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Microsoft Changes Tune Again On SP2 Installs

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the small-time-pirates-get-away-with-upgrading dept.

KidHash writes "Following on from last months Slashdot story, it appears Microsoft has changed its tune with the BBC reporting that SP2 will not install on XP installations using the '20 most pirated product IDs.'"

6 of 454 comments (clear)

  1. Locate foot. Aim. FIRE! by Space+cowboy · · Score: 5, Insightful
    It seems to me that this is a rather odd strategy for a company whose main strength is marketing/PR. They don't charge for SP2, there's no revenue stream to lose, so why make more problems for yourself by not patching up vulnerabilities ? About the only positive I can see MS hoping for is that the people who are running the pirated copies of XP will now go out and buy a new copy! They've more chance of knitting fog.

    What I see happening is that the 21-40 most-pirated codes rapidly displace the top-20 most-pirated codes, and everyone who cares about being up-to-date is happy with no benefit to MS. Instead, the chances they missed were:
    • To come over as concerned about the 'greater good' of the net at next-to-no if any cost to themselves. The opportunities for spinning the story to paint MS on the side of the angels were enormous...
    • To reduce the number of windows servers that are contributing to the general crap flooding through the net by patching the holes that enable hackers to 'own' the machines....


    All in all, I am somewhat surprised - an uncharacteristic faux pas.

    Simon
    --
    Physicists get Hadrons!
    1. Re:Locate foot. Aim. FIRE! by TopShelf · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What is especially stupid about this is that infected machines don't just impact their user, but also anybody else out there.

      If they actually think they'll get a single dime of extra revenue from this decision, they're nuts...

      --
      Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
    2. Re:Locate foot. Aim. FIRE! by in7ane · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Let's try that again, now spell checked:

      No, they will now get to blame widespread worm outbreaks on piracy. And so piracy and the inconvenience caused by worms will be tied together in consumer/media's mind. Actually a reasonably smart move on their part, although could well backfire if not spun properly.

      The next worm will lead to headlines saying "Widespread network breakdowns caused by unpatched machines of pirates" rather than "Widespread network breakdowns caused by poor Windows security"

  2. It won't matter much... by halivar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If the pirates are trying to install SP2, then they already have Windows installed. That means MS has already got their marketshare boost, and need not worry about actually supporting the pirate.

    After all, do you really think all those pirates are going to say, "Darn you, Microsoft!" and go install Gentoo?

    I think not.

  3. Re:SP2 Disabling Pirate Copies by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 5, Insightful
    That would be a disastrous approach for Microsoft. First, there's the PR issue with peddling products that seem to be "out to get" the customers, rightly or wrongly.

    Second, there are millions of casual pirates who install Windows on more machines than they've licensed, or who "borrow" a copy from work. Many of these people just aren't ever going to buy the appropriate number of copies of the OS, especially at retail prices. However, they do benefit Microsoft by remaining in the Windows "ecosystem", increasing its value through the network effect. If they crack down on these people, many of them will go to the effort to learn Linux or some other solution, thereby increasing the influence of alternative ecosystems at the expense of Microsoft's influence. This increased familiarity of alternative solutions in the general public would lower the barriers for Microsoft's lucrative customers, like entire businesses, from dumping all of their Microsoft products and switching to alternatives.

  4. No by aussie_a · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They hate OSS users more, because at least, the pirates could theorically be brought to justice and/or made to cough-up cash to Billy-Boy, whereas they just can't LEGALLY lay their hands on OSS users and squeeze cash out of them...

    No, they hate OSS users more because they don't contribute to making Microsoft the standard. If every pirate switched to Linux, you wouldn't be able to use a word document and figure most of the people you talk to will be able to read it. Instead you'll have to use another, non-Microsoft file format. But if you do that, then there is less reason for you to be using Windows, so more people will be inclined to move over to other operating systems.

    Pirates make Microsoft the standard among home users.