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Well there is no notion of paid software in developing countries like India ... Windows XP installer cds are sold in streets and many popular software packages ... They are sold like lemonades ... Therefore there is no need to switch to linux or free operating sytems ... Ease of use and increased hardware support makes windows a natural choice ... Many technicians even hate linux bcoz of its lack of proper hardware support .. (winmodems are quite common here ) ... This makes Windows mighty popular here ... But if piracy rules are enforced the situation changes dramatically ... Asians usually want to get the "biggest bang for their buck " ... people even bargain for a single rupee ... You will see a large number of people drifting to linux ...

So Long Live piracy and Microsoft Windows is the easiest os to use after all ( My Grandmother can use it as well ) . I cant see piracy being eliminated in the near future ... When it comes to training people ... using a Windows system is a better choice ( do not relate this to development ) ... Almost no training is required ... So Windows is an instant smash hit most of the offices

I'm using a genuine copies of Windows (XP and Vista), but how are you suppose to receive updates with a pirated copy of Windows? Or download things from the Microsoft download server when it asks you to validate your computer in their Genuine Windows Advantage program? How do you play on Live for Windows servers?

I use to use cracked copies of software, but then when being stuck with old versions of software, having to look for keygens and cracks to match your versions, etc was a lot harder in the long run than just buying the program, installing it, and have all the features unlocked and be able to get updates and support straight away.

I came to realise this around the same time I realised I wanted to have a career as a software developer, and for anybody who writes software for a career or wants to write software for a career then using pirated software is considered hypocritical. Not every studio is as large as Microsoft and has billions in reserves.

Anyway, to wait 6+ months for a service pack to be cracked, have to search for mirrors of Microsoft downloads, not being able to play with the latest feature releases, and not being able to play on Live for Windows servers simply isn't worth the hassle considering Windows costs roughly 1% of a yearly wage and you only have to upgrade every 4-6 years which totals between 0.16% to 0.25% of a year's pay.

MessiahAndrw wrote:...simply isn't worth the hassle considering Windows costs roughly 1% of a yearly wage...

...depending on where you life and what your job is. There is a reason why having your software written in India or your toys being made in China is so cheap...

MessiahAndrw wrote:play on Live for Windows servers

Why this, when you can play for free on non-steam, or for example CoD2 and CoD4 cracked servers? Their disadvantage is a limited amount of them, plus some players cheat on non legit servers, but i do not see this much in CoD2 for example, unlike in CS 1.6.

MessiahAndrw wrote:How do you play on Live for Windows servers?

I don't need no windows live.

MessiahAndrw wrote:but how are you suppose to receive updates with a pirated copy of Windows?

By disabling WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage Tool) component in update program?

MessiahAndrw wrote:Or download things from the Microsoft download server when it asks you to validate your computer in their Genuine Windows Advantage program?

Google the EXE name? Actually, you can override WGA in many ways

MessiahAndrw wrote:I use to use cracked copies of software, but then when being stuck with old versions of software, having to look for keygens and cracks to match your versions, etc was a lot harder in the long run than just buying the program, installing it,...

If you know how to do it, actually it's very easy. Of course googling "halo 3 crack" is the worst idea I've ever seen, you would get viruses and spyware in one single click. All you need to have is some friends and useful links to virus-clean http sites. (Yeah, they exist. And you need to not click on the porn advertising. ) Have you heard of peer-to-peer connection like DC++ ? I believe you didn't.

MessiahAndrw wrote:upgrade every 4-6 years

I don't need the update named "Windows Vista", even if it would be totally for free... Thank you very much.

Regards
inflater

I'm using a genuine copies of Windows (XP and Vista), but how are you suppose to receive updates with a pirated copy of Windows? Or download things from the Microsoft download server when it asks you to validate your computer in their Genuine Windows Advantage program? How do you play on Live for Windows servers?

OS's are somewhat simple to crack in terms of providing false activation info and allowing the use of updates without setting off red flags. In vista, there was and still is the "timer" crack which never lets the timer go down to zero allowing you to "evaluate" the OS forever and without restraints. Usually people just crack the update system to basically setup fake responses to windowsupdate saying that it is indeed a legit OS.

I don't agree with pirateers and I think Linux is OpenSource and Windows is not, and it should stay that way. Pirating big software products such as OS's and office is not helpful to the country or to the further development of products. Would you want to make a great product (worth money) and then just have people hack it in the blink of an eye and turn it around on the P2P for free?

Btw, I used to hack software before I got into OS devving. But i never distributed it or tried to justify the art. it is what it is.

01000101 wrote:

I'm using a genuine copies of Windows (XP and Vista), but how are you suppose to receive updates with a pirated copy of Windows? Or download things from the Microsoft download server when it asks you to validate your computer in their Genuine Windows Advantage program? How do you play on Live for Windows servers?

OS's are somewhat simple to crack in terms of providing false activation info and allowing the use of updates without setting off red flags. In vista, there was and still is the "timer" crack which never lets the timer go down to zero allowing you to "evaluate" the OS forever and without restraints. Usually people just crack the update system to basically setup fake responses to windowsupdate saying that it is indeed a legit OS.

I don't agree with pirateers and I think Linux is OpenSource and Windows is not, and it should stay that way. Pirating big software products such as OS's and office is not helpful to the country or to the further development of products. Would you want to make a great product (worth money) and then just have people hack it in the blink of an eye and turn it around on the P2P for free?

Btw, I used to hack software before I got into OS devving. But i never distributed it or tried to justify the art. it is what it is.

Way to reiterate the point that people don't understand what the term open source means. A closed source program doesn't have to be activated or hacked, and an open source program could require validation, albeit you would assume you can just recompile it without such neccesities i can think of a few ways around that for the instigators of the Activation.

why on earth would you say that closed source programs don't need to be activated?

I can easily think of 100 off the top of my head. Just about every microsoft program ever made.

they are activated to validate a PURCHASE.

And on the flip-side, i don't think ive ever activated or validated myself to an open source program.

I apologize that you don't have a firm grasp of the English Language, it's poor of me to assume everyone will understand exactly what English words mean in the context without specifically making the point.

Not every single piece of closed source software must necessarily be written with a need for Activation, there are some that may choose, as Activation is unrelated to whether the source is open or not, to not include activation.

Once again, Source code accessibility has absolutely nothing todo with activation.

I think somewhere on these forums said in their country when you buy a console it comes already flashed/mod'ed/chiped/etc as standard. I'm curious (not complaining) and have some questions for anyone who lives in a country where they do this?

- Are non-modified consoles avaliable to buy also?

- Is the buyer aware that the console they are buying has been modified?

I think the second question is the most important, since with the Xbox 360 (I'm not sure about PS3 or any other console) the major selling point for me was Xbox Live (which provides downloadable games, game content, and demos, online multiplayer, and XNA development) and to access XBL you need the latest update (they force you to since they change the internal layout to be incompatible) and if a tampered DVD-drive or firmware is detected your console is permanently banned from Xbox Live.

So I'm wondering if the buyer is aware that the console is modified since I wouldn't be happy if innocently bought an Xbox 360 for the primary purpose of developing on it with XNA or playing against my friends on Xbox Live to find out my console is blacklisted