ablang
06-27-2001, 07:23 AM
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,53025,tk,dn062601X,00.asp
Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : Readers say NO to Microsoft copy controls!
NDC
06-27-2001, 07:36 AM
My only words are.... Bill needs to chill!
hawkeye177
06-27-2001, 08:16 AM
NDC is right
Bill does need to chill
Bill does need to chill
seanc
06-27-2001, 09:04 AM
I'm not buying XP anything until it's been proven to be free of that copy protection scheme. I'm not a software pirate but I don't like having to check with big brother to reinstall my OS if it goes south on me.
Sean
Sean
CMonster
06-27-2001, 09:12 AM
I am no pirate, and I refuse to buy something with these restrictions.
For Microsoft's information, I would like Windows 2000 Pro installed on this computer, but I do not have the spare $$$ for it right now - funny thing is my son has his legal copy that he won through the earthweb contest -it is in the next room, so why do I not have a copy on this computer?
I hope Microsoft doesn't change these product activation features - it would be a good lesson to them and a good thing for alternatives like Linux.
It should be the consumer that drives the business, not the business that drives the consumer.
For Microsoft's information, I would like Windows 2000 Pro installed on this computer, but I do not have the spare $$$ for it right now - funny thing is my son has his legal copy that he won through the earthweb contest -it is in the next room, so why do I not have a copy on this computer?
I hope Microsoft doesn't change these product activation features - it would be a good lesson to them and a good thing for alternatives like Linux.
It should be the consumer that drives the business, not the business that drives the consumer.
Jim9999
06-27-2001, 01:20 PM
Of course there will be a crack. Probably within hours of release. Maybe weeks before release. But the point is to make it more difficult, or more of a hassle, or even make the IT guy in the 300 computer office realize that it isn't legal to install one copy of Office, or Windows on all the computers.
My opinions are my own, and Microsoft certainly doesn't need me to defend them. But reading some posts, you'd think we as a group believe everything ought to be free to us and no one has the right to inconvenience us us by making us behave and do what we're supposed to do. It's embarrassing. Some things are free. But that doesn't make everything free.
All I'm trying to do in my rant-posts is to make people stop and think a little about what they're complaining about and why the condition exists. I'm no choir boy either, but I can recognize a situation I helped to create. And bashing a company for trying to keep us legal seems a bit nearsighted. To say "I wasn't going to buy it anyway, and this hacks me off", or "I won't buy it if they won't let me easily break the license I agree to" is ridiculous.
It'd be like shoplifters boycotting and threatening to not steal from a store unless they take the cameras down.
My opinions are my own, and Microsoft certainly doesn't need me to defend them. But reading some posts, you'd think we as a group believe everything ought to be free to us and no one has the right to inconvenience us us by making us behave and do what we're supposed to do. It's embarrassing. Some things are free. But that doesn't make everything free.
All I'm trying to do in my rant-posts is to make people stop and think a little about what they're complaining about and why the condition exists. I'm no choir boy either, but I can recognize a situation I helped to create. And bashing a company for trying to keep us legal seems a bit nearsighted. To say "I wasn't going to buy it anyway, and this hacks me off", or "I won't buy it if they won't let me easily break the license I agree to" is ridiculous.
It'd be like shoplifters boycotting and threatening to not steal from a store unless they take the cameras down.
John Lowell
06-27-2001, 02:01 PM
Jim9999,
With all respect personally, I for one would be quite concerned if, because of limitations in the operating system itself, it were to become necessary to reinstall and have to go through some tortuous process with Microsoft in order to do so. And the way the article puts it, memory upgrades can provoke Microsoft's curiosity. That's frightening; life's hard enough. I'd not be apt to consider Windows XP without their changing a policy like this one.
John Lowell
With all respect personally, I for one would be quite concerned if, because of limitations in the operating system itself, it were to become necessary to reinstall and have to go through some tortuous process with Microsoft in order to do so. And the way the article puts it, memory upgrades can provoke Microsoft's curiosity. That's frightening; life's hard enough. I'd not be apt to consider Windows XP without their changing a policy like this one.
