Blogs

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 4:59 p.m.

I am mainly concerned about privacy issues that are being ignored in almost all net concerns. If hackers are able to get through (no matter how unlikely, lol) and get the id info from the windows registration policy that "may" accompany this validation act, then this could end up being responsible for trillions of dollars in losses to criminal activities. This being a windows requirement; may leave Microsoft in some form of financial losses to a class action suit. It may even end Microsoft.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 5:27 p.m.

This is truly a momentous decision that presages the downfall of Windows supremacy.
Microsoft decided they can scare a few people into buying legit copies of Windows and generate another million bucks a year but will they inadvertantly provide Linux products or another O/S with the momentum needed to make a mainstream impact.

I'm thinking this nickle and dime mentality will end up backfiring and the Microsoft greed factor will finally make alternative O/S a true market force. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 6:53 p.m.

They should have a class actions suit for the billions
of hours peope have spend trying to fix problems that were really microsofts, but I guess the ELUA prevents that, which, of course we all read. I myself have spent probably two months full time on it.
Regarding Vista, just better not to upgrade, in the past 10 years upgrades have created more problems, not less.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 7:09 p.m.

I was delaying my computer purchase until new window Vista comes out next year. However, this definitely changed my mind. Good bye Microsoft! Hello Linux... Microsoft products are getting more and more annoying each day. The other day, I was trying to install Office 2003. It has all kind of problems with my curent version of Acrobat creator, disable my Google tool bar and installed Yahoo tool bar instead, telling me that it will block google search from my computer and default to Yahoo search instead. What a joke. I decided to return office 2003 to my employer and save them some $$$...

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 7:10 p.m.

Fantastic. The fact that microsoft is buried in money and super super rich does not give the public the right to demand things from them for free. Microsoft has invested millions of dollars in development of the products and it has all its right to charge for them if they wish. They create the products, they make the rules. So why in this world do some people expect Microsoft to make free Operating Systems like Linux? If you don't like Microsoft, don't use their products then and shut up. Why do some think that they should get programs for free when there is always someone investing time and energy in them?

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 7:11 p.m.

I agree with the post above. I would love to be paid or even get credit from Microsoft for all the time spent trying to correct inherent problems. I've been using this mediocre string of OS's since DOS days and have not lost my contempt for it. I would welcome the emergence of Linux as a mainstream OS. Something that just works would be great! Microsoft worries so much about piracy, they forget that they're supposed to be providing a usable, stable product. (How many "hotfixes" and slipstream "upgrades" are in your present list?)

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 7:15 p.m.

Bye Bye Windows, this is rediculous!!!

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 7:49 p.m.

I think you mean "ridiculous". And yes, it is.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 7:50 p.m.

Anyone who still thinks Linux is better that Windows, hey, you are blinded cause linux is free. Be honest, windows is better, but we need to pay. that's the problem. But we need linux as a competitor so that to stop Microsoft to increase the price.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 7:51 p.m.

It's nothing to panic about my fellow pirates because the hackers are just one step behind the developers at Microsoft. Sort of like viruses, they can only slow things down for a short while before the blackhats, crackers and elite coders render VISTA totally usable even with an "invalid key"
It's a never ending battle between the good and bad and as history teaches us in both war and computing that crackers love the challenge.Crackers are kind of like the old 7up commercials..."always have and always will"

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 7:59 p.m.

This will not deter people from using illegal copies of vista. Remember, there is an army of hackers out there that spend a lot of time trying to defeat things just like this. And they do it for fun, not profit. I have personally never paid for any microsoft software in my life and I have been using Microsoft products since I was 5 years old. (go ahead throw the rocks) Every new version of Windows that Microsoft comes up with they say will be un-piratable. That has never been the case. Vista is no exception. With as big as Microsoft is, there are alot more underground hackers out there with a lot more time on their hands than any microsoft software developer. Plus, people love to hate Microsoft. Ever wonder why there are no viruses even written for Macs? Because Macintosh are nice people who do not insult the intelligence of the public AND they write good software. Microsoft doesn't care about anything but making a buck.
IF this new feature in Vista does work the way they claim, I will be switching to Linux or something comparable.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 8:00 p.m.

linux and windows are much of muchness. Linux has better functionality in some things, Windows in others. I like them both, but will probably stick to SuSE when Vista arrives.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 8:03 p.m.

I give VISTA 2 days on the shelf before before there is a cracked key circulating on the net or hack.exe of some sort to circumvent Microsoft's "new and improved" activation altogether. Kind of funny but when I think about it I've talked to several people in the last month that openly admit to using bootleg copies of XP.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 8:20 p.m.

