Genuine Windows Blog

Speaking about WGA, let me make you all aware of the cracks that currently exist for Vista:

1. The "Frankenbuild"

2. The KMS server VMware image

3. The 2099 BIOS trick

I figure the next incarnation will either be a phone activation crack or a crack that provides activated status rather than an extended trial. I've also seen rumors of a multi keygen:

http://dltv.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/microsoft-in-for-a-surprise-windows-vista-keygen/

If they figure out how to crack Ultimate with phone activation, the Pirates will kill WGA. How? The same old scenario like XP, when users were cracking the activation, eventually Microsoft allowed Automatic Critical updates because pirated unpatched XP boxes with disabled Auto updates were creating a security catastrophe for paying home and business users. Eventually Microsoft will realize it's an impossible battle, all WGA does for you is verify the piracy numbers, don't believe it's intimidating or stopping people from cracking Vista, google around!!! Don't take it personal, Adobe, Symantec and a handful of other companies have tried and failed as well in trying to lock down their products. As a result Symantec caught the hint when they tried to stop Systemworks cracks which lead to their decision to keep their Antivirus Corporate product password and activation free to install, ironically one of their least bootlegged versions, hmmmm......

If Microsoft was mine to control...........

I would cut down Vista to two versions, Ultimate and Home Premium replacing XP Pro and Home respectively. I would then lower new Ultimate licenses down to $149.99 and Home Premium to $99.99 with no activation and blow Mac and Linux the hell out da' box with guns blazin'. Imagine the buzz a 50% price break. It would blow up Vista sales numbers breaking any existing sales records of previous Windows versions. Business customers will be quicker to jump at Vista. With my prices it would be cheaper to upgrade to Vista instead of XP or 2000. I could see management willing to take a risk on trying Vista earlier strictly for the cost savings. I will guarantee piracy numbers will drop more then half as most would be satisfied with Home Premium and be willing to pay $100 for it. I'd also eliminate the Ultimate Extras and revert it back to the Plus! Program so all could get in on the Texas Hold 'em and Dreamscenes. With the money saved on removing activation technology development costs and the increase in paid license holders, you'll break even..........

Instead their unrealistic pricing only fuels piracy and makes it a lucrative product for pirate markets and Businesses look at the cost nightmare and KMS servers as way to much overhead, leaving your cash cow Business customer on the fence with Vista. Most Businesses I have consulted for in I.T. are looking to do whatever they need to do to keep XP as long as possible despite MS support status. Just to add I did a NT 4.0 server upgrade for a client last week, had to talk him hard into going 2003 over 2000 based on cost. Businesses are cheap by nature and do not see any benefit to upgrading in most cases and usually do so only when their hands are tied. Unfortunately most of these decisions are made by I.T. managers who know TCO and know nothing about compatibility and stability or implementation. The budget is all it's about these days, innovation is few and far in between. Microsoft should know their customers better...