John Lowell
daveleau
06-27-2001, 02:23 PM
I am no angel either, but if MS is going to make it hard for me to purchase and use theri product, then I will not use it. I don't think MS should compromise the ease of use by those who pay for their product too keep those from stealing. How would you feel if a store owner stopped by your house and took back a product you bought from him until you produced a receipt for your purchase. It is just not right to do that, and that is what MS is doing to those who have purchased their product. There are other ways to go about this. A dongle is one great way to keep the average user from pirating software. 90% of users will not go and look for a dongle crack. And those people will not be interrupted by MS because they decided to install other software or hardware (if you don't think software will cause a "system config change" in MS's eyes, then read the ZDNet article).
I am not a nea-sayer against MS for everything. I would be hardpressed to use a computer if it were not for them. I just think they are taking steps outside of the realm of good business.
Dave
I am not a nea-sayer against MS for everything. I would be hardpressed to use a computer if it were not for them. I just think they are taking steps outside of the realm of good business.
Dave
club_med
06-28-2001, 12:01 AM
I think once the MS pro people actually try out Winblows XP they may change their minds about the whole thing.
It's one thing talking about it, but a completely other thing actually using the system and experiencing its weaknesses and strengths.
cm.
It's one thing talking about it, but a completely other thing actually using the system and experiencing its weaknesses and strengths.
cm.
Jim9999
06-28-2001, 12:36 AM
It's the same idea as that in Office 2000 SR-1. Like I've always said, if you come up with a better way of keeping software from being stolen and counterfeited, let Microsoft know. They tried the honor system, and it didn't work. We stole the stuff like we had a right to do it.
The activation process in Office hasn't caused much of a stir (obviously since people seem to think activation is a new idea). It doesn't bother people that buy it, and it makes it more of a hassle to "loan" it to a buddy, or install the one purchased copy on 300 computers in an office.
It doesn't bother me because I had no intention of making illegal copies and passing around. Just like security cameras in the stores I shop in don't bother me because I don't shoplift. I don't think of security cameras (or theft provention of software) as big brother. It's an attempt to keep people from stealing.
Anyone that owns a business knows that you can't keep people from stealing who are determined to do so, and I'm sure Microsoft is well aware of that, too. But the more you can keep from walking out the door, the better off you are. This stuff isn't ours to steal. And if we weren't stealing it, Microsoft wouldn't have used activation methods.
The activation process in Office hasn't caused much of a stir (obviously since people seem to think activation is a new idea). It doesn't bother people that buy it, and it makes it more of a hassle to "loan" it to a buddy, or install the one purchased copy on 300 computers in an office.
It doesn't bother me because I had no intention of making illegal copies and passing around. Just like security cameras in the stores I shop in don't bother me because I don't shoplift. I don't think of security cameras (or theft provention of software) as big brother. It's an attempt to keep people from stealing.
Anyone that owns a business knows that you can't keep people from stealing who are determined to do so, and I'm sure Microsoft is well aware of that, too. But the more you can keep from walking out the door, the better off you are. This stuff isn't ours to steal. And if we weren't stealing it, Microsoft wouldn't have used activation methods.
daveleau
06-28-2001, 12:45 AM
Use a dongle. Easy to do, easy to crack, but hey, the Office XP has already been cracked. Just don't screw with honest people. There is an article on ZDNet about a problem in XP's activation. It happened to one of their writers while he was mid-flight.
Dave
Do Jim9999 and Sitecharts.com work for MS? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif They are sure defending them alot. Nothing wrong with their stance, of course, just curious.
[This message has been edited by daveleau (edited 06-27-2001).]
Dave
Do Jim9999 and Sitecharts.com work for MS? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif They are sure defending them alot. Nothing wrong with their stance, of course, just curious.
[This message has been edited by daveleau (edited 06-27-2001).]
wyvrn
06-28-2001, 06:25 AM
Did I miss something? What does a dongle have to do with Office?
<---------- Confused.
<---------- Confused.
daveleau
06-28-2001, 06:33 AM
I am saying that a dongle would have been a much better method of protecting their product. They had the idea that they could beat the software pirates with this new activation. A dongle would have served the same purpose and less people would have been affected with the copyright protections.
Dave
Dave
NDC
06-28-2001, 06:51 AM
I would like Windows 2000 Pro installed on this computer, but I do not have the spare $$$ for it right now - funny thing is my son has his legal copy that he won through the earthweb contest -it is in the next room, so why do I not have a copy on this computer?
I respect you people who totally keep to software license agreements! I really do! However, there's no possible way that I can be that honest...
