"Microsoft's antipiracy campaign is equivalent to a large marketing push"

Pretty clever marketing strategy…

http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2007/03/12/microsoft-executive-pirating-software-choose-microsoft

Microsoft doesn't want you to pirate their software, but if you must choose between illegally installing Windows or a competitor's operating system, Microsoft would prefer that you choose them. While the company obviously won't endorse the illegal use of software, it does believe that piracy can result in profit.

Yes very nice, use pirated windows so MS can hit you with WGA so locking you in, especially with the latest Vista cripple ware if you fail WGA. Hopefully (they think) you will then be forced to purchase a legit copy ;D

For me it is a marketing push in the wrong direction with the current Vista with WGA and add to that DRM, soon it will want to know what you had for breakfast.

Hello DavidR,

But then do you think it will backfire on them, or do you think they won’t even consider? Sorry to say that they are trend-setters in this direction. Sad sign of the times, I am afraid, so what can we do? But there are some cracks in their whitewashed walls that are showing up…,

polonus

I would like to hope it would backfire, the more restrictive you make a product you would like to hope people would see that and make an alternative choice. Unfortunately that choice is limited when the restrictive product is the OS.

Making the move to Linux or even the Mac isn’t something that can be taken lightly, the major cost implications of the Mac, purchase and replacing your software you have invested both time and money in already. Whilst Linux for the most part is free and there is a healthy freeware market for it, many Linux distros are still a pain to install but it is getting much better. The main problem is the installation of additional software, they doesn’t seem to be and easy one or double click option to install.

Microsoft I believe knows this full well as once locked into Windows you are effectively there for the duration as the average Joe isn’t that computer savvy to make a switch to Linux or make a not inconsiderable decision to start again on a Mac. I know you can run boot-camp, etc. and use your windows and software, but that kind of negates the reason for making the switch.

It certainly is. SUSE and Ubuntu (the distros I’m most familiar with) are easier than you’d ever imagine, and the automatic installers will partition your hard drive so you can have Windows still available. A simple setting can determine which OS is the host, and which one is the guest. I encourage all Windows users to at least give them a try with a live CD. If you played around with Linux in the past, and were disappointed, you’d be pretty amazed.

soon it will want to know what you had for breakfast.
I'd be more than happy to send M$ a sample after I'm finished with it for analysis..... ;D ;D

Well my dear bob3160,

I truly think they are not “trained” for that!

pol