The "Aero" look for Windows Vista will be available only for users with genuine copies of the windows os..users need to go through the genuine copy test online to acquire the aero look. "Aero" includes translucent windows, animated flipping between open programs, and icons that show thumbnails of opened files.

This was stated in "Windows Vista Guide" a document that was briefly posted in its website and then pulled by Microsoft for whatever reason.

Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)- Microsoft's anti-piracy program checks for genuine Windows running in the user's PC so for was used for validating use of Microsoft's Download Center and for security updates from Windows Update security patch service. Microsoft is now extending the strategy to even acquire the aero look unique to Vista which I would say is a part of the os..very soon Microsoft would want us to download the whole OS after entering a 'ticket'?!


full story

Yes it seems thats what Microsoft will do in the future. But despite all their efforts, those determined to sell pirated copies find out some way or the other to provide all the features of the original version without having to download anything from manufacturer's site, thus bypassing all their efforts to curb piracy. I feel, these measures only create problems for genuine users, as did the controversial Product Activation feature which was introduced with WindowsXP.

Let them, the less pirated versions of Windows, the more people will start using Alternative Operating systems which are free, moreover, the less Windows users, the less income for Windows and Companies which create commercial software for It and etc.. So I don't think it will be so unPirated as was said above in the Post. And I don't think a lot at the start will change to Vista, due to XP can do a lot and takes less resources, the same was when XP appeared, only after some time a lot of people started using it.

This post has been edited by Quatrux: Apr 14 2006, 08:52 AM

Just another pointless try to protect software that's really not worth protecting.

This is such a bad move. Because, as much as we are advance, there are so many people that don't (or can't) have the Internet. So what will they do? They will probably have to by pirated copies, which will surely have everything. It's quite hard to believe that the Russians won't be able to make a Windows Vista copy with everything available in the real version.

Funny thing is that people already circumvent the WGA system, it's easy now to get the Aero feature.

xboxrulz

Microsoft is automatically assuming that people are automatically/ by default going to be online. It really hasn't thought about users who may not wish to go online for whatever reasons. Supposing they do actually purchase the original copy, they'd want to have the complete features, and, Microsoft would have to provide for what users are paying for.

However, if the downloadable features are only 'addon' features that are available online, then having only oiginal copy users accessing these is a 'now regular' feature of the Windows Download center. Thre is no way that Microsoft will get off with providing some users (those able to access the internet) with full features and those not acccessing the internet with features (disabled or unavailable), so long as both sections of the purchasing ustomers are paying the same price.

I have no problem with Microsoft trying to protect their software with whatever means they have available (however we may disagree with those methods), but I don't like the idea that a software I may plan to purchase would have its (key) features available only as an add-on download. What's the point of buying software that's basically incomplete? Might as well tag it as shareware if that's how they want to run things, and have Vista available as a trial mode with the full features of the OS available after purchase. =^^=

Truth to tell, I was kind of expecting some sort of corporate Nazism from Microsoft regarding their latest OS, but even I was surprised with how stupid the collective brains of such a software giant could be. This could hardly be called a wise move — in fact, it's probably more likely to turn off potential customers looking to buy the real thing than prevent software pirates from pirating Vista. After all, don't software pirates already worship Bill Gates? =^^=

Well, that's for sure. This thing is going to piss off a lot of loyal customers of Microsoft and probably won't affect the people who use pirated stuff. The pirates obviously will look at this like a new challenge and will definitely be able to crack it. Someone always does.

Windows is already incomplete. That's why I'm sticking to Windows XP and Linux.

I don't want 72 million versions of one OS. I want ONE! I also don't want to pay $200 for basically "buggy" software. Again, another reason why I'm migrating over to Linux as much as possible.

Another thing about Vista that is a load of garbage is the security. It wants PERMISSION to DELETE a file!!! I don't know why Microsoft just doesn't "copy" the Linux structure and split it up like this:

Administrator -> FULL computer usage; can do anything
Regular User -> Can't access all the important stuff; can't modify system files

Boom, there ya go. Windows = Virus free or less.

Also, Vista is demanding. You need like a $3,000 comp just to run EVERYTHING correctly. I don't know about you guys, but I DON'T want to buy a new computer just so I can run another piece of software. It makes no sense to me.

[N]F