Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work? | Everything Microsoft

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:54:02 GMT

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re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

panache1023 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:20:55 GMT

Percent of people that think Mike Galos is an MS loving fanboy loser with no life except patting MS on the back: 100%

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

shark47 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:11:00 GMT

Don't OEM PCs come pre-activated? I think the user only has to register, which is also optional, I believe. I might be wrong.

This is a problem that affects people like Paul, who constantly test out new versions.

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

mikegalos@msn.com — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:49:56 GMT

"Mike Galos arriving to tell us MS can do no wrong in 3...2...1..."

Actually, I was waiting for an intelligent comment but that didn't happen...

While we wait, I would like to point out the following two numbers for your consideration as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11's flight to the moon:

Percent of people who think the Apollo moon landings were faked: 6%

Percent of computer users who use Macintosh: 3.5%

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

chuckb84 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:17:34 GMT

"There has to be a better way. What's even more ridiculous is the idea of "activating too many times." Hard disk fail, computer's fail, and you're allowed to transfer licences between machines. Yet none of these factors phase Microsoft at all. All it does help fester anti-Microsoft feelings, but only Microsoft has only itself to blame with a very bad DRM scheme and high OS prices."

Yes. Its obvious that there is an asymmetry between the Macintosh and Windows business models here: Apple sold you the hardware, so they can take a very relaxed attitude and avoid an onerous activation scheme. Microsoft has a different problem; that's clear.

However, it's been repeatedly stated here that nearly all Windows OS sales are those preloaded on a new computer. Many Windows OS sales go to businesses. Businesses and OEMs aren't going to engage in wholesale piracy; the risks are just too high. So, what's left? A few percent of sales that are retailed to individuals. How much money does Microsoft lose to piracy to individuals?

Countries with no clear history of not respecting intellectual property----a circumlocution that basically means "China"---are a different story and a difficult question.

Nonetheless, I think Microsoft has it wrong. The WGA scheme is a royal pain in the butt for honest customers (and I'm one of them!), and no deterrent for the piracy that really costs Microsoft serious dollars. I don't know the solution, but the current scheme costs Microsoft a lot of lost good will and gains them very little in preventing piracy.

On the upgrade reinstall question: Why not have the upgrade installer require both the old and the new serial numbers and let it go at that? I've used other software that works that way, and it is a pain, but much less of a pain than what MS seems to be doing.

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

subzerohitman721 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:37:22 GMT

I have to agree wholeheartedly with chuckb84, on both points. Shark, I see your point too. The concept is called deterence. The idea is to use the fear of being caught to deter someone from doing an illegal act.

However, the problem with the DVD antipiracy and Windows Genuine Advantage, is both the same problem. You're treating the paying customer more like a source of piracy, when the real target should be pirates that copies the disk, supply the illegal media, and collect the money for cheap copies. Thats the real target.

If you think its bad with DVD's and WGA, just look how far it goes with Blu-Ray's built in DRM.

There has to be a better way. What's even more ridiculous is the idea of "activating too many times." Hard disk fail, computer's fail, and you're allowed to transfer licences between machines. Yet none of these factors phase Microsoft at all. All it does help fester anti-Microsoft feelings, but only Microsoft has only itself to blame with a very bad DRM scheme and high OS prices.

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

ropp29 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:38:10 GMT

If the hassle described in that post is true, that is ridiculous. When one pays the ripoff price Micro$oft is charging for Windows 7, you should at least get an easy and pleasant experience in return.

I thought I was saving money by pre-ordering two copies, but I have some qualms now that the upgrade version is quite possibly a piece of crap. Maybe I'll have to buy system builder discs or something.

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

shark47 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:32:34 GMT

"Paul has correctly encouraged them to take control of their own narrative and they aren't doing it here. I don't think they can really DO that correctly, because their leadership is such a mess, but in this case they aren't even trying."

What? Do you have robertsjoe write your posts now?

Controversy generates page views (and ad dollars).

