Chinese surfers see red over Microsoft black-outs

[iinfi]

Source
WARNING: READING THIS MITE CAUSE STOMACH ACHES DUE TO EXCESSIVE LAUGHING

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Internet users have expressed fury at Microsoft's launch of an anti-piracy tool targeting Chinese computer users to ensure they buy genuine software.

The "Windows Genuine Advantage" program, which turns the user's screen black if the installed software fails a validation test, is Microsoft's latest weapon in its war on piracy in China, where the vast majority of 200 million computer users are believed to be using counterfeit software, unwittingly or not.

"Why is Microsoft automatically connected with my computer? The computer is mine!" one angry blogger wrote on popular Chinese web portal Sina.com. "Microsoft has no right to control my hardware without my agreement."

Another blogger railed over the cost of authorized versions.

"If the price of genuine software was lower than the fake one, who would buy the fake one?" he wrote.

A visitor to a Beijing internet cafe said Microsoft was violating people's rights.

"If, when I'm programing, the computer screen goes black, that will probably cause some important information to be lost," he said. "Who will pay me for my loss then?"

Dong Zhengwei, 35, a Beijing lawyer, described Microsoft as the "biggest hacker in China with its intrusion into users' computer systems without their agreement or any judicial authority," the China Daily said.

"Microsoft's measure will cause serious functional damage to users' computers and, according to China's criminal law, the company can stand accused of breaching and hacking into computer systems," he was quoted as saying.

"I respect the right of Microsoft to protect its intellectual property, but it is taking on the wrong target with wrong measures. They should target producers and sellers of fake software, not users."

The software giant defended the program on its website as part of its "commitment to help protect its intellectual property and to help you avoid problems before they happen."

"The purpose ... is to help our customers to determine (if) genuine software is installed on their computers," Microsoft told Reuters.

[ico]

[thewisecrab]

L MAO

[dheeraj_kumar]

...OMG... This is epic!!!

Its da new Black Screen Of Death

[NucleusKore]

They deserve it, the thieves

[Faun]

lets have a troubleshooting session lolz

[amizdu]

"If the price of genuine software was lower than the fake one, who would buy the fake one?"

One of the stupidest thing I've ever heard!

[comp@ddict]

Originally Posted by iinfi

Source
WARNING: READING THIS MITE CAUSE STOMACH ACHES DUE TO EXCESSIVE LAUGHING

:r azz:

[stormgrab]

microsoft sux chinese rock

[rosemolr]

piracy Sindabad

[skippednote]

Use linux kill microsoft.

[iMav]

I thought the Chinesse were intelligent Seems not.

[CadCrazy]

LOL

Originally Posted by iMav

I thought the Chinesse were intelligent Seems not.

So you think you are intelligent ??????

[iMav]

Originally Posted by CadCrazy

So you think you are intelligent ??????

I'm not Chinese.

[Jayanth.M.P]

well chinese , you made copies of all the hardware in the world.....software isnt that easy isnt it ?

[Cool Joe]

Originally Posted by NucleusKore

They deserve it, the thieves

Since you're "TheSaint", I guess it's normal coming from you.
Who told you to use Suse when Windows XP was easily available??

[gary4gar]

Don't laugh much, back home a similar response was seen few years when MS raided various computer shops
The shopkeepers had shut shops to protest. they said they have every right to sell Fake copies of windows, else it would ruin there life.they would be unemployed. Right said as if computer costly 25k today will cost over 35k will its loaded with all the original software. in that case, people will not buy PCS

then Govt stepped in, now the matter is in files. i think it would never come back again.

[NucleusKore]

They raided again, six months back here in Mangalore. Posing as students, they went to assemblers to load/buy pirated windows. They then booked them on the spot.

[MetalheadGautham]

rofl... as my hindi teacher used to say, nakal karne ke liye bhi akal chahiye

[NucleusKore]

Originally Posted by beta testing

Since you're "TheSaint", I guess it's normal coming from you.
Who told you to use Suse when Windows XP was easily available??

I never mentioned anything about linux in this thread, surprising you should bother to raise it, I do not see the connection. When I say they deserve it I mean it. Stealing, is Stealing, is Stealing. I may be an open source advocate but I do have a licensed copy of Windows XP Home for the rest of my family. I do not have Microsoft Office as I cannot afford it. I don't steal it because it's the easy thing to do.

As for the custom title, it refers to Simon Templar (The Saint). More of that here
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120053/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Saint

[Cool Joe]

Originally Posted by NucleusKore

They raided again, six months back here in Mangalore. Posing as students, they went to assemblers to load/buy pirated windows. They then booked them on the spot.

OMG!!! Mangalore!!!
I just hope they don't come poking their noses into people's houses....

[Ashis]

.......& I thought I was the only stupid.
But it seams I have some serious competitors!

[iinfi]

Originally Posted by NucleusKore

They raided again, six months back here in Mangalore. Posing as students, they went to assemblers to load/buy pirated windows. They then booked them on the spot.

EEEEEKKKSSS !!! r u serious??

Originally Posted by Ashis

.......& I thought I was the only stupid.
But it seams I have some serious competitors!

all the best ... better luck next time.

[NucleusKore]

Originally Posted by iinfi

EEEEEKKKSSS !!! r u serious??.

Yes, they did the same in Gujarat some time back

http://www.itvarnews.net/news/journa...st%20Microsoft

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate...725_504325.htm

[chesss]

I do not have Microsoft Office as I cannot afford it.

just curious .. what did you do when someone send you a xls/doc file before writely (google docs)?

[sakumar79]

Open Office.org has been around for quite a while now... Earlier, there were only fewer alternatives like Lotus Smartsuite and Corel Office which were mostly paid software but cheaper... But for a few years we have OpenOffice which has most of the MS Office features...

Arun

[MetalheadGautham]

I personally find OpenOffice.org more comfortable to work with than MS Office, but for those who don't need a FULL FLEDGED office suite, I think Lotus Symphony rocks. Its interface easily pwns msoffice and even openoffice. I love the tabbed interface and the sidebar.

[chandru.in]

I hate piracy. Why the hell do they pirate when they can use legally free and better quality software. I hope MS raids more shops and institutes in India and confiscates every single computer loaded with pirated software there.

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by chandru.in

I hate piracy. Why the hell do they pirate when they can use legally free and better quality software. I hope MS raids more shops and institutes in India and confiscates every single computer loaded with pirated software there.

They can't, because they don't own the computers. The max they can do is sue pirates.
The "raids" are mainly about FINDING places where piracy exists and/or originates and legally eliminating them.

[Jayanth.M.P]

Even if microsoft finds Pirated Copy of windows installed on your machine. the best they can do is erase it with some specialized software so that you cannot recover it.

You cannot go to jail for "just using pirated software". They will need to find intent to distribute even to file a case.