Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) is Not Total Stupidity
Contrary to what Leo Laporte, John C. Dvorak and Jerry Pournelle were talking about in the TWIT podcast (#73), WGA isn't useless. WGA is used online to check the validity of installed Windows and Microsoft Office licence keys. Both Dvorak and Pournelle expressed skepticism about its value, stating essentially that there couldn't possibly be that many business users out there to be caught using illegal copies of Windows XP and Microsoft Office. You're absolutely wrong boys.
In any case, Microsoft is entitled to its copyrights, trademarks and fair market value for every copy of Windows XP and Microsoft Office used by business consumers. The problem is, I know of dozens of companies, each using dozens of computers, none of which contain even a single legitimate copy of Windows XP or MS Office. In fact, there are millions of these kinds of installations in use across North America, Europe the UK, and so on. And that's just the English lanugage versions. Illegal copies of French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese versions are just as prevalent. Visit the software watchdog organization web sites at CAAST and BSA. I guarantee you'll be shocked. If you're not shocked, shame on you!
Microsoft (and other companies) should be roundly criticized when their security and licensing routines don't work properly. But never mistake WGA for stupidity. Microsoft, thousand pound gorilla though it may be, is still entitled to its legitimate interests.
It is the very pinnacle of hubris and arrogance when people who haven't paid for an operating system or their office software complain about Microsoft. Want a free operating system and office suite? No problem. Download Linux and OpenOffice. Otherwise, pay up.
In any case, Microsoft is entitled to its copyrights, trademarks and fair market value for every copy of Windows XP and Microsoft Office used by business consumers. The problem is, I know of dozens of companies, each using dozens of computers, none of which contain even a single legitimate copy of Windows XP or MS Office. In fact, there are millions of these kinds of installations in use across North America, Europe the UK, and so on. And that's just the English lanugage versions. Illegal copies of French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese versions are just as prevalent. Visit the software watchdog organization web sites at CAAST and BSA. I guarantee you'll be shocked. If you're not shocked, shame on you!
Microsoft (and other companies) should be roundly criticized when their security and licensing routines don't work properly. But never mistake WGA for stupidity. Microsoft, thousand pound gorilla though it may be, is still entitled to its legitimate interests.
It is the very pinnacle of hubris and arrogance when people who haven't paid for an operating system or their office software complain about Microsoft. Want a free operating system and office suite? No problem. Download Linux and OpenOffice. Otherwise, pay up.
posted by Howard Carson, Managing Editor @ 4:33 PM
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