On Saturday 08 September 2001 12:57 pm, Sridhar Dhanapalan escribi�: > Take a look at this article: > > http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2810195,00.html > > Here's an excerpt: > > "For those who haven't yet experienced it, the new scheme is > concealed under the 'Product Activation' label. At installation, the > package creates a unique code combining the software serial > number with the hardware present in the machine it's running on. > Within 30 days of installing Office or Windows XP, you are > required to contact Microsoft over the Internet or via a call centre > to give them this code number; Microsoft will then give you > another ID code to enter so that the package will keep working. If > you don't, then Office XP will not let you create new documents > or save existing ones after editing, while Windows XP will not stop > working--imagine the squeals from other application software > companies if that happened!--but will have reduced functionality. > > "There's more. If you're not connected to the Internet, then you > will have to read out a 50-digit code to a telephone operator without > errors, and take down another error-free 50-digit code to carry on > using the software you've paid for." Ya know, I hope all this is true, but I keep reading, mainly on register.uk, /., and newsforge.com, that product activation in upcoming M$ OS/apps is a moving target. IOW's the level of scrutiny keeps changing. I hope Billy's finally gotten greedy enough to shoot himself in the foot. BUT, I don't predict the exodus from M$ that some do. I don't have enough confidence in the computer literacy of the average M$ user that some rely on. I even believe a lot of Windoze users will think this, ./NET, and 'Passport', is all innovation and convenience. Most that I know rarely change anything. They're afraid to, and are oblivious to security and privacy issues. M$ is literally banking on that. I believe they're probly right. GEEZZZ, I'm gettin to be a pessimistic old SOB ;) -- Tom Brinkman Galveston Bay
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
