No Activation for XP!

[ErnieK]

Here is a direct quote from the Binks web site (http://winxp.bink.nu/)

I might move to Thailand

An interesting little report in the Wall Street Journal:
In order to compete with the Thai government's plan to sell a million cheapo Linux PCs, which we covered earlier, Microsoft did some fancy footwork on pricing. And on activation.

According to the Journal, Microsoft said it would sell WIndows XP and Office at a piffling $36 a PC.

And Microsoft also agreed to make specific Thai versions of Windows XP, IE and the Media Player.

But here's the real stunner, aside from the price. The Vole also removed the need for product activation for Windows XP in Thailand, at the government's request.

So what gives?

If it can do all these marvelous things in Thailand, why not anywhere else on our planet? As Windows XP forms a particularly large item in a PC's bill of materials, resellers everywhere would certainly welcome this one.

And here is the he supplies to the Inquirer with the full details.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=11058

[Mark Miller]

MS will do anything to keep market share, even giving software away. I can't find the article but they made the gov of Frankfurt [I think] a real low ball price to run their server programs, got turned down for more money to go with Linux.
Not enough people have complained or not bought XP for them to drop price in Western world. YET!!!!!
Mark

[ErnieK]

They never will drop the price in the western world. M$ knows that 90% of users (home and business) have bought some version of windows.

IMHO one of the main reasons for the above is the ammount of piracy in the region.

By droping the price, and selling it below cost price, M$ hopes that they will sell enough legitimate packages to be able to say that they are finally beating piracy.

Yet again WE will pay through the nose for this give away.

[Budfred]

I doubt that is below MS cost. They copy the disks for a few pennies and they include minimal documentation. Converting to Thai is probably the main additional expense.

This scheme will also encourage piracy since it will be easier to copy and install without the activation. I bet MS is counting on this as a way to undermine the effort to go to Linux....

[Mark Miller]

Hi Bud,
I agree with you completely. It's the same deal as what happened in Germany,anything to keep the customer and keep them from using linux.
Mark

[ErnieK]

I stand corrected and see a lot of sense,and agree, with what you say.

[BBS]

Pirated XP software is rampant in Asia where you can buy any software priced on number of CD, not the software, in the package. A CD costs less than USD5.0 in some countries.

Activation? Forget it if you have pirated software. Pirates know how to avoid it. Either they modify the software or add a small program to fool the software that activation is already done.

If you are honest user, bought XP paying hundres of dollars. What you get with this high price is troubles.

You add additional hardware? Activate again.

You have problem, say with Office XP. You reinstall it and find the same problem. You also have another legal copy of the Office XP. You uninstall the first one and try to install from the second copy. Your computer will not recognise the instalaltion key unless you format the HD.

[setoguro]

Maybe this will shed a little more light on why they are dropping activation and reinforce what Budfred is saying.

check this out (http://news.com.com/2100-1016_3-5070335.html?tag=cnetfd.buzz)