Guest Post by Uzair Sajid (as UzEE on Twitter),
I would like to clear up a few things first. I’m writing this article out of pure interest. I don’t get paid by Microsoft or any of their partners for posting this. My only intentions are to help the readers make a better choice about their operating systems, something that would suite their needs perfectly whether its Windows, OS X, or Linux.
This article is a direct response to the Where to Buy Original Windows in Pakistan? article. A lot of people seem misinformed about Windows 7, so I thought I should do an article and try to address those concerns. Please note that I’m not going into a fanboy debate here so please no illogical reasons to pirate or dump Windows 7 in favor of Linux distribution. If you have an issue then make sure its based on Windows 7 and not on a previous version of Windows or personal interest/hatred.
This is a rather long article, so make sure you skim through it all. If you don’t have the time, bookmark and read it later. The videos included are random and don’t really relate to the sections they are included in. Here is a quick index of the topics for you to jump to it quickly.
- What is Windows 7
- Application and Driver Compatibility
- Security and Software
- Multimedia and Gaming
- Pirating vs. Buying Windows 7 legally
- Windows 7 is Cheap in Pakistan
- Final Thoughts
What is Windows 7
Windows 7 is the latest version of desktop operating systems in the Microsoft Windows lineup. This is very significant because Windows currently has 91% market share in computer operating systems. Meaning every 9 in 10 computers are running a version of Microsoft Windows.
The last major version of Windows, known as Vista had to face a lot of issues. It had numerous problems at launch which included almost no driver support, compatibility problems as well as steep hardware requirements. Of course, Microsoft was responsible for about half of these problems while the rest were due to the laziness of independent hardware and software vendors, who didn’t update their products for Windows Vista in time.
Up till now, even Vista has improved a lot. Unfortunately, the bad press it got early on completely destroyed it. In fact, I never jumped to Windows Vista after XP and had actually switched to Ubuntu 8.10 when the Windows 7 M3 (PDC Build) came out last December. That’s when I switched back to Windows, and even though I still have Ubuntu (now 9.04) setup as a Dual boot, I hardly log into it after about 2 or three months.
In terms of features, Windows 7 improves upon Vista’s flaws. And for the first time ever, Microsoft took the Open Source approach and tailored Windows 7 according to the community feedback. All new features in Windows 7 from the new taskbar to home media features are what the users had asked Microsoft to put into the operating system. Here’s a quick list of 10 biggest new features of Windows 7.
Application and Driver Compatibility
As for application compatibility and driver support, Windows 7 has set the record of not breaking a single application. This means all those applications which worked with Windows Vista or XP will work with Windows 7 too, and just for added assurance, it also features a free XP Mode to run legacy software.
As for drivers, I didn’t have to install a single thing with Windows. Every piece of hardware worked right out of the box including graphics. And as I add or connect new hardware to the system (flash drives, hard drives, cameras, printers, scanners etc), the new Device Stage feature automatically downloads and installs the correct drivers and support software like Nokia PC Suite for example. This is one blow out feature.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with Mac OS X and Linux. You don’t have to worry about OS X drivers because you really can’t add new hardware to a Mac so that’s good. As for Linux, most hardware vendors don’t offer quality drivers and users often have to rely on community developed open source drivers which come with bugs and a cumbersome installation process which usually includes reinstalling.
Security and Software
Linux used to be (and still is) a lot more secure compared to Windows. But since the days of Windows Vista, Microsoft has implemented many advanced security features like ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization) and DEP (Data Execution Prevention) which even Linux doesn’t fully support. But that is ok because Linux is almost never targeted by hackers and malware authors due to its low (less than 2%) of total desktop install base.
Same is the case why Linux and OS X (which is inferior to Windows in terms of security) don’t get a lot of viruses and malware. Suppose you are making a new softdrink and from the market analysis, you find out that 90% of the people like Cola, while only 10% like other flavors, say Orange. What would be your logical choice of flavor? Cola obviously because a lot more people would buy/use that.
This isn’t limited to malware and viruses only, in fact it applies to all dimensions of the computing industry including general purpose hardware and software. Everyone develops for Windows not because they want to but because more people use it. Similarly, the iPhone OS is a lot more popular among developers because people buy it for the sake of applications. You don’t see that many applications developed for Windows Mobile.
