Vista kill switch may push people to linux
It’s not really a surprising headline. I think anytime a proprietary vendor tightens the screws a bit to limit piracy they are going to force people to other, competing products. Especially when there’s a significant cost difference involved. If there are three t-shirts for sale, one for $5 with no logo and another for $50 with a brand logo (we’ll say nike) and yet another (pirated) with a nike logo for $10 and everybody thinks the nike logo is cool and in… they’ll buy the $10 “pirated” shirt unless they know that it’s pirated and are morally compelled to spend the $50. If piracy is cracked down on and you have a choice between the $50 logo shirt and the $5 no logo shirt….. hmmm I’d rather have $45 extra dollars than a swoosh on my shirt.
Of course, we heard something like this with XP and product activation, that this would drive people to linux and it may have, but not in huge numbers. However, what is being reported that Windows will have in Vista is a bit more of an ultimatum. (From Between the Lines)
Windows Vista will have new antipiracy technology that locks people out their PCs if the operating system isn’t activated within 30 days after installation….If Vista is not activated with a legitimate product registration key in time, the system will run in “reduced functionality mode” until it is activated, said Thomas Lindeman, a senior product manager at Microsoft. In this mode, people will be able to use a Web browser for up to an hour, after which time the system will log them out, he said….The new technology is part of Microsoft’s new “Software Protection Platform,” which the company plans to announce on Wednesday.
George Ou also thinks this will be a good thing for Linux citing the ridiculous price of the core operating system for people in the developing world.
A person in China for example making $300 a month will save up and spend $400 on a computer. They will spend 100 Yuan (about $12) on home grown software but they will never spend $100 on software when they can buy a black market copy for $1. If that wasn’t available or if Microsoft made it impossible to use the software because of WGA, they’ll simply stop using Windows and stop using Microsoft Office and use Linux and Open Office.
The main question, I think will be how limited the operation mode will be in actuality. Hopefully the various linux distributions can take advantage of this opportunity to broaden their user base. The only problem I see is the possibility of linux developing a “stigma” associated with the “cheap alternative”. In many ways linux is so much more capable (even in an absolutely free version) than a $200 copy of XP Pro could be.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Related Posts - 16,000 new viruses this year This is for all those people that say to me. "There haven't been any new viruses lately have there?" It's really amazing to me that people think if it's not on the national news it doesn't happen.... According to Pc Pro, Sophos has reported that 16000 new viruses have been......
- Google adds more languages Well, of course, you know that Google offers search services in a long list of languages. They can be found at the main Google page by going to the "Language tools" link to the right of the search box. It takes you to this page, which gives you the ability......
- XBOX 360 classaction suit? Microsoft has been sued by an XBOX 360 owner over the overheating/locking up issues that have previously been reported here and other places around the web. He is looking for classaction status for the suit. Microsoft maintains that only 3% of shipped units seem to suffer the problem and that's......
Related Websites - Celebration Medical Company Gets Stimulus Money Located in Celebration, Florida, the Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement (NCSA) was recently awarded $4.2 million by the federal government as part of the 2009 federal stimulus program. The project was one of two earmarks requested by Congressman Allan Grayson that would have directly affected Celebration. The House Appropriations......
- So What Can A Web Design Do Aimed At Your Website If you wish to have a web site that looks sharp, credible and professional, the best thing you can perform is hire a web design malaysia. web design malaysia would be the ones who have the effect of running your entire site from the appearance to how it's likely to......
- If I Promise to Spend it, Will Obama Send Me Stimulus Money? Neither Obama nor Congress have any desire to send Mr. ToughMoneyLove any part of the gazillion dollar stimulus packages that are being discussed. No tax cut, no tax credit, no check in the mail, nada, none. No, the government wants me on the outside, looking in on the stimulus plan......
Similar Posts
- Windows Automatic Updates now checking Genuine Advantage…
- Lawsuit to block the release of Windows Vista?
- Updating Windows XP SP2 serial number
- 20 things you won’t like about Vista
- Vista’s rocky road….