ArsTechnica.com have a new article with some information on the new Windows Product Activation (WPA) software that will be included in consumer versions of the upcoming Windows XP. The WPA system is basically the Microsoft version of the CD key.

If WPA is in your copy of Windows XP, you'll have 30 days to activate the product using either the Internet or a phone-in system. Sources assure us that the phone-in system will be fast, and independent from Microsoft Support. Most people, either via dialup or LAN connections, will simply activate Windows XP seamlessly (hopefully) over the net.

Its got an interesting section in there about how it will work that would be of particular interest to gamers - using hardware IDs to track installations, and covers concerns that frequent upgraders might have under this new system.

sounds pretty interesting.

but yeah, upgraders would be f***ed.

As if any self-respecting computer user would be using the consumer version anyway.

Pah!


Oh well

but that ruins me pirating it
hehehe

sif you'd upgrade when you have a decently working OS that supports everything anyway

XP can GGF

What? Yeah right.. supports everything *NOW* but the OS won't be out for however long and by that time you'll be wanting to buy some new device/pheriphal and it will ONLY have support under XP. Then you'll HAVE to upgrade to that piece of s***.

You may think you won't need to upgrade.. but you will. Microsoft will make sure of that. Locking in developers, locking in manufacturers, and locking in you. Fear not, it's what they are best at.

they tried a similar thing with MS Office 2k with the ringing up and s***

didnt work though..

"The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck, is probably the day they start making vacuum cleaners." -Ernst Jan Plugge

this will be cracked and hacked, but it will still be an inconvenience.

it would be worse if the gay thing did checks on your reg key every time you opened an ie window, or every time you dial-up or connected to the net.

there's always ways around it, no doubt there will be ISO versions pre-cracked.
It'd really suck if they started to crack down on illegitemate people that they detected using the software tho :/

"It'd really suck if they started to crack down on illegitemate people that they detected using the software tho :/"

it's inevitable

Yeah, the Office 2k thing sucked ass...caused me no end of trouble after I upgraded and formatted...

yeh i mate of mine who formatted/upgrade quite frequently and kept ringing them up for keys started to get questioned a bit as to why he was always ringin up. They were quite suss on him

As if I could be bothered ringing them up...

Google + 15 seconds = fixed

UK law states that this is an invasion of privacy so any version from the uk should theoretically not have WPA no hacking required :)

guess where all the isos are comming from

I laugh at how people jump too quickly at the "Invasion of Privacy" etc and its illegal.

True its illegal to take information from a system without the users consent. But what we have here is a EULA which will state that if you wish to install this software and use it you will agree to the terms.

This is a totally different issue than simply taking information.

In the case of these products and how they are being positioned I believe I am in a better postion to comment. Since I work there.

Wonder if I should do a spot check next lan hmmm :)))
My guess will be 30% of the machines will be useing the same key or the same warez Internal Select cd ahaha.

Dont call the Doom merchants just yet guys..its no where near as bad as it seems.

If anyone wants to boast they have an "inside source" ( sif ya would ) feel free to swing an email my way v-johnco@microsoft.com

Later guys

Trying to arrange some give aways too for us all.

I laugh at how people jump too quickly at the "Invasion of Privacy" etc and its illegal.

True its illegal to take information from a system without the users consent. But what we have here is a EULA which will state that if you wish to install this software and use it you will agree to the terms.

This is a totally different issue than simply taking information.

In the case of these products and how they are being positioned I believe I am in a better postion to comment. Since I work there.

Wonder if I should do a spot check next lan hmmm :)))
My guess will be 30% of the machines will be useing the same key or the same warez Internal Select cd ahaha.

Dont call the Doom merchants just yet guys..its no where near as bad as it seems.

If anyone wants to boast they have an "inside source" ( sif ya would ) feel free to swing an email my way v-johnco@microsoft.com

Later guys

Trying to arrange some give aways too for us all.

Does anyone actually sit there and read the EULA like they are told to? I know I never do :). Perhaps if it were in reasonably understandable english, and not the size of a novel some people may have read it. :)

Hey I agree, its just that it has to cover just about every countries juristiction and all that legal mumbo jumbo, just pity the guys who have to proof read them and ACTUALLY understand and agree its legally binding.

Take about wanting to love ya job and have job satisfaction.

"Honey what did you do today ?"

"Nothing much..just wrote a new EULA that noone will read "

Lol. :)

Sif some assembler freak wont just take out all the code that does the connecting to ms's storage system

Get JC on the job. he will find a way :D

Hey I agree, its just that it has to cover just about every countries juristiction and all that legal mumbo jumbo, just pity the guys who have to proof read them and ACTUALLY understand and agree its legally binding.

Take about wanting to love ya job and have job satisfaction.

"Honey what did you do today ?"

"Nothing much..just wrote a new EULA that noone will read "

why not have another pc setup for using the net and have that box blocking all microsoft addys......

My guess will be 30% of the machines will be useing the same key or the same warez Internal Select cd ahaha.

more like 80% ;)

I think there was something in that article that alluded to the fact that there will be a blacklisted set of keys that they'll be blocking, or something.

speed the day that linux is easy enough to use for the average dummy, and can use microsoft software like aoe2(e.g.) with minimal knowledge required on the dummies part

as if anyone wants to pay for an os when there is free alternatives. no cdkeys/m$ paranoia

although isnt linux's original creator now working for microsoft?

just saying hello : ) i gunna own this board : )

Close but linux's origional creator (Linus Torvalds) is working for some chip manufacturing company. They recon they have a CPU which can be sooftware upgraded.

He wouldn't go so low to join MS

He's working for transmeta, which is also where ex-id ninja Dave Taylor works

i never read anything like the EULA
its blah blah
I Agree > next
next
next
finish
yay new program