Most Linux distributions like Ubuntu have a much better way for software installation called Package Manager, which allow you to browse and download software from different repositories. While this approach works, it is still a pain to install basic tools like Adobe Flash Player, or Adobe Air or even a PDF author/viewer. Plus there aren’t any professional content creating software like the Adobe Creative Suite or Expression or Autodesk’s software.
Multimedia and Gaming
This is the prime focus of almost all the desktop home users. They want their computers to do Multimedia and gaming. Of course Windows is the only package that supports both of these features out of the box. You don’t have to download stuff like Gstreamer for media, and you don’t have lack of gaming support you have on a Mac.
Windows 7 makes it even better with adding support for DirectX 11 as well as Home Media streaming so you can access your media and documents stored on your home PC from anywhere in the world. Plus you can play your media on any compatible device in your Homegroup even if its not in your home.
These are two features which you can only get on Windows though of course not everyone cares about multimedia and gaming. But again that is just a small fraction of the total population.
Pirating vs. Buying Windows 7 legally
There are several advantages to buying Windows 7 legally. First of all, you are entitled to free customer support as well as exclusive content only available to genuine users. Second and the most important reason is that you are secure. Genuine Windows gets security updates automatically so you are always free from viruses and other security threats.
Third reason is the moral satisfaction. When you pirate something, you rob someone of their hardwork. It is just like you are motor mechanic and someone brings their car to your garage but doesn’t pay you for fixing it. Or you work a normal 9 to 5 job but you don’t get paid at all. How would that feel? How would you bring food home for your children?
Have you ever stopped to consider that by doing that, you’re not only damaging big companies like Microsoft, but also small software developers like those in Pakistan? We should be proud of the fact that we have one of the best IT infrastructures in the world, which is even far superior to our next door neighbor India. Still we are left out in the cold because we can’t export software or IT services because of Piracy. And then we have to rely on foreign aid which come with their own restrictive terms.
People who make software are humans (and a very large percentage is Muslim) and we rob them and their families of their livelihood. Same is with Open Source Software. Sure it sounds very nice, free software for everyone but is that practical? How do you plan to feed your family and pay the bills if you give out your hardwork for free?
Windows 7 is Cheap in Pakistan
Windows 7 only costs Rs. 3500 for the Starter edition here in Pakistan. And that is only if you aren’t eligible for one of the many programs where you can get it for FREE. Yes you can get it for Free and that too legally.
If you are a student at a good educational institute, you will be eligible for a FREE license to Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate. That’s how I get it. But note that I said good, not major institute. The difference is that good institutions cover all the needs of their students, like my university provides us free licensed software.
If you’re not in such an institution, then you may still be eligible for the student discount which is only $30 for Windows 7 Ultimate. That is only Rs. 2500. Or you can still get it for free by participating in Microsoft’s DreamSpark, BizSpark or WebSpark programs.
Still not getting anything? then how about getting a membership with IEEE or ACM, which also entitle you to 5 licensed copies of Windows and tons of other software for free. But perhaps the best possible way to get Windows 7 is buy a computer with the OS pre-installed.
Oh and if you want to go the extra mile, here is the price list of Genuine Windows 7 in Pakistan compared to International prices.
- Windows 7 Starter: Rs. 3,500 (Internationally: Not Sold)
- Windows 7 Home Premium: Rs. 9,900 (Internationally: $200/Rs. 17,000)
- Windows 7 Professional: Rs. 12,000 (Internationally: $300/Rs. 25,000)
- Windows 7 Ultimate: Rs. 17,000 (Internationally: $320/Rs. 27,000)
Clearly Microsoft offers Windows at much lower rates compared to rest of the world. And when you think about it, you’ll be using Windows 7 for at least the next 3 years, so Windows 7 Professional would be costing you about Rs. 334 per month. That is pretty cheap if you ask me.
Final Thoughts
Even though I clearly stated that please don’t post any hate comments without any relation to Windows 7, I still know there would be a lot of those. But still I would like to conclude the article by providing a simple solution.
If you have a lot of money to spend, and don’t want to get a lot out of your computer, like Gaming or Software development etc, then Get a Mac. It is as simple as that. Mac OS X is great for simple everyday use plus it gets even better when it comes to content creation (stuff like Photoshop etc).
If you don’t want to spend a lot, or want freedom with your hardware choices etc, then go for a Windows PC. You can build one and get Windows 7 for free or what ever rate applies to you. Going down this path would mean you could do everything a computer is meant to do, and perhaps more.
