I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows • Hacker News Board

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#91

Post by robocat » Wed, Jan 18, 2012, 9:40 PM UTC

memnips wrote: post #78

frankwiles wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Might seem like I just hate MS, but honestly I would be just as upset as a potential investor or partner that they were running Windows in the first place. Licensed or not. Unless of course your startup was focused somehow on Windows development, users, etc. where it would obviously be necessary. Startups are hard enough as it is, no need to make them harder.

Microsoft Bizspark ( http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/ ) gives startups that are less than 3 years old and earn less than $1M in annual revenue free MSDN Ultimate access. That means free access to all of MS software. It's actually a really amazing program.

The BizSpark program has limitations (although still a fantastic deal!).

* AFAIK you are licenced to use the software for development and testing purposes ONLY. Not internal use (see the BizSpark FAQ, even though other BizSpark materials seem to imply otherwise).

* Except you do get a production 2 proc SQL Server licence, and Windows Server licences... However you may not be able to use the licences with some hosting providers (due to their licences with Microsoft, or just unfamiliarity or complexity overhead).

* The BizSpark websites are a time-wasting labyrinth whenever you must update anything (might have improved?).

* There are so many catch-alls to prevent "misuse" of the licence, that it looks as though you can't legally use any of the software... although in spirit you can use it and Microsoft isn't going to chase you... (at least that was how I read the licences last time I looked but IANAL YMMV).

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#92

Post by marvin » Wed, Jan 18, 2012, 9:40 PM UTC

waffle_ss wrote: post #34

Seems like a pirated .iso would be a great place to deliver malicious code to Ring 0, hiding itself from the kernel and becoming essentially impossible to detect from the infected OS itself. I'm sure botnet creators are already well aware of this.

This is ingenious, or else I am just really dense; I had never thought of this. I'm assuming that it wouldn't be trivial to write such a hack, but if you were able to, it would be a self-distributing botnet hack. You wouldn't be able to get the same reach the botnets that use exploits do, but you would remain pretty much indetectable. Thanks for sharing.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#93

Post by MoreTuple » Wed, Jan 18, 2012, 9:41 PM UTC

MatthewB wrote: post #71

These are great points and a good portion of piraters do so for these exact reasons. There are always going to be people who steal content/apps instead of paying for them but I am sure more than a few people pirate purely because it is a better user experience than what is currently offered. TV shows are a great example. I cut my cable about a year ago and haven't looked back since. I refuse to pay a premium for chan…

In response to #1 If I'm paying you to watch it, there better not be any commercials ;)

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#94

Post by ceol » Wed, Jan 18, 2012, 9:48 PM UTC

Groxx wrote: post #67

jarrett wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Certain applications that professionals need are only available on Windows. Most games are as well. Even for software with Mac/*nix versions, a person may have quite a bit of money tied up in Windows-only licenses. I'm not commenting on whether pirating Windows is ethical. I'm just pointing out that sometimes you'll have to ditch a lot of software to ditch Windows.

You're just reinforcing their argument. By not using the competition, you're ensuring the market for those products on the competition's OS doesn't exist. It's actively strengthening Microsoft's hold on the markets you frequent.

It's very possible he's using more than one operating system.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#95

Post by click170 » Wed, Jan 18, 2012, 9:51 PM UTC

MoreTuple wrote: post #93

MatthewB wrote: post #71

These are great points and a good portion of piraters do so for these exact reasons. There are always going to be people who steal content/apps instead of paying for them but I am sure more than a few people pirate purely because it is a better user experience than what is currently offered. TV shows are a great example. I cut my cable about a year ago and haven't looked back since. I refuse to pay a premium for chan…

In response to #1 If I'm paying you to watch it, there better not be any commercials ;)

I think the OP meant that there should be a 'buy' option with no commercials and unlimited viewings, and a rent option possibly with commercials and a limited number of viewings.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#96

Post by Too » Wed, Jan 18, 2012, 9:55 PM UTC

This is why i will always save a copy of my windows xp enterprise edition cd. It's xp, which is still decent enough, and it doesn't require any activation, as opposed to the home/pro-editions.

