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I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

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Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#251

Post by razzaj »

I disagree totally with the logic the article is following. If you do not like Microsoft's products and services (I don't) that is totally acceptable, and i might add understandable, deal with other software vendors ! I do not understand the logic saying "I hate your service and so i will just steal the product".

If you want to make your point just go ahead and complain, send a written letter move to another vendor (I Have). Stealing, And i will call it that because it is stealing, is not a legitimate nor a logical reaction to crappy service.

The entire internet philosophy, IMO, was build on trust and a certain code of honor if i may say (at the risk of sounding corny) breaking that breaks the internet. Imagine people just screwing up Wikipedia because they think Jimmy Wales did something wrong in their opinion or because an article of their got removed or whatever.

Piracy has always been, and will always be, a thing of the internet. think of it as a wicked charm. I will not encourage eradicating it. To be honest i have used pirated software to evaluate when vendors wont offer evaluation options. But then i would go and buy the damn license, because: 1 - it is the right thing to do, regardless. 2 - If i like something, paying for it will support the vendor to continue on making the stuff i like.

I personally do not like the way Microsoft does business, i dont like their products and i think they are arrogant pricks but if i need to use windows (god forbid) i will still pay for the damn license.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#252

Post by joesb »

darshan wrote: post #126
melling wrote: post #23

If you don't like their product or policies, don't use it. If you use it then you should pay for it. Use Linux, a BSD Unix, or a Mac. People who pirate Microsoft products don't really hurt Microsoft, they hurt the rest of the competition.

If you don't like their product or policies, don't use it. If you use it then you should pay for it. This strikes me as a valid ethical position, though I happen to think things are more complicated than that. People who pirate Microsoft products don't really hurt Microsoft, they hurt the rest of the competition. This, on the other hand, doesn't make sense. You seem to be assuming that the invariant is that the user…

> whether he still uses it or not is of very minor importance to MS next to whether or not he pays for it.

What's more important than whether he pays for it is whether everybody else will still pay for it.

If everyone around you use Windows, you probably have to still use Windows in order to be able to collaborate with them. And you don't even have to think about open standard.

The more people around you use other OS, the more you are likely to think about using platform-independent technology. Then the more likely you are to be able to move to other platform since there are less and less fraction of people holding you on Windows.

The author using Windows gives everyone around him the inertia of moving to other platform. He is part of the reason why most people knows how to use only Windows.

And then when big company wants to buy a platform they will chose Windows because most people use it. And big company will pay. And big company will buy more expensive software and extra support.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#253

Post by Terretta »

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…

Our bookkeeper and accountant both run that in a VM.

Adobe will cross-license Mac Photoshop for you. Have to talk to a person, deactivate PS, and fill out a destruction form.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#254

Post by nate_meurer »

demigod wrote: post #240
Karunamon wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Minor niggle, but please stop misusing "steal". We need to get that meme killed.

You cant be blind to this, Piracy is different from stealing, but it is analogous and so the meme. When you physically steal something from a store, the store faces a loss of value and that is why it is illegal. Information is not valued in the same way as other goods and sometimes the value is lost when a copy is made even though the original is not damaged in any way. Its like the secret treasure map which has the…

No, it's not analogous. "Causing loss of value" is not, and never has been, used to qualify theft. Counterfeiting maybe, but not theft.

I'm not sure what your "secret treasure map" example has to do with either theft or copyright infringment.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#255

Post by jebblue »

zanek wrote: post #239
Anderkent wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I write random bits to a file and it turns out to be a Star Wars movie, did I steal it?

I was thinking the same thing ! I would actually go one step further. How can anyone OWN information (music,movies,software,etc) which is really binary which is really one big ass number (in base 2). How can you OWN a number ? It doesnt make any sense to me, and I'm a software developer that makes products. Its like saying, "I own the file represented by 23445353568893534534565767525454546422223346445646" and you hav…

Think of that number as though it were a house, instead of breaking in and stealing its content, you download the whole house, does that make it less significant?

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#256

Post by zanek »

jebblue wrote: post #255
zanek wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was thinking the same thing ! I would actually go one step further. How can anyone OWN information (music,movies,software,etc) which is really binary which is really one big ass number (in base 2). How can you OWN a number ? It doesnt make any sense to me, and I'm a software developer that makes products. Its like saying, "I own the file represented by 23445353568893534534565767525454546422223346445646" and you hav…

Think of that number as though it were a house, instead of breaking in and stealing its content, you download the whole house, does that make it less significant?

It's not a house, it's an abstract thing. How can you own a number ?

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#257

Post by ColMustard »

JonWood wrote: post #233
ColMustard wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. Adulthood has nothing to do with the fact that everyone is using a word that doesn't accurately describe the action taken. Just because it's not stealing doesn't mean it's not illegal. You can't call anything that's illegal "stealing". It's piracy, which is illegal, but a different act than stealing. People who started calling piracy stealing are the same people that cannot accurately understand what is actually…

I love that you have a problem with people calling copyright infringement "stealing", but no qualms at all about calling it "piracy" instead, which is an entirely different affair. Certainly the last time I downloaded a TV program I did using BitTorrent, rather than boarding the content producer's boat and taking it with force.

You are aware that the definition of piracy and pirating has been changed since the 1600's I hope?

Here's a link: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piracy

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#258

Post by sanderjd »

Drbble wrote: post #174
sanderjd wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you link to that decision or do you perhaps know the name of the case so I could search for it? The deprivation idea doesn't seem to be intuitive to most people I've talked with and it would be great to know the actual case law.

You are honestly arguing that deprivation is not an intuitive aspect of theft?

Although Karunamon already replied, I think you were responding to me. I'm not sure I understand the question - I'm not arguing that it is not an intuitive aspect of theft, I am stating that it has not been intuitive to people I have discussed this with. It is a fact, not an argument - are you trying to ask if I'm arguing that it should be an intuitive aspect of theft? If so then I really don't have an opinion - I think intuition is completely subjective and that there is no "should" about it.

Re: I'm Pirating the Next Version of Windows

#260

Post by Anderkent »

jebblue wrote: post #255
zanek wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was thinking the same thing ! I would actually go one step further. How can anyone OWN information (music,movies,software,etc) which is really binary which is really one big ass number (in base 2). How can you OWN a number ? It doesnt make any sense to me, and I'm a software developer that makes products. Its like saying, "I own the file represented by 23445353568893534534565767525454546422223346445646" and you hav…

Think of that number as though it were a house, instead of breaking in and stealing its content, you download the whole house, does that make it less significant?

Did you lose your house? If not, then I don't see the issue - I saw your house, copied it, now we both have one.
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