The last option (though still good) is for those people who really can’t afford to buy Windows. They are those people who buy second hand computers, basic cell phones, and don’t spend a lot of money simply because they can’t afford to. Then these people are best suited for Linux. Get yourself a copy of Ubuntu/Kubuntu and enjoy your life. Sure there would be problems with stuff (like Flash Player or Adobe AIR for example) but then again, nothing in life comes truly free. You have to pay up somehow. And when you are eligible to get a discount on Windows, please do so. It doesn’t hurt to have dual boot right?
There will actually be a fourth category too. These are the people who would still pirate their OS. Buy a Rs. 35 DVD or download it off a torrent or usenet network. These would be those people who are losers in their lives, and enjoy bringing misery to other people too. And by the way, if you are one of those, I just proved my point. You wasted about 20 minutes of your worthless time reading this article.
And now the comments begin
Again I’d say, please try to post civilized comments based on actual facts. Not speculation. Try Windows 7 before complaining. And still I will try to answer all the questions raised by you people. Thanks.
Writer is a Computer Engineering graduate based in Lahore, Pakistan. He is a technologist and a professional developer with a keen interest in emerging technologies. He also authors The Technopath.
Assalam o Alikum!!
Your thoughts are really good and i enjoyed reading your article.
I always wanted to use a licenced copy of Windows but it was always out of my budget.
I also registered my name on dreamspark and my universities name was there on the website of dreamspark but nothing useful was provided!! infact some softwares which were useless for me were there on a website.
Now i want to suggest that Microsoft should provide us Windows Xp within 2000 PKR or windows 7 basic on discounted rates for students of universities who largely rely on Win O.S for different programs like Microsoft Office so that STUDENTS like me can afford it and use it without pirating the O.S.
Atif Rasheed
Windows 7 is already offered at only $30 for students. As for having Windows XP for sale, that isn’t possible as Windows XP isn’t sold anymore. It is a 9 year old operating system and Microsoft are nearly ending support for it now.
The reason is that it has too many flaws to suite for modern day computing. So you’re left with Vista (which will also die out pretty soon) and Windows 7.
By the way like I said in the article, Windows 7 Starter is only Rs. 3500.
As for your university, check with your computer science or mathematics department and see if they have MSDN Academic Alliance. If they do, then you can get each and every Microsoft software for free.
assalm-o-alakum uzee, i have to ask what is the procedure for buying windows seven @ rs. 334 per month and how many months we have to pay it. and would the window be really genuine.
Uzair, thanks for the article – good one.
But I need to understand that if Windows products, especially Windows 7 are really the demand of Pakistani market especially the home user? I would opine “NO”, and here are reasons
– Not many of us afford the luxury of Windows Computing
– Not many of us demand high requirements at home, unless it’s not for professional or educational use, meaning that games, videos and internet browsing is all majority of users do at most of the times
– Windows OS is not developed for a market like Pakistan, I mean look at the features, do we really need them? Windows is not over priced when you see the set of offerings it has for the end user, but question is if we really need them?
It’s just like Benz is not for everyone, however, if we can easily get Benz with no price, defiantly I would love to have couple of them.
Here comes another question, as you mentioned, malwares and security threats are made for an Operating System that has majority shares in the masses, my question (as a lay man), can’t Microsoft, actually secure the theft of its product?
I remember I used couple of software, one was developed by a team of developers from Hong Kong, and it was highly secure. It was meant to be installed on one system and could not be replicated by any means.
I believe, Microsoft has got top coders in the world, I am optimistic that they can achieve such a thing, but only if they want to. Now the question arises, why Microsoft doesn’t want this, one of the conspiracies is that Microsoft can’t monopolize without pirating their copies in third world countries, such as Pakistan, India, China, Indonesia etc…
So, look, things are quite ambiguous, If they don’t want us to pirate then how come their coders are leaking the activation processes? (BTW you may know that most of the keys and activation procedures are usually leaked by insiders).
I will wrap up that it’s something win-win for Microsoft, or otherwise they have methods of blocking piracy…! I can be wrong I admit.
But on other hands, If someone wants the luxury, the Windows, he should pay…!
“Not many of us afford the luxury of Windows Computing”
It’s a luxury like a car or motorbike is a luxury. Would you prefer to take public transportation if you have a car, even if it’s an old 1980s Suzuki?
