Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Sets Value Of Pirated Windows: $1
nick_davison writes "The BBC is reporting that Microsoft has reached a deal with the Indonesian government on pirated software - which is believed to affect around 50,000 government PCs. Under the deal, Indonesia will pay $1 per copy and agree to buy legally in the future. Indonesia's information minister, Sofyan Djalil, said, "Microsoft is being realistic. They can't force developing countries like us to solely use legal software since we can't afford it. They want us to gradually reduce our use of it." Somehow it seems unlikely the same rules will be applied to developing companies and poorer individuals in the United States."
Why is Indonesia submitting to Microsoft like this? Are they afraid Microsoft will no longer do business with them? Well, it seems that that doesn't matter. They'll just pirate any necessary software some way or another. What does Indonesia gain from this?
Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
...I went to Indonesia and bought a legal version of Windows and brought it back here, would it still be legal? That means if I bought several hundred licenses there I could resell them here for a nice profit :D
Cheers,
RoadkillBunny
The real question is how the government of a country too poor to pay for Windows got 50000 PCs.
500GB of disk, 5TB of transfer, $5.95/mo
And her exact words (after a five minute rant about how the guy was an asshole) were, and I quote:
"Damnit this is awful. But it sounds about right. After that damned Suharto ran off with $30 billion dollars, there was no way in hell we could ever afford to pay for anything. But still, better for him to steal it than Microsoft."
Helloooo, then DEVELOP some software! I think the parent of your post is saying that if they can not afford Windows, then use something cheaper or free. Or maybe get rid of computers all together? 50 years ago I think indonesia was trucking along quite well without computers.
In fact, why don't you create the software they need to avoid paying MS. They are a developing country, so they can't/won't pay you, but go ahead and do it anyway, you know, because they are developing.
They only believe she is innocent because she is young and kind of attractive, and because the TV made her look innocent.
If she looked like me they would be passing the hat around to buy the bullets to shoot me with.
POKE 36879,8
They couldn't afford it, so they used pirated copies. The agreed to pay $1 for the 50,000 copies they have now, and agree to pay licensing for future upgrade.
If they couldn't afford it now, how will they affor it in the future?
And, what's to say, I can't afford Windows, so, can I pay $1? They got to, why can't I?
"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." -- Sigmund Freud
What i dont get is why on the news they dont seem to inform the public that her sister owns a night club in Indonesia or that her b/f is a convicted drug fellon.
I think its kinda relevant in deciding whether shes guilty or not!
I've been to Indonesia briefly. If I remember correctly, one dollar translates to about 10,000 Rupies, which will buy you a pretty good meal just about anywhere, or an unreliable CD containing mp3s of every Bob Marley song ever recorded, or 10 packs of ramen (ramen costs the same everywhere in the world), or about 5 or 10 angkot rides, or more biskuat than you can eat in one sitting. I stayed a few days in a hotel in Batu Karas for about about $4-$5 a night for a room shared with a couple friends. You can buy antibiotics for about a dollar or so I believe.
I didn't see many computers there, so I don't know if Linux is very well established, but no one cares about piracy over there. The percieved cost of windows is about the same as the percieved cost of Linux: whatever it costs to get a burned copy from a street vendor. "Joe sixpack" is unlikely to own a computer (though TVs are very common), but if he does, he'll probably use whatever everyone else is using, which is probably Windows.
I'm from Indonesia, even here I think only a few people buy legal, indonesian version of windows. Compared to pirated version it's still expensive. Please don't think that company over here is too poor to buy the software, they can buy $2000,- worth hardware. It's just not feasible under Indonesian business practice. It's cheaper to pay the authorities (read: corrupted police officer) than to pay microsoft. Mind you, this is one of the most corrupted goverment in the world, and the standard average salary in the goverment is very low
Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching
I don't know why Americans always talk about "legal" copies of Windows, music, and so on, like it's some universal absolute. Legal depends on the jurisdiction, and there are at least 200 countries that are not the United States.
If Indonesia decides that copying Windows is legal, then it's legal there.
He who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.
Ah yes, conveniently forgetting about the three death sentences and one life sentence for those who actually took part in the bombing. It's like an online version of Fox News around here sometimes.
Well, as a Canadian living in Indonesia for the last thirteen years, I have been following the outcry over the verdict much more closely than the trial itself.
Would she be found guilty in any given Western country, if she was found with 4kg of dope but without any evidence that it was not hers? I think you would have to say yes. I note that Australians now are split 50-50 according to the latest poll, whereas right after the trial 90% were said to think she iss innocent. I imagine this is due to the stories going around about her families long history of drug dealing.
Do I *know* if she is guilty or innocent? No. Do I think there was sufficient evidence presented to convict her beyond a reasonable doubt? Yup. Was the judge too harsh in not allowing her to explain her defence? Maybe, but what evidence could she present?
Next, separate, question: Was 20 years too much? People differ on their views on drug trafficking sentencing, but Southeast Asian countries take it very seriously. In Singapore and many other countries, she would be executed. I also think her sentence was influenced by the Australian bozo who flew up to hold press conferences and plead her case in the media, then announced that someone had approached him about bribing the judge. I don't imagine that led the judge to look too kindly on the whole thing. With friends like that...
The subject who is truly loyal to the Chief Magistrate will neither advise nor submit to arbitrary measures (Junius)
One thing they could do would be to just refuse to provide support to customers who buy 'grey-imports'.
I've seen other companies do this. Users buy a product over-seas thinking that they are getting a bargain, then they call the company for support and are told to pay or go away. It won't really affect the technies who can support themselves but it makes it difficult for people who will need some help.
-- Using the preview button since 2005