Microsoft: Legit Windows or no updates

[Supreme Cmdr]

Microsoft: Legit Windows or no updates

[jamotto]

I give it 6 months before crackers find a way around this.

[Guest DocHoliday]

Actually the idea to offer you Windows at a discount rate, if it's not legit, is not a bad one at all.

I expected to read something along the lines "if your Windows is illegal expect a knock on the door and broken kneecaps in about 3 hours pending legal charges for using black market software and potential charges for pirate activites"

I'm glad they have some sense left...

[Soback]

So, if you are using a pirated product and are perfectly aware about it, what makes you think that you don't deserve a knock on the door, handcuffs, fine and a jail sentence?

You are essentially using something that took time and money to create, while you yourself decided to steal it and contribute nothing. It's the same kind of thinking that people exibit wnen they talk about entitlements to wellfare and social security for retirement. Funny how the countries that have the most pirated software are also the ones with the highest social wellfare...maybe I'm onto something there...talk about demanding something for nothing, and if the demand is not fullfilled, stealing it like it's perfectly ok...

[Guest DocHoliday]

Well, you have a point, but I see no correlation between social welfare and piracy... Take China. Highest level of piracy, but not really the highest level of social security at all..

More likely the connection is between economic level of a country.. For example, I had a big problem getting UC, since none of the "legit" sellers want to freakin' send an envelope to my country. I don't know why, but there you go. Then other countries might not have the credit card system set up yet.. or they use "incompatible" CCs... This all basically forces you to seek other options...

Furthermore, yes I actually would expect one to get punished (I do NOT expect handcuffs and jail, since using Windows doesn't really endanger anyone, but the user, heh - it's an offense for sure, but not a criminal act comparable to murders and such) for using a stolen product, which is why I was pleasantly surprised MS actually went beyond that and instead opts not to alienate potential users (since OBVIOUSLY they do show interest for their products), but instead go by the age-old rule.. "the customer is always right" and just swallow the insult and offer the product at lower price. That way everyone wins.. Not something I am used to see at big corporations in this day and age..

Agree?

[Guest DocHoliday]

"entitlements to wellfare and social security for retirement."

Off-topic, but I have to ask: why this negativity towards social welfare from most Americans whenever the topic is mentioned?

The social system doesn't work that way. You don't get undue benefits. You pay ALL your (working) life a considerable % taken away from your paycheck to cover these costs, like insurance. The difference is that the money isn't handled by private companies, but government trusts.. most often a combination of both for maximum gain/security..

In my country for example, the difference between gross and net pay is about 40-45%.. All this goes to pay my pension, all kinds of taxes, my health insurance (I PAY ZERO in the hospital, no matter how often or not I use it), social welfare, solidarity amounts for pregnant women, victims of various diseases, disaster areas and such.. I can't remember more, but there is more..

Bad as it sounds, I live in more or less comfortable feeling that if I EVER end up an invalid, or lose a job unfairly (which isn't really uncommon with all the economic crisis in the world) at least I can survive and am not forced to become a homeless person. Further more, the employment ministry will actually offer free education, to get you back on your feet so that you can get a job again and of course cease to be an unproductive member of the society That makes a person generally more calm even though corruption and bad policy decisions affest such a system a lot more than persona saving/health/pension/insurance planes you have over in the US... But if asked to make my choice as to whom I trust more: a democratically elected politician or a business trust tycoon in charge of my savings, I'd still go with the politician.

Hope if clarifies the situation a bit.

Cheers,

[Soback]

On the first point, by using pirated software you are essentially stealing, therefore it is a crime, and jail time should be give because you steal something that does not belong to you, it's the same as going to the store, stealing and saying that's it's ok because you didn't hurt anyone. However you forget that the company or individual that made that software spend their money and time to create it and expect a return for their work. Not the return you think they should get, but the return the market or they expect for it.

Second, China is communist, it has government madicare, and other forms of social wellfare, just like Russia. So yes, there is a corelation there.

Third, Americans don't like the government taking their hard earned money and redistributing it. Simple, you made the money, it's yours. Why should the government be taking it and giving it to those who didn't, someone taking something that you earned doesn't sound wrong to you? If you want retirement, you save for it (imagine what you can do with those 20% of your yearly paycheck times 40 years, you like that picture of youself on a boat in the carribean?, now think what your 20% that you worked, invested and saved for is like shared between 9 other people and you, that elderly home sounds appealing?, still feel good and generous?), if you want anything else, you go work, make the money and buy it, it's rather simple. People like to think that they are entitled to things just because they are alive, and that attitude is just plain wrong. You are born into this world naked, and the rest is up to you.

So, either way, yes, it's nice that microsoft decided to give discounts to those with pirated copies (you lure more with honey), but ultimatly, pirating IS stealing no matter how you look at it or what your reasons are, (and people do go to jail for stealing).

[Guest DocHoliday]

"Simple, you made the money, it's yours. Why should the government be taking it and giving it to those who didn't, someone taking something that you earned doesn't sound wrong to you?"

True. But not as simple as that. I got a job because I have primary, secondary AND college degree for which I payed almost zero (well my parents payed a portion, the rest is gov't) and through free gov't employment office (the office costs a lot more than I contribute). I went to work using subsidized public transport (which costs way more than I actually payed), I broke my leg once and got free service (which would also cost a forture were to pay it all for myself)..

Your logic is perfectly sound, but can create cruel consequences. I pay enourmous amounts of money to be a plastic surgeon, then I lose both my hands in an accident... ? Bye bye career, bye bye money.. Hello homelessness...

Community service works by taking small % for everyone, gaining huge resources to offer quality service.. Of course mutual consent to this is a must. That's why we have it and that's why, yes, I agree that 40% of my money is spread around, because at the end of the circle, I get it back if and when I need it.. Usually I get more than I payed.. And if not, someone else who needs it gets in on the spot.

It's precisely the same logic tha insurance companies follow and how the lottery works

I propose we carry this on in private if you wish, as it doesn't really belong in this forum.

Cheers,

Doc