Watch Out Win 7 Hackers

[ua549]

You contradicted yourself regarding Apple. If OSX can only run on Apple hardware, then it does not run on industry standard hardware. AFAIK hardware must have an Apple fingerprint to install OSX. That makes the hardware non-standard.

[Nater]

Considering that I've had OSX running on non-Apple hardware, it can't be that difficult. The main thin required is EFI. Last time I check, x86 was the industry standard and Apple is running them.

[ua549]

I must have misunderstood you.

The big difference is that Apple only ostensibly allows installation of it's OS on it's own computers.

[Sam888]

I was reading here and there that the MSDN version (the one the pirates/hackers are using) also has an expiry date. Can anyone confirm?

[RealBeast]

I was reading here and there that the MSDN version (the one the pirates/hackers are using) also has an expiry date. Can anyone confirm?

MSDN has every version of Win 7 for download and I've used most. AFAIK none have an expiration, and they continue to be active even if you do not renew your subscription.

MSDN has keys to download so I don't see any pirate connection. I thought that most of the pirates were using the RTM version from the summer.

[Sam888]

Thanks. Who knows then. Most are calling them MSDN and a few are calling them RTM. The bottom line is that MSDN dont have an expiry.

[Nabby]

You seem to be comparing retail software prices rather than bundled OEM software prices.

You are also ignoring many other sources for inexpensive Microsoft software such as Tech Net where $250 will get a home user 10 Windows 7 Ultimate licenses plus all sorts of server and Office products.

Wait, I just wanted to make sure but isn't technet software meant for development purposes only? So it would be illegal to use it in one's home would it not?

[Nabby]

Wait, I just wanted to make sure but isn't technet software meant for development purposes only? So it would be illegal to use it in one's home would it not?

NM, I just went over to look at their licensing agreement and I'm buying this tomorrow with their current promotion of 28% off. I was confusing this with MSDN licensing which is for devs.

[Nater]

Any Technet subscriber that has downloaded any Microsoft OS isn't going to have to worry about it expiring. As for the pirated versions, who knows. I don't pirate Windows. Photoshop? Sure, but not Windows. An operating system allows a lot of attack surface, anyone willing to risk being without critical updates is dumb. Saving a hundred bucks on a license is small potatoes compared to what will happen when a particularly vicious botnet snags your credit card number.

The versions of Windows 7 that are expiring are the RC versions, both one and two.

[Sam888]

True, very true. I know people who have used the old original unhacked XP Pro version and then updated to SP1, 2, and 3. Nowadays, you can get the full version online. It's hacked quite a bit. I have read where people are *****ing about the newer pirated versions. There's all sorts of talk now too that you don't have to pay for Windows 7, just download it online. Initially, there were links to MSDN downloads for the different versions of Windows 7. But, if you go and see the comments on the torrent sites, people aren't too happy now with their install, if they're able to install it at all. I just happened to see many comments saying that the MSDN version had an expiry and I was just curious.

And like my rep at my local PC builder store told, me. Why take the risk with the hacked version of Win 7 when you can buy the legal licensed version of Win 7 Pro for under $150?

[RealBeast]

ua549 convinced me -- if you have just two computers, MSDN is too good a deal to pass up. With the online coupons it's available for $250 and includes any version of Windows 7 with many licenses and Office 2010 coming soon, as well as all the other interesting stuff to play with. I subscribed and now it is a must have for me.

I built a couple extra machines out of spare parts just to try out some different Win 7 versions and now those rigs are folding 24/7. And the bonus is I turned the heat off downstairs because all my computers keep it nice and warm.

[ua549]

Anyone with Windows 7 who chooses to use XP mode gets a free license to use XP in the VM.

[RealBeast]

Anyone with Windows 7 who chooses to use XP mode gets a free license to use XP in the VM.

ua549, I found that extremely useful.

No dual boot, just a windowed XP mode that has network connections to all my devices and can run legacy stuff like HP networked TWAIN based scan and fax software, and of course old games for an old gamer.

[ua549]

I use it to run my scanner because it doesn't have any drivers for Vista or Win7.
I simply have a shortcut on my quick start bar for scanning. There is no need to even start a VM.

[Gary K]

Yet Windows 7 IS light years ahead of the next best. (Ubuntu - IMHO)

I don't miss the days of Apple, Commodore, TRS-80, KayPro - nothing works with anything else. One BIG reason I detest the Mac - a return to proprietary crap.

DOS was the great unifier of all things computer, Windows keeps things unified.

Uh..... You're actually saying Windows and all MS products aren't proprietary? LOL. You don't understand the word "proprietary"....

From the Merriam-Webster online dictionary:

2 : something that is used, produced, or marketed under exclusive legal right of the inventor or maker; specifically : a drug (as a patent medicine) that is protected by secrecy, patent, or copyright against free competition as to name, product, composition, or process of manufacture

Just change "patent medicne" to MS software and you'll see what I mean.

Here's a link to definitions of proprietary software from Google.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&d...e&ved=0CAYQkAE

Also, MS doesn't keep anything unified in the computer world. They do their best to make sure their software won't interact with other OS's. MS is the biggest breaker of standards that there is, and they do it purposely.