“Not many of us demand high requirements at home, unless it’s not for professional or educational use, meaning that games, videos and internet browsing is all majority of users do at most of the times”
I installed the Windows 7 beta on a system that already had Windows 2000 installed. I installed W7 on a separate drive so that I could switch back and forth. The system was a 2.something GHz P4 with 512MB RAM, bought about five years ago.
In terms of bootup speed, performance (starting applications, switching applications, etc), W7 was faster than Windows 2000 on the same hardware. To me, that’s a major plus.
“Windows OS is not developed for a market like Pakistan, I mean look at the features, do we really need them? Windows is not over priced when you see the set of offerings it has for the end user, but question is if we really need them?”
I don’t understand this. What features do you believe most local users don’t need? You seem to directly contradict your point by saying
“It’s just like Benz is not for everyone, however, if we can easily get Benz with no price, defiantly I would love to have couple of them.”
You seem to imply that it’s the price you have a problem with, not features.
“Here comes another question, as you mentioned, malwares and security threats are made for an Operating System that has majority shares in the masses, my question (as a lay man), can’t Microsoft, actually secure the theft of its product?”
No, it’s not possible, no matter what you’ve heard. There’s no need for conspiracy theories about piracy to explain this. It’s simply not possible.
“BTW you may know that most of the keys and activation procedures are usually leaked by insiders”
Can you point to an actual case where someone inside Microsoft leaked keys, or the majority of the keys? It’s usually several volume license keys that’re leaked, and they’re used by large organizations.
Faried Nawaz, with respect, you missed crucial questions, and answered those which further strengthened my ambiguity,
here is a set of questions, that you may want to answer (I am trying to get benefited of your knowledge)
– How many of us Got a Benz? or even Old Suzuki? – so those without any car, don’t they travel?
– How Come Microsoft can’t develop a system that is unbreakable?
– What percentage of Pakistanis use all those things that are offered in Windows 7?
– Why you think that there is no alternate to Windows? despite it has improved bootup time notably?
– And why you think Pakistanis should Pay for Windows instead of using a free OS that fulfills their demands/requirements?
“How many of us Got a Benz? or even Old Suzuki? – so those without any car, don’t they travel?”
I don’t see why you keep bring up the Benz example when it’s clear that your problem is with the cost of a Windows installation, not with the myriad features it ships with (which is what you wrote — the features are not for the local market). I mean, you don’t complain when a Linux distribution ships with features you don’t need, do you?
“How Come Microsoft can’t develop a system that is unbreakable?”
You might as well ask why locksmiths can’t develop a lock or a safe that can’t be broken. It’s simply not possible. Perhaps this article, which is focused on the related problem of DRM, can help explain why no one can or ever will prevent piracy: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/sep/04/lightspeed
“What percentage of Pakistanis use all those things that are offered in Windows 7?”
If you can’t conceive of a use for a certain feature, describe the feature, and I’ll tell you why it’s useful. Why do you believe any of the features are superfluous?
“Why you think that there is no alternate to Windows? despite it has improved bootup time notably?”
Huh? I didn’t say there’s no alternative, nor did I act as if there’s no alternative. Can you point to any specific sentence where I said that?
I’ve used Windows since before NT4, but it’s never been my primary desktop of choice. That doesn’t mean I’m not aware of its advantages, or that I don’t make use of it.
“And why you think Pakistanis should Pay for Windows instead of using a free OS that fulfills their demands/requirements?”
I would be a lot happier if people used Linux or something else for their desktop, but it’s just not going to happen anytime soon. I’m not aware of anyone who’s done a formal study that shows that large groups of people will be happier with Linux.
“How many of us Got a Benz? or even Old Suzuki? – so those without any car, don’t they travel?”
I’ll answer it this way.
Windows 7 Ultimate => Honda Civic
Windows 7 Professional => Toyota Vitz
Windows 7 Home Premium => Used Suzuki Mehran
Windows 7 Starter => A motorbike (sorry I don’t know brands)
And just for perspective,
Mac OS X Snow Leapord (on a Mac of course) => Mercedes Benz
Linux (Ubuntu/FreeBSD/Fedora etc) => Public Transport/Walking
“How Come Microsoft can’t develop a system that is unbreakable?”
No one can. Because nothing can be perfect.
“What percentage of Pakistanis use all those things that are offered in Windows 7?”
What you mean things like DirectX 11, Aero Shake/Snap/Peak, the new taskbar, Jumplists, device stage or home groups etc?
That’s pretty much the stuff people would use every day on Windows 7, not because they want to but because they’d have to.
