Microsoft: More Educated Consumers Pirate Less

[razorblaze42]

This is too funny. This has less to do with education levels of the users and more about users making “informed” decisions. It seems, from the comments above; the less informed users are taking offensive to these comments, when none was intended. The statement merely points out that the more users are educated about dangers in using pirated and cracked versions of Windows, which might be more susceptible to viruses and malware, the more likely they'll choose to purchase a valid copy of windows. This in way no calls pirates morons or uneducated. An exceptionally cheap price on windows may seem like a good deal, but once you make a conscience effort to inform the public it may contain malicious code, suddenly it becomes less attractive. I think the pirate’s "offended sensibilities" are misplaced, after all, you're not a very convincing pirate if a little name calling triggers a mutiny...lol

 

[pocketdrummer]

Wow, why are so many people defending thievery. Keep doing it... watch the quality of the things we get plummet even farther. Eventually there won't be enough money backing those companies for them to keep doing it.

Or they'll give away versions for free..... riddled with ads. A lot of fun that will me.... I can see it now... Pepsi Tanks, Nerf M-16s... maxipad med kits.... fantastic... keep up the good work, General Public.

 

[megamanx00]

Yeah I don't buy that one. How about not being so restrictive with those OEM copies of Windows huh? That would sure help.

 

[city_zen]

[citation][nom]serialsniper14[/nom]Yeah I've got a friend who used a cracked version of Windows. Not only was he able to download updates "from Microsoft," but the updates he downloaded were full of trojans and malware, which completely crashed his hard drive and overclocked his processor until the inside started smoking. Hoorah for Genuine Windows 7![/citation]
That's NOTHING!

I have a friend who also used a pirated version of Windows and the updates he downloaded were infected by a new and very dangerous malware called "DIPUTS"

This malware, DIPUTS, completely re-wrote his hard drive. Not only that, it erased all DVDs that were even close to the computer. The malware recalibrated his refrigerator's coolness setting so all his ice cream went melty. It demagnetized the strips on all his credit cards, screwed up the tracking on the television and used subspace field harmonics to scratch any music CDs he tried to play.

But it didn't stop there! DIPUTS gave his ex-girlfriend his new phone number. It mixed Kool-aid into his fishtank. It drank all his beer and left dirty socks on the coffee table when company came over. The malware also put a dead hamster in the back pocket of his good suit pants and hid his car keys whenever he was late for work.

This terrible malware also made him fall in love with a penguin. It gave him nightmares about circus midgets. DIPUTS poured sugar in his gas tank and shaved off both his eyebrows while dating his girlfriend behind his back and billing the dinner and hotel room to his Discover card.

It moved his car randomly around parking lots so he could never find it, too. It kicked his dog. It left libidinous messages on his boss's voice mail with his voice!

I tell you, this malware, DIPUTS, is insidious and subtle. It is dangerous and terrifying to behold. It is also a rather interesting shade of mauve.

So watch out before you dare use a pirated version of Windows .... 😀

(This was old, but I couldn't resist 😉)

 

[cruiseoveride]

More Educated Consumers Pirate Less

That's really vague. I know so many people that don't even know how to burn CDs. If they knew how, I'm sure they'd pirate as well.

 

[Yoder54]

I think people are drawing the wrong conclusions about "educated users." When we read "educated" we automatically assume a formal education, but in this case I think MS is alluding to the "well-informed" consumer. If this is the case then I think it is a true statement for a couple of reasons. First, as some mentioned above the well-informed consumer is well aware of the penalties for violating copyright laws and are consequently more inclined to not participate in such behavior. From what I have seen, the well-informed consumer also knows exactly what he wants and is more inclined to buy it. It would be interesting to see how much of the "pirated" software is actually used. I always hear kids talking about having this and having that, and there is no way in hell that they could even begin to use all of the pirated software that they do own.

Finally, the well-informed consumer may also be savvy enough with technology to know that if you download some bogus software you may fry your CPU...or, even worse, your monitor may melt.

 

[rooket]

Did they patch the loaders yet? If not, I don't see where it is susceptible to virii at all. I'm running all my Win7 installations legit now so they can go ahead and patch it, it will not affect me.

