Romanian President Tells Bill Gates How Awesome Pirated Software Is For His Country
from the keep-sending-it,-please dept
Back in the old days, even Bill Gates would admit that piracy actually helped Microsoft, as it helped get people "addicted" to the software and built up the network effects that made Microsoft into the massively profitable powerhouse it is today. However, more recently, he's been among those campaigning for overly strict efforts to stamp out piracy, so it must have been rather uncomfortable for him earlier this week on his European Vista launch tour to listen to Romanian President Traian Basescu talk about what a wonderful boon for the Romanian economy pirated Microsoft software has been, noting that it helped create a Romanian IT industry. Apparently, the tech industry in the country is still growing rapidly. And, of course, it's very likely that this has helped Microsoft's bottom line tremendously. The growth of any IT industry in the country, aided by the unauthorized copies, almost definitely resulted in many more legitimate licenses being purchased than would have happened otherwise. Yet, these days, Microsoft won't admit that at all, and rather pretends the opposite is true; claiming that unauthorized copies "harm" the economy, by not having that money go into the local Microsoft bank account. Of course, confronted with all of this, Bill Gates stood mute and didn't say anything about the issue of how such unauthorized copying helped make Microsoft so successful.
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aah crap!
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I learned to pirate from Bill
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Re: I learned to pirate from Bill
A LOT of software did that, until they started using disks with holes in them or what have you as anti-piracy measures. Then they started the 'disk replacement' programs where you paid $5-$50 'shipping and handling' to get replacement disks.
At least microsoft still lets you make copies/make your own windows install disks. I haven't used my originals in years(Mostly because I slipstreamed SP2, and then SATA/RAID drivers onto the disks, gotta love nLite)
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MS is way too overconfident
The challenge for them is this idea that they can convert these "addicts". If they were the only show in town then yes, but they are not. By tightening the Screws all they are doing is waking up the "lazy people" into finally looking for alternatives. (which are plentiful).
vista is not the operating system everyone wants.... its success is purely a function of an exploited monopoly. That's not the best position to be in for a software comapny.
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Re: MS is way too overconfident
also, i dunno what you're talking about with the success of vista. i'd have to say that the release of vista is not living up to anyone's expectations. even i, who was not looking forward to vista at all, was someone surprised by the lack of enthusiasm.
i also have to say that i think microsoft is a little bit too greedy with their current piracy tactics. they do have a huge market share, so its not like piracy is hurting them all that much. for the most part, i'd say people who pirate the software are people who wouldn't purchase it in the first place due to its price. beyond that, i'd say having people pirate windows would be great because it now greatly increases the chances of them becoming dependent on microsoft. its not always the initial purchase that has to make the profit for a company. sometimes its the customer always having to come back to them later on. so, they shouldn't complain too much when they lose some money on their first "transaction" with a person because chances are they'll make money off the same person later down the road. they should be looking at the pirated software as a hook.
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Re: MS is way too overconfident
Learn the basic grammatical structure before you post any piece of text online again.
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Re: Re: MS is way too overconfident
ScaredOfTheMan clearly has a greater mastery of the english language than you yourself have.
/sigh....
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Re: Re: MS is way too overconfident
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Re: Re: MS is way too overconfident
How embarrasing wood it b if some1 criticizing anuther posters engrish made a PUNCTUATION ERROR????
Do you speak it.
- or -
Do you speak it?
It bothers me when people write derogitory comments to someone else ONLINE (yes, this page can be viewed in countries other than the US). That poster you are calling a motherfucker is just trying to contribute to a healthy discussion of Microsoft, why do you feel the need to belittle them?
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Re: Re: MS is way too overconfident
Forgot to capitalize the 'd' at the beginning or your sentence.
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Re: Re: MS is way too overconfident
Learn the basic grammatical structure before you post any piece of text online again.
That is too funny! Which one are you, the pot or the kettle?
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Re: Re: MS is way too overconfident
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Re: Re: MS is way too overconfident
fred
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Re: MS is way too overconfident
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Re: Re: MS is way too overconfident
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Re: Re: Re: MS is way too overconfident
AmaroK instead of iTunes
OO Writer instead of Word
GNUcash instead of Quicken etc...