Linux making their mainstream debut in the consumer desktop market with the release of Vista just around the corner would be nothing short of a miracle-now is perfect time for Linux to take over. I would like to see Linux take the throne and sit on the OS sideline and watch a good fight to the finish line but I don't think it will be as good as the rivalry between ATI/NVIDIA or Intel and AMD. W

Aything is possible because right now AMD is dominating and poor Intel announced they would be laying off 10's of thousands of employees!

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 9:54 p.m.

top work my microsoft. the only people complaining are those who have something to hide. register your copy and you have nothing to worry about.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 10:43 p.m.

to the people who use the bootleg Windows OS out there,
it's business as usual. No matter how superior/high-
tech M$ claims Vista is, it will be cracked promptly
like other M$ OSs.

the real victims here is M$ competitors in anti-virus,
software security domain like McAfee, Symmantec...
They will be sidelined as M$ expand its business to
the securty market.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/4/06 11:19 p.m.

people who dream that linux will take the throne are really dreamers, maybe in 10-20 years, but now now. Please check first, is linux user friendly? to any distro, still i can say they are still far left behind than windows, which explains why windows still dominating the market. Sorry guys. Seems like WinTel will dominates again, Intel with Conroe, and Windows with Vista.

Posted by goaliethslinger at 10/5/06 2:50 a.m.

I sometimes wonder if the sales of antispyware that include their free scan or whatever free for a limited time, send those things you're protected from when the free stuff or the last years paid programs, time out.

The problem, there are not only solutions, is that effects all the other stuff purchased.

The back glass on my truck canopy window was smashed and a couple of dollars gas in a can was stolen recently; why isn't some autoglass made of plexiglass?

Over a decade ago, a "back door trojan" may have been considered a used gay condom...who invents these computer "viruses" &/or names them?

I liked old windows 95, 98, xp now is old with vista on the horison, other versions like nt or me, I did not utilised because when people are happy with the products they have there is no neccesity to change.

Doubtfull xbox gamers are gonna turf it for a laptop running vista. For those who are into newer devices good on Microsoft for making security a factor.

"top work my microsoft. the only people complaining are those who have something to hide. register your copy and you have nothing to worry about."

Only problem with that is if your running authorised softwear and you go out of internet phone range for over a month (yes some people have or do "like to get away from it all") you have to re register after 30 days of "inactivity".

That was done on some "free" hotmail accounts, that people did not "demand" for free, but did utilise, because they were, even though other email addresses are also free. If the consumers are out of town during this announcement then they may not know about this developement, unless it is detailed somewhere in the genuine softwear agreement.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/5/06 6:19 p.m.

There are three big things that Microsoft will need that I think they are in question: Business needs move to Vista. And I don't see it happening. XP is by far their best product and businesses will simply have no reason to move to Vista.

The second big thing is to have PC manufacturers continue to supply Microsoft as the default OS on new PC's to consumers. If the price differential between a well-equipped Microsoft PC and an Ubuntu Linux PC is significant, one of the major brands is going to marketing and pushing consumer-oriented Ubuntu Linux systems and support them. This will be a big problem for Microsoft.

The last problem is the anti-piracy program Microsoft has undertaken. With Linux getting much better in terms of desktop functionality, it won't take long before a major wave hits the Internet and everyone and their brother is using Linux.

Microsoft has a big problem ahead of them. Business has to see Vista as a significant improvement on XP. If it isn't, they should give it away free, keep it ubiquitous and hang on to the Office/Outlook/Sharepoint revenue otherwise everyone will move to Linux. I think it boils down to this.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/6/06 6:31 a.m.

Oh boy another hog process on my cpu.wonder if there is any cpu left to run my browser

Posted by mcneeley at 10/6/06 7:54 a.m.

One unregistered user writes:
The fact that microsoft is buried in money and super super rich does not give the public the right to demand things from them for free. Microsoft has invested millions of dollars in development of the products and it has all its right to charge for them if they wish.

Another unregistered user writes:
top work my microsoft. the only people complaining are those who have something to hide. register your copy and you have nothing to worry about.


It is interesting to me that unregistered users accuse those critical of Microsoft of "having something to hide" or "demanding Windows free." It is interesting. Why do you suppose the people making these comments are unregistered? Do they have something to hide? Are they trying to get something for free?

I have bought every version of Windows. I also wipe my drive frequently (every few months) because I swap a lot of hardware and I load and unload a lot of software. AND call me a paranoid loonbat, but I don't like being databased and as long my money is green I don't think I should have to be. Subsequently, I have cracked a legit copy of Windows just to keep from registering again and again and again.