 

[JonathanDeane]

[citation][nom]rooket[/nom]Did they patch the loaders yet? If not, I don't see where it is susceptible to virii at all. I'm running all my Win7 installations legit now so they can go ahead and patch it, it will not affect me.[/citation]

There really would not be a patch as such, I am betting it would take something like using the malicious software removal tool to detect and yank it or MS's own virus scanner. The OS is unaware of the loader if your using one of the better ones. IE one that does not touch OS files and just emulates the BIOS. I will speak no more of this as the comedy I derive from people talking about updating a failed WGA install and other goofs just makes me laugh so much

People ran nearly the exact same exploit on Vista and they never did get invalidated (people I know anyway) the real problem is that unless MS kills the loader itself the other option is to nuke the key but thats bad too since it would mean mandatory BIOS updates for all the legit systems. The other end of the problem is basic computer security, physical security is the most important part of making a system secure. MS just can not do that on some one else's machine. MS can probably make it hard enough that the general public cannot copy Windows 7 and thats a win for MS since they sell a ton more copies that way, the people who are able to successfully pirate will do so no matter what or will switch to another OS if its made too hard (I often think MS would rather some one run a pirated copy then something like Linux)

 

[DjEaZy]

...i strongly disagree... i would say that piracy is good for education... in a way... you can not often see the full potential of a OS or a expensive program, if you don't get a free copy of it or pirate it... i buy the software if it works for me, but first i need to fully test it... trials or demos don't often do the trick... if you like it, buy it and/or support the source...

 

[wildwell]

[citation][nom]FoShizzleDizzle[/nom]"Educate users" to pirate less? I am not supporting pirating but I'm afraid that what they really mean is "scare users" into pirating less by blowing the dangers as far out of proportion as possible. Hundreds of dollars to upgrade an OS, and it can only be installed on one machine? Perhaps making it so users aren't limited to legally installing a copy of a license to only one machine is a good way to make users go legit.[/citation]
I agree that Microsoft is using your standard fear tactics to help promote legitimate sales, but making it easier for users to share won't help their bottom line. Perhaps limiting your install to 2-5 machines and requiring an original MS disk could satisfy both the company and the consumer.

 

[ossie]

Rarely is m$ right... this time they hit it, involuntarily.
Educated users don't pirate micro$uxx' crap, because they're capable to use better SW.
[citation][nom]serialsniper14[/nom]Yeah I've got a friend who used a cracked version of Windows. Not only was he able to download updates "from Microsoft," but the updates he downloaded were full of trojans and malware, which completely crashed his hard drive and overclocked his processor until the inside started smoking. Hoorah for Genuine Windows 7![/citation]
Oh well, wintarded m$ fankiddies are just too DIPUTS to get fine sarcasm...

 

[Hiniberus]

Well it depends on the reason as to why someone pirated the OS (Win 7) I have a strong and valid reason as to why I have an illegit copy at home, personally I think it is a good point.

I had Vista.

 

[eddieroolz]

[citation][nom]pocketdrummer[/nom]Wow, why are so many people defending thievery. Keep doing it... watch the quality of the things we get plummet even farther. Eventually there won't be enough money backing those companies for them to keep doing it.Or they'll give away versions for free..... riddled with ads. A lot of fun that will me.... I can see it now... Pepsi Tanks, Nerf M-16s... maxipad med kits.... fantastic... keep up the good work, General Public.[/citation]

Despite heavy piracy I think software has gotten better...

Windows 7? Adobe CS4? Office 2010? Thats just a few examples. I'm not defending piracy, but your assertion is completely wrong. It's the lack of competition that would cause the quality to plummet.

 

[mitch074]

I consider myself an educated user - inasmuch as I read the base law articles concerning private property, copyright, patents, and then read a lot on software piracy legal precedents.

Moreover I've been using, modifying, assembling, installing and repairing computers for even longer than THG existed.

I've read several of Microsoft's EULA. And I've understood them.

The more educated I got, the more I went looking for software that matched my needs; so, when my license of MS Office 2000 went stale, I got a replacement: OpenOffice.org.

When my IE browser got too popup happy and got infected daily, I got a popup blocker. Firefox's.

When I found out that Adobe asked for $600 for its new version and didn't allow for an update of my Photoshop 7 license, I switched. For the Gimp.

When I discovered that my DVD player wouldn't work at with my new DVD burner, I changed media player. I got VLC.

When I found out how DivX enforced their software license system, I switched to a less invasive one. I got Xvid.

When I discovered ads on Windows .Net Passport Live MSN Messenger (is that the name?), I changed IM. I got Pidgin.

And when I found out how good Vista was, I made a quick assessment of what software I was using, and decided to upgrade my XP to something better.

So I switched to Linux.

 

[krazyderek]

read: "We're (Microsoft is) planting more and more malware and virus infected copies of windows on torrent sites so that people to help them make the right choice."