“Why you think that there is no alternate to Windows? despite it has improved bootup time notably?”
Of course there are alternates, but you would have to be ready for trade offs. And from the requirements you stated for a common Pakistani user, Windows is the only OS that meets them all.
“And why you think Pakistanis should Pay for Windows instead of using a free OS that fulfills their demands/requirements?”
You shouldn’t. That’s the point. If Linux works for you, then go for it. But if you HAVE to use Windows, then you should buy it.
Ok here are the quick answers to your questions:
“Not many of us afford the luxury of Windows Computing”
Windows isn’t a luxury. Actually not entirely. It comes in different SKUs. Windows 7 Starter for instance, are just the basic bare bones you need. Features or “Luxuries” as you call it tend to go up as you make your way up to Windows 7 Ultimate.
In case you’re wondering, a Mac is a luxury, thanks to its premium price tag.
“Not many of us demand high requirements at home, unless it’s not for professional or educational use, meaning that games, videos and internet browsing is all majority of users do at most of the times”
So if I understand this correctly, Games, Videos and Internet are mostly everything Pakistani’s do at home right?
I agree, and that is where Windows comes in. You can’t game on a Mac or Linux, and you also have the best multimedia experience. I explained it in the “Multimedia and Gaming” section of the article.
“Here comes another question, as you mentioned, malwares and security threats are made for an Operating System that has majority shares in the masses, my question (as a lay man), can’t Microsoft, actually secure the theft of its product?”
We all know and would agree that nothing in this world is perfect. So, when it comes to a mass market product like Windows, where every 9 out of 10 hackers are looking for security holes. You are bound to find them more quickly than if only 1 person was trying.
As for their engineers leaking the keys, it has never happened. The leaked keys are almost always Volume License Keys or OEM Keys which Independent Hardware or Software Vendors leak.
Oh btw, if it helps, Office 2010 has a newer more secure activation procedure that Microsoft is trying out. But I doubt it would keep in place for more than 2 or 3 months.
Very nice post; informative and to the point. I really appreciate it.
Dear frndz
any one can tel me the prize of nokia 6220 classic pin pack??
waiting….
Hello!!
You have your own opinions but i want to comment on the last question by Aaamir bhai…
My whole university is running on microsoft win xp operating system so how could i switch to some other operating system as i have to deliver presentations on Powerpoint, we have to give assignment made on Microsoft Word and excel so how can i switch…??? all these things bound me to use a Microsoft O.S even if it is pirated.
Atif
You should try Open Office or Google Docs. They don’t have all the features Microsoft Office offers, but then again, you probably don’t use them already.
i think the people who can afford the windows 7 they must buy … we know about Pakistan people living standard isn’t higher than wester n east countries but in my view in Pakistan 30 % people can afford windows 7 easily i think they must buy windows 7 to support Microsoft product i think it’s not big deal… as far if you’re talking about people income all the time in Pakistan i saw the people having dinner everyday in restaurant. having 3 packs of cigarettes i think no one cheap bas…d in Pakistan most of people can afford it
I think you are very mistaken about the Home Premium pricing (and maybe others but I did not look into it)
Home Premium is on Microsoft store website for $119.99, which is the same as PKR 9900. So where is the discount for Pakistan as you so falsely claim.
I do agree with you that people should not pirate this OS and buy this, but I honestly think 9900 is way to much for most Pakistanis.
Dear brother just click on the details button given below home premium. Than all the things will be cleared. $119.99 is just an upgrade. Full version cost you 199.99$.
Here is the Official link:
http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Windows-7-Home-Premium-Upgrade/product/B0F9E641
That’s just the Upgrade version. You need to have a previous licensed copy of Windows Vista to use install the Upgrade version.
The price listed there is for the FPP (Full Packaging Product) packaging that per my hunting, so far, is not available in Pakistan. OEM is – but I hate to buy it because of the limitations.
In terms of the features there is no difference between OEM or FPP.
It is available in Pakistan. That is how I was able to get the prices. Check Galaxy.
Salaam,
can anyone here tell me which institutions offer free windows 7, i have a genuine vista with my laptop but i want to to upgrade
No one is offering Windows 7 for free.
Every institution which has DreamSpark, MSDN Academic Alliance or even an IEEE or ACM Student Chapter.