In case apocalypse happens (ehum, my ISP goes down for 24h) i know i can still get a computer up and running without problem if i have to.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#97

Post by toyg » Wed, Jan 18, 2012, 10:03 PM UTC

waffle_ss wrote: post #34

Seems like a pirated .iso would be a great place to deliver malicious code to Ring 0, hiding itself from the kernel and becoming essentially impossible to detect from the infected OS itself. I'm sure botnet creators are already well aware of this.

An original .iso would be a great place to deliver keylogging software and backdoors for law enforcement and international espionage purposes. I'm sure law enforcement agencies are already well aware of this.

Not trolling: incentives and processes are basically the same for any entity distributing precompiled binaries, from MS to Symantec to Skype to Apple to Canonical. They don't do it because of the potential for huge reputation hits... exactly like most people in "the scene".

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#98

Post by dice » Wed, Jan 18, 2012, 10:03 PM UTC

jcnnghm wrote: post #70

Groxx wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're just reinforcing their argument. By not using the competition, you're ensuring the market for those products on the competition's OS doesn't exist. It's actively strengthening Microsoft's hold on the markets you frequent.

OK. The primary application that I need Windows for is Quickbooks Enterprise. I also still use my Windows Photoshop license since it was expensive, and not transferrable to OS X. My primary operating system is already OS X, and I only use Debian Stable on servers. I run Windows in a VM when I need those application, and only when I need those applications. How would you suggest replacing Quickbooks Enterprise? Do I j…

OSalt recommends PostBooks: http://www.osalt.com/quickbooks

No idea whether or not it's a good replacement as I've never used either.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#99

Post by mattmanser » Wed, Jan 18, 2012, 10:03 PM UTC

coob wrote: post #87

MatthewB wrote: post #71

These are great points and a good portion of piraters do so for these exact reasons. There are always going to be people who steal content/apps instead of paying for them but I am sure more than a few people pirate purely because it is a better user experience than what is currently offered. TV shows are a great example. I cut my cable about a year ago and haven't looked back since. I refuse to pay a premium for chan…

Apple tried rental of TV shows. They shuttered it: http://allthingsd.com/20110826/apple-pulls-the-plug-on-tv-re...

But look at the price point. Originally $1.99 per episode to just rent it. Even $0.99 sounds a lot to me.

That's almost $50 for an entire series. What's the average amount of time someone would spend watching TV series per night? An episode of this, an episode of that, 3 or 4 times a week. Suddenly you're spending vastly more than cable.

That's more than a modern box set will cost you, e.g. Boardwalk Empire, just released is selling for $40 on Amazon.

Yet they spent $5million per episode, that's a lot of views to just break even, plus the server hosting costs and vendor marketplace cut to make.

The whole thing is overly complex, per item rental is too complicated, a fractured marketplace makes subscriptions poor, the time drip model that studios and channels used to use is dying, but they won't let it go.

I think it'll be 5 to 10 years before we finally see a decent resolution to this where actually paying is less hassle than piracy.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#100

Post by dchest » Wed, Jan 18, 2012, 10:05 PM UTC

trotsky wrote: post #74

Windows activation is shockingly easy. Enter your key and when you go online it verifies it. If you're not connected to the internet make a 5 minute phone call. If you don't want to do that, no problem - there is no need to activate for up to 180 days. Really don't want to activate? No problem - it'll just turn your screen black and announce it's unlicensed software. It seems the author's only significant complaint i…

Online activation works only a certain number of times, and then you'll have to make a call. In my experience, this call took more than 5 minutes, and they asked a few none-of-their-business questions that made me think that I'm asking for their permission to please let me reinstall Windows once again. This was a few years ago with Windows XP, in Russia.