 

[jcknouse]

The guy with Microsoft is so full of BS.

I've known kids with not even a high school diploma who do and don't pirate. I was a software pirate back in the day of 360k SS/SD 5.25" floppies.

I've known company presidents with MBAs, utility company engineers with PhDs, grad students in economics...all highly educated by scholastically as well as how economics are and how piracy diminishes a "sale quota". None of them had money problems, and still got "some software from a buddy" and were fully aware it was illegal.

What reduces piracy?

A) Low/no cost- Someone can get it cheap, they will love it. Look at Wal-Mart. They're the best example of running some good discounts, but overall their prices suck but people run to them in droves...and also, it's because...

B) Convenience- If you make software easily available, people will get it...free or not. Again, Wal-Mart mass-implemented the cross-sector "superstore" (first Discount City, then Hypermarts, then SuperCenters) and fed into the one thing Americans like...to be lazy and not have to go 10 places.

But, Microsoft is full of it. The author is right. More people will buy it in the Philippines if...they can afford it. MS did the same thing in India and China too. While America and Europe and Japan were paying $150-300 a copy for Vista retail...the countries where piracy was rampant were getting it for pennies on the dollar.

I wonder when my $40 copy of Windows 7 Ultimate is going to arrive. lol

 

[jecastej]

So. If I "Copy" Windows 7 from someone else original Microsoft disc and crack the copy I will have a stable system and I wont need to "Pay" for an original "Copy". Or, if you are an educated man "Copy" from a reliable source and learn how to install the copy so you have a stable system. That is the educated consumer.

There are serious problems with all these wrong statements and misleading purposes: Manipulation by kindergarden our opinions?.

 

[ADM-86]

The more I knew the companies behind the programs,the more I wanted to pirate....

 

[noiz]

this is why education is irrelevant to the ability to judge.

 

[Guest]

"So he is calling a huge % of internet users uneducated morrons? MS you re ruining it for me now.. Too much actually.

Never know though. Since noone would tell them the truth about pirating or not in order to get stats they must be getting form somewhere ( most liekly random crapatalk but anyhow.. ) so its inhouse their own relatives statistics. I cant find another way to explain how they know as much."

percentage sign, uncapitalized "internet," "morrons," no apostrophe after "you," two periods, fragmented sentences, and "crapatalk"?

You just proved Microsoft's point.

 

[jsc]

As far as piracy is concerned, the Win7 Family Pack is a long overdue idea.

 

[o0RaidR0o]

[citation][nom]pocketdrummer[/nom]Wow, why are so many people defending thievery. Keep doing it... watch the quality of the things we get plummet even farther. Eventually there won't be enough money backing those companies for them to keep doing it.Or they'll give away versions for free..... riddled with ads. A lot of fun that will me.... I can see it now... Pepsi Tanks, Nerf M-16s... maxipad med kits.... fantastic... keep up the good work, General Public.[/citation]
Don't kid yourself file sharing is what drives the industry. There will always be enough new users to keep the industry going. Since the inception of the software industry there has never been a single case of any one business failing due to file sharing.

 

[rean24]

" using pirated and cracked versions of Windows, which might be more susceptible to viruses and malware "

If you just make the LEGAL copy of Windows Hacker/Virus/Malware proof i think then you go yourself a market where noone would buy the cracked version.

 

[carlhenry]

wow i live in the philippines.. but anyway, i guess its because a lot of people are buying OEM's (especially the netbook).

i also use a legit copy of windows which is OEM. bought an htpc from acer just recently.

IMO: aren't the educated casual users tend to use pirated copies more? (well because they know how to apply crack, patches, compared to the non technical users?)

 

[9d3tsi]

Prices and greed drive piracy, not an "education". How can you cry piracy, when you charge $200 for an "Ultimate OS"? Try adjusting the pricing to a reasonable level. I have no intentions of buying or even using Window 7. Why?? I just PURCHASED Windows Vista less than six months ago for my new build. Why should I shell out another $150-$200 for a flashier looking version of vista that I don't really need. Not to mention Windows 8 is only 3 years away? For me it's not a question of "to pirate or not"? Its a matter of to purchase or not.

Now if Windows 7 was a bit more reasonably priced... Say $50-$70?, I would run right out to the store and buy it. But $200?!?! For $200 I can buy something that I actually need .

I do think the student version of Windows 7 is a good idea. Isn't it only like $30 bucks? That is a good way to cut down on piracy. I just don't like being charged $170 more than a student to make up the difference.