'Kill switch' dropped from Vista

Rastalovich

New member
Microsoft is to withdraw an anti-piracy tool from Windows Vista, which disables the operating system when invoked, following customer complaints.

Source

It said efforts to tackle piracy had seen numbers of fake copies of Vista at half the level of XP, the previous Windows operating system.

.. reporters, I dunno.
 
AKA MS have realised that piracy builds up a user base who @ their next Machine purchase will opt for Vista in stead of XP

A gr8 example of the User Base that Piracy Builds is the large number of design students running pirated Macromedia/Adobe Tools in stead of FOSS Equivalents
 
The comment about lesser numbers of illegal Vista copies being about is a bit of an illusional statement.

U would have to first qualify it with a product that people show equal demand for, say ME.

I have to be honest, I`ve come to install this on 2 new machines, both this week and the next, and although I *think* I`ve gotten the 1 sinched (after vlite`ing it to get rid of things I knew were stopping drivers to install properly), it does give me the impression some1 is behind the monitor screen looking back at me with a crash-switch. It may not, but it`s just the feeling.

I had the same feeling with ME. And although ME introduced some nice file-windows handling things over 98se, u also felt that presence behind the monitor of a guy with a crash-switch.

One of the first things I had on the first Vista install was a failed windows-update. Due to me running the memory at too low a voltage and getting a bsod. But anywho, that corrected, I went back in to update and u get a repeated error 800ffff. Which means the reminants of a previous failed update are in ur machine, and clicking on the update thing just repeats the message. There are admin ways of deleting system folders and editing the registry (which I tried and got 8007237 as a result) - which is the same error under another name. Only sure-fire quick answer is to re-install, which I have to say is pretty quick. Ms know of the problem, it just requires removing of a failed update history, but my question is--- well have something in Vista that removes the issue ??? No.

Word on the underground-grapevine is that a good number of cracking groups are not "doing" Vista games as a protest of how poor the OS is operationally. Issues about their nature aside, that`s a bold statement in itself that they feel they have some sort of influence. However, just as pron is a major factor in how fast ur internet connection is and how cheap harddrives are (and their size) - the prices of things like cd/dvd media and the use of pcs are governed, imo, by the availability of illegal media (games, apps, movies, etc). Johnny "Wannabe-Pirate" Scumbag, won`t build/buy/install a pc without being able to use such things. And put Vista on it ? I don`t think they would.

EDIT: (to qualify) I personally think that the number of PCs containing atleast 1 illegal piece of software on them, and the ones that contain nothing illegal AT ALL, is on the ratio of like 8:2. Most of the 2 being in offices, and tbf not all offices are clean.

Meh, it was raining hard outside, had to kill 30 mins or so.
 
i don't get how media students are supposed to afford the software we're trained with anyway. the tutors don't mind copies being passed around the classroom as long as they get a copy too sometimes lol

piracy exists, because prices are too high. it won't change so neither will piracy
 
To be fair, alot of companies, ms included, do offer very substantial discounts to student purchases, whether through institutions or whatever.

Some of the software may not be 100% full versions or something, but it`s a discount nonetheless.

But opinion can be that a discount from £600 to £300 doesn`t help some people.

Meh, there is a difference in my book between piracy and illegal material on computers. The piracy, atleast where I came from, involved u purchasing something that looks exactly like the real thing, cept there maybe a photocopied cover kinda thing etc. Car boots, China and so on. Illegal software, which piracy includes of course, can be downloaded all over the place. It`s just terminology.

Prices are only partly the reason behind illegal stuff. Alot of people do it just because they can. Like any other kind of additiction, the price issue may get u started - but then once u`r hooked, u`ll be downloading something that costs $5.00 off the shelf, just cos u can.

Crackers crack things cos they can also. They don`t distribute to the masses (some1 else would be doing that), but it`s the challenge, with some politics thrown in. There`s daily competition behind the whole thing also, can get alittle catty at times to be the first, the best and to not have ur thing fail.

But then it`s always kinda been like that, since as far back as I can remember.

Worse thing the companies can do is research better and better ways to try and defend their software. To an extent, u can cut down on alot of simple copying just by long existing methods. To prevent the ley person from copying cds/dvds they`ve just bought and selling it. But to waste ur time trying to come out with more and more original cd requiring anti protection methods is like throwing the gauntlet down to the cracker. They aren`t just taking the challenge up between them and the software companies, but it`s a challenge between themselves as to who can do it first. And they`ll crack it - every time.
 
Any with every extra "feature" added in the next OS/update, another crack is made to exploit it. Just like volume licensing has been a major strong point for crackers attacking vista. Lowering the price would help...

Still think their source should be viewable though - would remove the evil "MS error button" conspiracy
 
name='SuB' said:
i don't get how media students are supposed to afford the software we're trained with anyway. the tutors don't mind copies being passed around the classroom as long as they get a copy too sometimes lol

piracy exists, because prices are too high. it won't change so neither will piracy

Dont worry Media Students should never be prosecuted for this sort of piracy ...

cause when u grow up you will only know/prefer those apps which your company will then pay for (but later if u work alone and use PirApps they will prosecute .. now u have more cash)
 
yeah i have no qualms with buying it for commercial use but as a student by principle it should be free god damnit
 
Hmmm.

Tbh, I don`t agree that the student purchasing the software themselves should be free, maybe largely discounted or free limited versions.

However, I do feel that when a student signs for a course, paying 50million pound tuition fees (or whatever it is these days), the learning body should have a library with a license for students to use the software. At home and in college where applicable. There should be a costing, but the educational body should foot the bill in whatever deal they should already have with the software companies. Distibutable keys are very easy to use and piracy of that nature (student takes home and allows mates to copy) are easily overcome by mac addresses and so forth. If some1 uses a copy of the software, and uses a keygen - well this doesn`t mean anything to the library as they can just as easy download the software and use a keygen in the same fashion.

I`m sure such things already exist, but in forms of discounts or further discounts only.

U go to learn programming, u should be able to have a free compiler - well technically u can download 100s of free licensed ones - but for most (imo those who shouldn`t take up programming in the first place) using the same software the body uses, usually microsoft related, is essential to them following what the lecturer is talking about. Those who are born to program would care either way cos they`d know how to adapt the 2.
 
Back
Top