I don't have anything to hide. But that doesn't mean I should sacrifice my privacy. Nor should anyone else. It is sad that Microsoft's answer to the very real problem of piracy is to subject their honest customers to measures that are invasive and annoying at best.

And if past performance is any indicator, there are going to be copies of Vista with legit keys going dark due to errors in the registration process. Why go through that hassle... Why lose that much good will... when the process doesn't really curtail piracy anyway?

Posted by unregistered user at 10/6/06 3:53 p.m.

3rd world ms users, by close to a billion people, use pirated Windows. This is the beginning of the downfall of Windows popularity. How can a person who earns $200 - 300 a month afford it? They will simply look elsewhere and avoid Windows products all together. Dumb move Bill. Goodbye.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/8/06 4:58 a.m.

I'm curious; everyone is critisizing microsoft mainly for the price tag of their products and pirated copies. I just bought a laptop and a desktop with Win XP Pro and the home edition. Both GUI's are legit and I don't have a problem with the validation process. Though it uses my cpu and it bugs me that the icon in my taskbar nags me about updates. Unfortunately, my laptop Win XP Pro now tells me that my GUI is not genuine. I KNOW IT IS GENUINE!!!: doing research on this Validation process, etc; I have just found out that my computer 'phones home' with MY PERSONAL information. I Don't know about you guys, but the fact that microsoft is collecting and compiling personal information without users knowledge freaks me out. Not only do I feel violated that I have 'spyware' on my computer, but that this WGA is now mandatory makes me feel that my computer is highjacked.... I paid money for my computer, hardware and software. I did not pay to be monitored and spied upon...
Reading all your posts... You are all worried about piracy and money... What about YOUR PRIVACY??!!... We don't let our government invade our privacy, yet we allow this benign? program right in our house. PLUS; read microsoft's EULA agreement, talk about HITLER strategies...
I'M not certain, but I think some of the posts here must be direct from microsoft employees....
Too much enthusiam about stopping piracy and none about protecting our rights....
Scary stuff...

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 1:23 p.m.

I have traditionally bought a copy of each Microsoft OS when it is released. Yes, even Windows 98 SE.

However, I have ten home-built computers, and there is no way I'm shelling out thousands of dollars for Windows. Linux, here I come.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/20/06 4:48 a.m.

Does this mean Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows Server registered users (application authors running on Windows) will be provided with additional tools aimed to stop and prevent their developed and distributed applications from crack, illegal intrusions, reverse engineering, illegal copying and use?



Thank you in advance for your answer it it's possible

Kidest regards,

StrongBit Technology authors of EXECryptor anti-crack and anti-reversing application protection and licensing solutions.

http://www.strongbit.com

Posted by unregistered user at 11/25/06 4:59 a.m.

I'm betting MS has some fairly accurate stats regarding the number of legit vs. pirate installs of Windows.

This would also let them see the total number of Windows installs (including stats on version etc) worldwide.

If it turns out Vista is as impregnable as they hope and piracy is for the most part eliminated - then that number will go down.

Why?

XP is good - but feature wise it's now dead. Vista is no doubt fantastic but without the exceptionally broad unlicensed base of previous versions it'll fail to gain market acceptance outside of OEM and corporate markets.

What Vista will do is what several people have already said - it'll open up the door for alternate OS's. Vista will actually be the best thing that has ever happened to the open source community and for Apple. And ultimately it could prove the beginning of the end for MS.

Sure sales will be up. That means a few extra bucks they didn't have before. The piracy figures will look great too. But that's short term. Long term less people will actually be using Windows. Less usage means something else is getting used. If something else is getting used then you'll no longer dominate the market as completely - which leaves gaps for competitors.

What MS needs is a new edition of Vista - Vista Express!

Posted by unregistered user at 2/5/07 10:57 p.m.

http://www.pcprofile.com/Hasta_La_Vista.pdf Hasta La Vista and
http://www.pcprofile.com/Update_Now_Managing_Clouds_and_Moving_Goalposts.pdf Update Now!- may be causing some sites grief!

These 2 recent articles indicate that Microsoft is getting more serious about the issues.

The end result is this WILL drive users over to other *nix systems

Posted by unregistered user at 10/10/07 9:45 a.m.

After extensively using Execryptor for protecting software, these are my conclusions:

- Great protection on XP systems, especially all custom options you have to create your own protection. However, it has been

cracked.
- The EC application does not work on Vista and executables protected with EC often crash on Vista.
- Strongbit support is bad and they don't respond to their customers anymore.
- There haven't been updates to Execryptor for a year now. Bugs don't get fixed anymore.

Overall, Execryptor was a great program, but there are severe problems with Vista. Development seems dead, so I wouldn't

recommend anyone to purchase it now.