Best of many worlds
,----[ Quote ]
| When I switched from Windows to Linux last year, a decision I had to make as
| a technology writer was what to do with readers who were still on Microsoft’s
| proprietary operating system.
|
| On one hand, I felt a responsibility to help them see that for many computing
| requirements, Linux is the superior and more cost-effective choice.
`----
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business5_aug21_2007
Why people don't switch operating systems
,----[ Quote ]
| It has been known for at least the last 10 years that Gates & Co have a
| public stance on piracy - which is: "shoot the buggers down" - and a private
| stance - which is, "it's helps to spread usage of Windows, do nothing."
`----
http://www.itwire.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14088&Itemid=1091
Related:
Windows Is Free - The impact of pirated software on free software
,----[ Quote ]
| In fact, a free copy of Windows might even be freer than free. What I mean by
| that is, unlike most tangible consumer goods, pirated software is often
| easier to obtain and set up than making a legitimate purchase.
`----
http://tlug.jp/articles/Windows_Is_Free
Why Piracy Hurts Open Source
,----[ Quote ]
| "...John looks at this from a different direction. He shows you why
| software piracy hurts Open Source software--the free stuff you are using."
`----
http://www.tuxmagazine.com/node/1000266
Why the illegal market determines the success of your software
,----[ Quote ]
| Vista however was marketed as being harder, better, faster, stronger
| and more importantly - nigh uncrackable. Which proved a problem
| because it made uptake noticably slower than that for XP. However,
| things might have changed now because some awfully clever people
| managed to crack Vista (apparently). This might have caused a
| shift in demographics because users are now potentially able to
| sample the "delights" of Vista without paying massively
| inflated prices.
`----
http://www.seopher.com/articles/why_the_illegal_market_determines_the_success_of_your_software
Microsoft Happy with the Evolution of Windows Vista Piracy
,----[ Quote ]
| But the truth is that Microsoft is happy with the way Windows Vista
| piracy is evolving. Is there a catch to this? No. The fact of the
| matter is that Windows Vista has delivered a heavy blow to
| software counterfeiters. The reason for this is the new Windows
| Genuine Advantage security mechanism integrated into the
| operating system.
|
| You may not notice this on the surface. On the surface, the
| Internet is crawling with Windows Vista cracks, hacks and
| workarounds. On the surface, every Windows Vista edition has
| been cracked and is available for download via peer-to-peer
| networks. But this is not the true extent of Windows Vista piracy.
`----
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Happy-with-the-Evolution-of-Windows-Vista-Piracy-50577.shtml
Governments Must Reject Gates' $3 Bid to Addict Next Billion PC Users
,----[ Quote ]
| "Microsoft's strategy of getting developing nations hooked on its
| software was clearly outlined by Bill Gates almost a decade ago," said
| Con Zymaris, CEO of long-standing open source firm Cybersource.
|
| Specifically, Bill Gates, citing China as an example, said:
|
| "Although about 3 million computers get sold every year in China, but
| people don't pay for the software," he said. "Someday they will, though.
| As long as they are going to steal it, we want them to steal ours.
| They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to
| collect sometime in the next decade."[1]
`----
http://www.cybersource.com.au/press/gates_set_to_addict_next_billion.html
Microsoft seals its Windows and opens the door to Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| Now comes the really interesting question. With Vista's activation
| technology, Microsoft has the power to stamp out piracy everywhere. But
| will it choose to do so everywhere? After all, if folks in China or
| Thailand or Ethiopia have to pay for Vista, they won't be able to run
| it because they won't be able to afford the licence fee. In which case
| they may finally wake up to the attractions of free software such as
| Linux - and it's easy to imagine what that will do to Microsoft's
| plans for world domination.
|
| It's a delicious prospect: Microsoft impaling itself on the horns
| of a dilemma it has created for itself. Roll on Thursday.
`----
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1956941,00.html
How Piracy Opens Doors for Windows
,----[ Article's summary ]
| Bill Gates may not be entirely dismayed by software thieves. They
| seed the world market and make Microsoft a standard.
`----
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-micropiracy9apr09,0,414067.story?track=tottext
Why piracy kills Open Source
,----[ Quote ]
| Because for them, the price is the same.
|
| So, please, Microsoft, defend your own products, and don't allow users to
| use pirated versions. You'll be doing the best for the Open Source
| products.
`----
http://youmaybeinterrupting.com/desktop.php?view&postid=12&a=apps%2FBlog%3B%3B
Piracy of software, and why it helps software companies
,----[ Quote ]
| I recall something that Bill Gates said about the issue of piracy
| of Windows 98 a few years back. The piracy situation was pretty
| bad in South-East Asia (and the rest of the world) and he did
| not seem to mind. I can't remember the exact quote, but it was
| something to the effect of "I don't mind them using my software
| for free as long as they are using it. I understand they cannot
| afford the price, especially in this part of the world."
`----
http://blog.jeffkee.com/2007/02/14/piracy-of-software-and-why-it-helps-software-companies/
Average Indian person just gets a copy of pirated Windows instead of a free
and legal copy of Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| One of Linux's compelling features is the cost; Linux is free.
| However, as far as the average Indian person is concerned, there
| is no difference in cost between Linux and Windows, since he gets
| a copy of pirated Windows instead of an authorized and legal
| copy of Windows anyway..
`----
http://www.webpublishingforum.com/about965.html
Chinese attitude on buying Vista
,----[ Quote ]
| I've mentioned above,the price of Vista is higher than RMB2000 (about
| USD257) may not shake users in developed countries, but do you know it
| is equal to the average monthly salary in China's economic center
| Shanghai!So please take this fact into consideration before
| criticize our behavior of buying pirate softwares.
|
| recent survey of public opinion from China's portal NetEase shows that 81%
| of netizens think Microsoft is forcing them to use pirate Vista...
`----
http://ya.iyee.cn/2007/02/chinese-attitude-on-buying-vista.html
|
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