Political Crossfire Forums

Sid · Joined: 26 Oct 2004 Posts: 4633 Location: Kansas

I know microsoft is doing a lot of crummy things for windows Vista, but I just thought of something that I can see them easily doing.

When you reinstall windows XP, you have to activate it. You generally do this over your internet connection, quick, and painless. I've got one question though, can anyone see Microsoft shutting down those servers as soon as Windows Vista hits the shelves?

Ragnar Danneskjold · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 2628 Location: Mulligan's Valley

they may.

TheCreepyApostate · Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 19848 Location: Corruptinois

Sid wrote: I know microsoft is doing a lot of crummy things for windows Vista, but I just thought of something that I can see them easily doing.

When you reinstall windows XP, you have to activate it. You generally do this over your internet connection, quick, and painless. I've got one question though, can anyone see Microsoft shutting down those servers as soon as Windows Vista hits the shelves?

It would be against the law. You have to support products for 7 years after you stop making them. It may be less than that for software and there may be some loophole, but they definitely must support Windows XP for several years after Vista takes over.

They've been trying to drop Windows 98 for the past two years and found out that too many of their customers still use it to drop it. Most businesses still use Windows 2000. They have a long way to go before they drop Windows XP.

Pebble · Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 1143

I'm eyeing linux anyway so I stuck that down...meh.

Mightier Than The Sword · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 1756 Location: Exobably not.

I'm already using Linux and Macintosh for almost all of my needs (though for most internet stuff I use XP)

Ek0nomik · Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 2065 Location: La Fleur

I really need to take the time to install Linux and learn it.

Rankor and Pissing · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 5:35 pm Post subject:

I'd highly suggest Linux even to those who aren't very computer savvy. Linux today is much easier to use and acts/reacts very much like Windows. There are many builds out there, some easier than others.

Might I suggest:

Suse Linux (Easy first time users) and you can even install it on your Windows computer and it will let you choose during start-up, if you want to run Windows or Linux. It won't erase your windows at all... quite nice actually.

Patriot911 · Joined: 03 Feb 2005 Posts: 6990 Location: Denver, CO

It would be illegal for Microsoft to break their responsibility to the end user by not allowing them to use software they paid for by preventing them from activating it.

Besides, there are already hacks to get rid of the activation. ;-)

Gus · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 7610 Location: Tampa, FL

No, they definitely would not.

endersshadow · Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Posts: 10130 Location: Dallas

I could see them doing it, but they won't, since it's blatently illegal.

But I do use Linux, of the Ubuntu flavor, though I am debating trying out Arch...

Protostar · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:34 pm Post subject:

I'm not condoning such an action, but what law would prevent them from doing such a thing?

George W Bush · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 11:25 pm Post subject:

i'm assuming you mean cutting off their servers in order to obsolete XP and force Vista?
They still seem to support some aspects of 98, so I dont see them cutting off XP.
then again, i'm assuming what I said before. :?