I'm sorry. You can call me a one-eye-patched pirate! If I have a legal copy in my possesion that I paid for, I could care less about Microsoft's License agreement. I'm not about to go out and buy a copy of Windows 2000 or anything from Microsoft or any other software companies for each and every one of my computers. What the hell am I going to do with all the same copies of the applications for each and every one of my systems???
As a matter of fact, I'd be more than happy to lend the CD to my sister if she wanted to install it on her system. What should I say to my sister if she asked me to lend here the CD? should I tell her "Hey, get lost! I'm strongly against piracy and I cannot let you install my paid copy of this software because I agreed to the license!".. Nope, I don't play it that way. I'm very aware of what piracy is and the way I define its definition is different! I will not go out and buy 4 copies of the same application to meet my end of the deal that I made when I purchased the software with my hard earned cash! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif
Did I miss something? What does a dongle have to do with Office?
A dongle is a piece of hardware that usually connects to the LPT port and it is a thru-port device that you can still plug devices to the LPT port such as printers, scanners, external drives, etc. A dongle will not cause you to lose the LPT port. The software will verify that the software is not a pirated copy by checking for the dongle plugged into the LPT port. As a matter of fact, I believe Kinetix 3D Max comes with one... And look in Warez sites, you can get cracked versions of 3D Max where you don't need the dongle to use the program...
Anyway you look at it, there will always be cracks available for people to use piracy-protected software. Trust me, there will be a crack available for Microsoft's method of preventing people from using their products illegally. What sucks about this whole thing is that honest people have to pay the price for the actions of dishonest people...I guess I'd be one of the dishonest people since I install the software on more than one of my systems despite the fact that I bought only one copy! Sorry guys and gals! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif
[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 06-28-2001).]
I respect you people who totally keep to software license agreements! I really do! However, there's no possible way that I can be that honest...
I'm sorry. You can call me a one-eye-patched pirate! If I have a legal copy in my possesion that I paid for, I could care less about Microsoft's License agreement. I'm not about to go out and buy a copy of Windows 2000 or anything from Microsoft or any other software companies for each and every one of my computers. What the hell am I going to do with all the same copies of the applications for each and every one of my systems???
As a matter of fact, I'd be more than happy to lend the CD to my sister if she wanted to install it on her system. What should I say to my sister if she asked me to lend here the CD? should I tell her "Hey, get lost! I'm strongly against piracy and I cannot let you install my paid copy of this software because I agreed to the license!".. Nope, I don't play it that way. I'm very aware of what piracy is and the way I define its definition is different! I will not go out and buy 4 copies of the same application to meet my end of the deal that I made when I purchased the software with my hard earned cash! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif
Did I miss something? What does a dongle have to do with Office?
A dongle is a piece of hardware that usually connects to the LPT port and it is a thru-port device that you can still plug devices to the LPT port such as printers, scanners, external drives, etc. A dongle will not cause you to lose the LPT port. The software will verify that the software is not a pirated copy by checking for the dongle plugged into the LPT port. As a matter of fact, I believe Kinetix 3D Max comes with one... And look in Warez sites, you can get cracked versions of 3D Max where you don't need the dongle to use the program...
Anyway you look at it, there will always be cracks available for people to use piracy-protected software. Trust me, there will be a crack available for Microsoft's method of preventing people from using their products illegally. What sucks about this whole thing is that honest people have to pay the price for the actions of dishonest people...I guess I'd be one of the dishonest people since I install the software on more than one of my systems despite the fact that I bought only one copy! Sorry guys and gals! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif
[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 06-28-2001).]
Bynary
06-28-2001, 07:48 AM
MS hs the right idea, just the wrong vehicle. Maybe they need to talk to CA about LMP codes.
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif
Bynary
06-28-2001, 09:13 AM
News just in....MS has decided not to do it.
Customers win! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif
Customers win! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif
NDC
06-28-2001, 09:46 AM
Link please? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
Jim9999
06-28-2001, 10:51 AM
What Microsoft dropped was Smart tags.
As for reinstalling XP and actication, it's no big deal. Best case, no reactivation needed. Worst case, you call a toll free number. It's not a one time use thing, and it's not harder to buy or use.
As for reinstalling XP and actication, it's no big deal. Best case, no reactivation needed. Worst case, you call a toll free number. It's not a one time use thing, and it's not harder to buy or use.
daveleau
06-28-2001, 10:52 AM
No, MS just decided to scrap Smart Tags, not the licensing issue.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/010628/n2856331_2.html
Dave
http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/010628/n2856331_2.html
Dave
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