I'm not saying Microsoft is in the clear here. Windows activation is painful. Yes, it doesn't stop the serious pirates. Cameras in a store don't stop a serious thief, but the fear of getting caught does prevent some people from shop lifting. Similarly, people don't follow traffic laws because they want to, but because of the fear of getting caught if they break them. Do you think the FBI warning and anti-copying technology on DVD movies stops serious pirates? These are all measures to make the average Joe think twice before downloading software from a torrent site.

Is there a better way to implement the technology in Windows? Probably. But our anger should be directed at those who pirate software or commit crimes. FWIW tt is they who are making the lives of the rest of us (Windows users) more difficult.

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

shark47 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:43:26 GMT

Ooh, not anonymous tipster, but a "Microsoft source". Same thing.

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

chuckb84 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:43:23 GMT

Shark,

WGA doesn't stop the serious pirates; it just annoys the honest customers. BTW, the Kabuki theatre at the airports doesn't stop terrorism, it just makes the sheep feel like the government is "doing something". Someday this will be very painfully demonstrated.

The main point here, however, is that Microsoft is letting others define the issue and the story. Paul has correctly encouraged them to take control of their own narrative and they aren't doing it here. I don't think they can really DO that correctly, because their leadership is such a mess, but in this case they aren't even trying.

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

shark47 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:19:57 GMT

How many of you find airport security lines painful? How many times have you said, "I'm not a terrorist. Why am I being punished for something someone else did?" I don't think too many people would say that. Lives are at stake, after all. Piracy has never killed anyone (as far as I know), so you guys are less willing to tolerate anti-piracy measures from Microsoft. Piracy is the same as shop lifting or any other form of theft. People aren't paying for the services that they receive. Whether you like it or not, Windows is the most pirated OS in the world.

Could Microsoft's activation technology be improved? Sure. It;s obviously not working because piracy is still rampant. But, considering the improvements in Windows 7 over Windows Vista and Windows XP, do you really believe Microsoft is out to screw the user?

Regarding Paul's question, no, Microsoft is not doing a good job of communicating the Windows upgrade process. But then, neither are the bloggers. There's something really wrong when an anonymous tipster has more credibility in the blogosphere than the company COO.

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

pollycat — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:28:06 GMT

I was a die-hard Microsoft fanboy and evangelist until around 2000 when product activation was introduced in to Office and then Windows XP. As a tech enthusiast, I often experiment with things and then need to wipe and re-install. At that time, I was denied an activation code by telephone support because I had "re-activated too many times" on one and the same machine, and the phone rep didn't believe that I was only re-installing on the same machine. Suddenly, I couldn't use the software I'd paid for and was using legitimately.

This drove me to pick up a cheap, second-hand Mac and start exploring "the other side", and since then I haven't looked back. Every time I install a new version of the Mac OSX operating system and even Microsoft Office for Mac, I note how they don't make you jump through any activation hoops at all, and I think back to my Windows XP and Office for Windows experience.

I think I understand why Microsoft (and other companies) use activation to try to stop piracy, and it is their choice to do this, but they lost me as a supporter and customer as soon as they decided I was being a pirate when, in fact, I wasn't. I've played with Windows 7 on my Mac, it looks really good, but as long as activation is part of the equation, I'm not buying. I'm guessing other people might feel the same way.

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

shark47 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:54:17 GMT

Yes, Microsoft needs to communicate more effectively, but this is ridiculous. The tech blogosphere operates like the stock market - entirely on speculation. One day, bloggers are pissed off about Windows 7, the next day they're excited about it.

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

shark47 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:49:28 GMT

It's funny that Microsoft is silent and it's the bloggers that are creating this mess. One blogger makes a statement, claiming to have heard it from an anonymous source and another contradicts it based on a tip from another anonymous source. Funny!

re: Do you still believe Microsoft is effectively communicating how the Windows 7 Upgrade process will work?

Backup77 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:49:05 GMT

Microsoft is not communicating effectively on several fronts, the Windows 7 upgrade process being one of them. I have found not just Windows Activation but also Office activation very trying. I have paid for genuine versions of Windows & Office Products alike but even after activating these products I get peppered with annoying alerts stating that I am not using genuine software. I wholeheartedly agree with Microsoft trying to stamp out piracy but there has got to be a better way.