do your worst. - awoodhouse, on 10/12/2007, -5/+26I'm sure Apple wouldn't moan
- roodscreen, on 10/12/2007, -1/+22Wow, treating all of your customers like criminals because some people steal. What a great business model. Wait, it's working so well for the RIAA, they have people just pleased to be associated with them.
I have worked for companies that took the attitude that they will do such and such 'because they can'. These companies inevitably go down the toilet.
I am hoping that Windows does this - it will be what makes me bite the bullet and move to Linux. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+24Good thing I just switched to Ubuntu Linux on my home desktop. I've used many many different distros of Linux previously, but this one by far takes the cake. I'm really liking it. MS can blow me.
- dclowd9901, on 10/12/2007, -8/+25What about people who bought the software, and lost the keys, or lost the install discs? Should they have to buy it twice, just because Microsoft is using a dated distrobution system?
I do have a stolen copy of Windows, but I lost my original, and I'll be damned if *I* pay twice for it. I'm not even worried. There'll be a hack out, probably before the switch even goes into effect. Look how easy it is to bypass WGA online: http://www.funponsel.com/blog/archives/2005/08/06/how-to-bypass-windows-genuine-advantage-check-on-windows-xp/ - awhiteflame, on 10/12/2007, -18/+35Please, drop the unbearable "Micro$oft" and "M$". I don't like the company either, but you're going to get alot more respect explaining your reasons for disliking the company rather than saying "Micro$oft SUCKS!!!" or "Wind0ze suxxorz".
- jwoelich, on 10/12/2007, -6/+23If you trust Microsoft, you are a fool. Give me one valid reason why they *wouldn't* do this?
- romeyinfc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17Even though I agree that people running pirate versions of Windows deserve what they get - I still believe this is a Croc. I have legitimate copies of Windows on all of my machines, but I refuse to download WGA because of the privacy concerns. It was revealed a few weeks back that WGA makes DAILY calls backs to the Mothership, something they didn't disclose when WGA started out. While I respect Microsoft's attempts to secure their intellectual property, I don't trust them to do it for me. I hate this "guilty until proven innocent" strategy.
- Aninhumer, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19I noticed that WINE passed WGA, I don't know how, but it's ironic I could never get WGA to work on XP
- Kamino, on 10/12/2007, -13/+30Amen son. Or download Linux. Then just don't complain when you can't play the game your uncle gave you. Or when you can't run the powerpoint presentation your collegue mailed you.
- r00tus3r, on 10/12/2007, -2/+18Could salmog be more wrong?
People will always choose the easiest option. When it is no longer easy to pirate windows, the ones that can afford it will buy a legal copy, and the ones that can't will switch to open source. You're a complete idiot if you think this won't result in more linux users. - Odweaver, on 10/12/2007, -8/+24Ah, so your saying only people that have a pirated copy should worry about this?
What if something in thier system screws up and disables purchased copies? - chrono13, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16Windows + No security patches = killed anyway.
You are damned if you do, damned if you don't. - lbeaty1981, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16I haven't had any problems with it actually killing a machine, but it has popped up and told me several copies of Windows that I manage are not genuine. I work for a university with a Microsoft site-license agreement (installed the OS myself more often than not), so I know I have a "genuine" copy. If they start shutting down systems that don't appear genuine to it, it could cause a major headache to a lot of people.
- skifreak107, on 10/12/2007, -4/+19Like there won't be a fix for this in less then 24 hours.
- CharlesDarwin, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18Vista isn't behind schedule, so they can get some of those developers to work on this...
- awoodhouse, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17A hidden text message versus switching the OS off. Not exactly the same thing is it?
- sokz, on 10/12/2007, -5/+19Well, considering the last copy of Windows I purchased legally was 95, I may have to pick up XP. Or replace this aging laptop with a new Macbook. I've been looking for an excuse to switch to Mac (and I am not a gamer, so it's all good).
- Sandtiger, on 10/12/2007, -7/+21Even if you read the EULA can anyone understand them? Their not written in plain english.
Another point is when it comes to the Law terms dont mean the same thing they do in plain english. - deadbaby, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Hey Microsoft, sound familiar?
Governor Tarkin: You don't know how hard I found it, signing the order to terminate your life.
Princess Leia: I'm surprised that you had the courage to take the responsibility yourself.
Governor Tarkin: Princess Leia, before your execution, you will join me at a ceremony that will make this battle station operational. No star system will dare oppose the Emperor now.
Princess Leia: The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers. - vertinox, on 10/12/2007, -18/+31I'd complain, but I rather enjoy my OS X ;)
- databyss, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13This one will be intentional.
- KingAdrock, on 10/12/2007, -12/+24Large Corporate Software companies in general is effin up... shhh they comin!
- geocar, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15@furtwan1
``does that work for CDs? You are only purchasing the license to listen to the tracks on the disk..as well as the media.''
That's a load of *****. You're purchasing a copy of the song. You can listen to it in your car, in your living room, in your ipod, or anywhere you like. You can even make a copy of it for your own use.
``does that work for automobiles from the dealership, if you've lost your keys?''
The question isn't that- it's if you _did_ lose your keys, the dealership, the locksmiths, and the MVA all got together and said you have to buy a new car. That's a load of crap, and isn't even what you did, it's this guy got a car delivered, and the keys supplied just don't work.
You mean to tell me that experience would encourage you to just buy another car? - OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -4/+16Has anyone asked what else MS might have hidden away in Windows?
This is a perfect example of why an operating system should be open-source. True, MS has released XP's source code *in limited form* to some governments to prove there were no backdoors or killswitches like the one now rumored to exist, but was that source code really complete? And could you really find a hidden function in *MILLIONS OF LINES OF CODE*? MS itself has trouble documenting it all.
Simply put, I do not trust Microsoft or their products one bit. No pun intended. This is a serious subject, I'm surprised that government agencies and businesses blindly put so much trust in a private, self-serving corporation. Microsoft is not some charity! They're out to make a profit, and they've shown numerous times in the past that they're willing to do so illegally and/or unfairly. - dclowd9901, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12"It’s not Microsoft
’s fault that you lost your copy of Windows. It’s your fault. Yes you should have to buy it again if you want to continue using it.
Thats like saying, I bought a car, my car was stolen, Its Honda's fault, they owe me a new one."
Okay, I get it now. There's a reason your analogies suck: Because you can't think of a good one that supports your side. As was already said, purchasing a software license is nothing like purchasing a car. By owning a license, you own the right to have however many copies of that software you need. Even though I stole Windows, I own the right to use it, one copy, because that's what I paid for, and that's what Microsoft sold me.
When I bought my Honda a year ago, I did not purchase the right to have a Honda, I purchased the car itself. Again, as was said before, it's Apples and Oranges. -
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