Some of the native Linux replacements are much better then their Win counterparts (if you give them a chance) and some are not; but try to find native Linux apps instead of using Wine and CrossOver Office when you can.
Good Luck
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Re: MS is way too overconfident
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Re: MS is way too overconfident
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Reference
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I'm thankful for it
The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.
Yes, that was a shameless star wars quote. However, its perfectly applicable.
Everyone knows that Microsoft was able to build its empire thanks in large part to piracy. So if they try to remove piracy, then that will only allow someone else to build an empire with either the benefits fo piracy, or just because they get a new userbase that cannot (yet) afford to properly license windows.
So I'm thankful that microsoft is trying to alienate all its customers, both the paying and the nonpauing. This action will breed competition, which history has shown, is good for all.
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Piracy Helped My Economy
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But then, I wasn't being a child and flaming anyone for 'sub-standard' grammar on a freakin' weblog.
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Re: Re: MS is way too overconfident by bob
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Re: Re: MS is way too overconfident by bob
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Its true.. Piracy does help
But the truth is, being able to pirate software help slingshot MS and all software companies by allowing more people access to use their software.
I started playing with Windows and DOS only because it was free ! As a kid, I can't afford the costs of software. But by using the software, I became use to it and now its a part of everybody's lives.
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There is a bit of a curve, but it's on the right track and help is never far away.
I myself am actively trying to remove the microshaft from my.... (I'll leave the explicits to the others - they are far better at it.)
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Re:
good luck
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you are gay
long live the pirates... of the caribbean.
and google #1 pirate in world along with Maddox.
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hmm...
This seems like a good piece of text to put a link on or something to back it up. Otherwise, you're just being appalled that Microsoft won't admit to something that you imagine might be true.
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Arrr matey
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Arrr matey
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MS is in a downward slide...
my 12 homes systems to Linux (Ubuntu 6.10).
Have 6 converted already.
I will keep 3 systems on XP just for the gaming.
The rest are Linux bound and loving it. No chance in
hell of me buying Vista (ever).
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Numbers?
Almost definitely? Have numbers, or is this just a "common sense" assumption? Or wishful thinking?
And the next time you're at work, I'd like to hear your reaction to your boss's statement that all your work this week was REALLY appreciated, and will almost definitely result in a paycheck... sometime in the future.
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Re: Numbers?
there's a difference between an employee getting paid for work and a company making money in the economy. the analogy you draw here isn't very good. a huge install base due to piracy is most likely much more beneficial than a much smaller install base where everyone paid. knowing the the difference between wanting to make a quick buck now or much more money later is what separates good companies from the bad ones.
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so along with Microsoft, the RIAA and MPAA would have to be shutdown or split up.
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Different Strokes for Different Fokes...
Back in the 19th century (and into the early 20th), the US considered itself a developing country, which meant among other things it didn't feel the need to respect the copyright laws of other countries. For instance, the works of Charles Dickens were mercilessly ripped off and sold without the author getting a penny.
Another well-known case was an early silent film, George Melie's "La Voyage Dans La Lune". A copy of this was stolen by Thomas Edison, who exhibited it widely it in the US, again without the original artists getting a single penny. This story is told in the last part of Tom Hanks' epic 12-part series "From The Earth To The Moon".
But of course, when other countries try to claim similar rights nowadays, they get told nooooo...
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Well stuff claiming the rights then.
1) The USA could not invade^7^7^7^7^7^7liberate them all.
2) TEhy might make more on tax than they loose on US aid.
3) The rest of the world likes them for being anti-american without blowing things up/crashing planes.
4) M$ gets annoyed.
5) ditto the RIAA/MPAA
6) even if they make less on tax than they loose on US aid, everyone else has to be nice to them.
This won't happen though, because they are genarally too busy arguing amongst themselves to agree on such things. Good thing for the USA
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no, it was IBM, SUN and Cisco
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