Microsoft relaxes WGA further
Must fear Apple patenting it
SOFTWARE giant Microsoft has decided to relax its highly popular Windows Genuine Advantage feature on its flagship operating system Windows XP.
When the Vole releases SP3 later this year, the refreshed versions of Windows XP will give users 30-days before they're required to enter a product activation key. This is the same as the system that is offered on Microsoft's Vista operating system, which is currently as popular as a George Bush impersonator in a Baghdad coffee shop.
According to a Volish policy statement, which ended up in the paws of ComputerWorld this is a relaxing of Windows XP because users currently have to enter the activation key while the blighter is installing.
If they don't, then the whole installation goes belly up faster than a drunken whale who has failed to outrun a Japanese scientific fleet.
The paper warns that if punters upgrade their existing copy of Windows XP to SP3 they will miss this glorious upgrading experience. Of course if you just upgrade to SP3, why would you have to stick your product key back in anyway?
If you fail to stick in your product key after the 30 day period expires you will be sent back to the login screen until you throw your computer out the window, die of boredom or stick in the login key.
Late last year it was revealed that Apple was so impressed with WGA style technology it was attempting to patent something like it. This is just as it appears that Microsoft is attempting to tone the whole thing down. µ
Comments
Am i missing somthing?
I don't get all this fanfare with WGA, surely it is there to sort copies of XP and weed out all the pirated versions from the legit, paid for versions. and even if it detects a pirated version, the only thing it prevents you doing is downloading non-essential updates or software from microsoft.and this thing about the annoyance of entering a product code on installation.... isn't that how most software gets registered, you enter the valid code and the installation goes through. you don't enter a code and it doesn't, that seems reasonable, you pay for it, you get to use it, you don't pay, you don't use it
seemingly, the only people who would have a problem with WGA are those with pirated copies of XP.
Funny comment
This is the same as the system that is offered on Microsoft's Vista operating system, which is currently as popular as a George Bush impersonator in a Baghdad coffee shop.----
Ahahaha very funny comment man
Can't figure you guys out
I write letters that have value and have something to say. But you don't post them for some reason.First, WGA is akin to having Walmart come to your home on some Sunday asking to go through your belongings to see if they are all legitimately paid for. Microsoft is essentially doing the same thing. So Microsoft does it with a hidden camera. You would no more let the police or Walmart put a hidden camera in your home, hence, you should never let Microsoft put their hidden camera in your home. Your computer is an extension of your home.
It is stupid to think that you would allow the your neighbor whom may be accusing you of stealing something just enter your home willy-nilly to search it. You would not let the police enter your home unless they followed due process and had a warrant to search it.
Our privacy is important. Giving away your privacy now gives away the privacy of your children too.
I wrote letters once I determined that SP3 was a chance for Microsoft to beat XP with a stick by making it more difficult to remain private, by putting Vista-like features into it. They know people are holding back because they know they can have greater privacy and less invasive measures brought by some company (a civilian entity) that seems to think that the OS is the only thing that matters in life and that they can violate our rights at the drop of a hat.
Get it clear. You don't want extended violations of your privacy. Even activating a product is giving away a bit of your privacy, as they know who you are by the IP you use. It is none of their business, and even if someone literally steals Windows, or any other product, it is up to those who feel they have been hurt by the criminal action to take it to the courts to pursue due process. Period!
So, if I am right in what you seem to be saying, they are asking people to re-enter their product key to get sp3 installed. If so, this is a way for them to capture more keys for their database so they can determine which ones have been re-used. It is an activation after an activation, after installing spyware. It seems to that this would be installing WGA with the SP3 and forcing you to comply with their desire to spy on your computer.
This is an OS for goodness sake. It's just an OS. There's no right they have to enter your home and keep pushing their evil little way upon the common man who doesn't know how to identify, or apply, this to real life equivalents.
This is total bullshit.
The big boys say this is cool.
I think what's happened here is that Microsoft have made out this is the 'next big thing', encouraged Apple to adopt it only for Microsoft to relax its WGA policies and make Apple look like the 'genuine advantage greedy money grabbers'Good one, MS!