OT: Which is better: XP or 2000? > Another Piracy Discussion - Page 4

Alneyan · #31 November 28th, 2003, 02:55 AM

There is a router, but it doesn't seem to be automatically working. Or rather, I cannot make it work correctly to share the connection without using some software. (No wonder given my computer literacy skills which are almost nil) *Grumbles*

Baron Grazic · #32 November 28th, 2003, 03:02 AM

Oops, perhaps I should have said 'rarely' turn it off, instead of never.

JayBdey · #33 November 28th, 2003, 05:54 AM

I would like to know how it has managed to "phone home" without an internet connection. Unless all XP machines came with a satellite up link to allow wireless communication with the MS mother ship.

Fyron · #34 November 28th, 2003, 06:38 AM

What exactly did you install? XP Home? XP Pro? XP Pro Enterprise edition? Some of them don't have the activation IIRC (the ones designed for businesses setting up large networks with lots of PCs...).

JayBdey · #35 November 28th, 2003, 06:40 AM

I will have to ask the friend that I got it from. He works at a large company and I asked him if he could "borrow" an XP disc for me.

I know it is not XP home, it is XP pro or some variant of it.

Fyron · #36 November 28th, 2003, 07:13 AM

Then it was probably a copy licensed under an enterprise license... which makes it illegal for you to have installed it.

JayBdey · #37 November 28th, 2003, 07:27 AM

woopdy-doo.

I don't have a legal piece of software on this system. If I had the money I would definitely pay for it, people do deserve to get payed for their work. But I don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on software.

Photo Shop alone costs 599$ I could build a new PC (or two!) for that much.

SpaceBadger · #38 November 28th, 2003, 07:33 AM

The defense "I needed it so I took it, even though I couldn't afford to pay for it" may have some arguable validity when talking about food to feed one's starving family, but I hardly see software as that sort of necessity. By extension, it would be silly of you to buy a new computer, or parts to build one, if you could just steal them instead.

SpaceBadger

JayBdey · #39 November 28th, 2003, 07:38 AM

Ah but there is where your argument is flawed.

Stealing would require me to take something, thus depriving the owner of use of the original. If I steal a car the car is gone, the owner no longer has it. But If I download some software, someone who payed for it doesn't loose their ability to use it. I have only made a copy. One more copy exists, at no cost to the maker (admittedly, at no profit either)

I could steal a painting, or I could take a picture of the painting. The painting is still there, but I also have use of it with my copy of it.

It is wrong, but it is not stealing.

SpaceBadger · #40 November 28th, 2003, 07:51 AM

Pffft. So in your view someone who wants to play SEIV and just gets a copy of the CD from a friend has not stolen anything from Aaron Hall or from Shrapnel? Get real.

Hmm, you said there wasn't any legal software on your system - does that include games? Do you think that your "need" for a game outweighs the creator's interest in getting paid for his work?

SpaceBadger