And like I said, every Good institution has at least 2 of these. For example the ones I can personally confirm are:
Air University
Bahria University (mine)
FAST
NUST
GIKI
LUMS
COMSATS
MAJU
No Microsoft is not giving Windows 7 on Dreamspark. And you can register at Dreamspark still if your institution is not in the list by selecting other.
This is the list of all universities I know which have DreamSpark, MSDN AA, IEEE or ACM memberships.
If DreamSpark doesn’t list it at this time, you still have all the remaining options open, plus BizSpark which gets you an MSDN Premium subscription (which I use myself) worth $11,000. And that’s right, its USD 11,000 / year.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/buy.aspx
UET, Lahore is also incorporating IEEE branch. so have it also included in this list!
Any institute with an IEEE or ACM branch is eligible.
I have 1 question i hve a legit copy of vista that came with my HP laptop how can i upgrade for free to Windows 7?
Do i have to goto hp store here in pakistan or @ Mircosoft?
One more thing i bought my laptop from dubai not from Pk.
No not for free.
You can’t upgrade Vista for free unless your laptop came with an Upgrade cupon.
You can upgrade if you purchased your laptop after June 26. You can visit HP site and see your laptop’s registration date, otherwise contact with your dealer from whom you purchased.
i am a student. what is the procedure of getting windows 7 on discount
The easiest way is to contact the local MSDNAA, IEEE or ACM branches of your university. Your institute’s Microsoft Student Partner could help you with that.
Windows 7 is not available for 29.99$ in Pakistan. It is available in only 8 countries.
Like I said before:
You can also get it for the said price via your IEEE or ACM subscription. Check with your institute for the details.
Can i use one licence on both my laptop and desktop computer
No you can’t. Windows license is on a Per Physical CPU (processor) basis.
That is unless you have a Volume License or a Family Pack. You can then install to multiple computers.
The FPP versions are for 3 installations. That’s what I was told by one of the vendors. It’s not clear whether that’s like 3 machines but one at a time, or simulatenous.
That is only for the Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack. That isn’t available in Pakistan.
What, they think we are too poor to have 3 PCs per home or rich enough to afford to separate licenses for each!? And then they complain about piracy.
First, I do agree with the author that Windows7 is a good operating system, but i think there are not good enough reasons in this post that why should an XP or Vista user should make a shift. Windows XP is still the most widely used OS with 69% of the market share, while Vista is lurking at 23% (at the end of August 2009 by Net Applications).
Windows 7 looks to be an improvement over hugely dismayed Vista, but only time will tell about it’s stability and security. Right now, it’s Microsoft’s own OSs which are in the way of Windows7 and i don’t think people will give up XP any time soon just because of few visual gimmicks and over-hyped minor improvements.
Secondly, as far as the issue with buying genuine Windows here in Pakistan, i think we know what the reality is. More than 90% of people can’t afford that, more than that, those people who actually can afford it, don’t bother to buy it. Only some businesses and universities run geniune copies of Windows, and that’s it.
Thirdly, i am absolutely annoyed by the that categories part you’ve mentioned, thats false, rubbish and misleading. I think we can argue about that for hours but let’s not go into that discussion.
Lastly, i want to ask a question to the author. Ok, lets suppose if i buy a licensed version of Windows. I’m concerned about piracy and i’m happy now that i have a genuine Windows running on my machine, and i’m feeling very elevated morally. So, now what about other applications that i use. Should i also buy all of them, i think i should. I just payed 10,000 rupees, i should be also be buying my office, Anti-viruses, firewalls, and other innumerable apps that i use. But I think i can’t, that will cost me a fortune. So obviously, i’ll go for pirated and cracked apps. So now the point is that if i’m using pirated applications then why shouldn’t i also be using pirated OS like other users.
It’ll be better if the author talks about anti-piracy in general, coz that’ll address the whole concern better. As i see he’s only concerned about Windows and Microsoft. I think that’s a bit unfair. There are other companies also who lost millions here in this market due to piracy. What about them?
“First, I do agree with the author that Windows7 is a good operating system, but i think there are not good enough reasons in this post that why should an XP or Vista user should make a shift. Windows XP is still the most widely used OS with 69% of the market share, while Vista is lurking at 23% (at the end of August 2009 by Net Applications).”
Congratulations for making the famous “If the current thing works why should we upgrade” comment for possibly a gazillionth time. I’ve stop answering that actually because that is just common sense, but for the sake of rest of your questions I will.
For starters, we are absolutely able to travel on foot then why did we invent the wheel? and then the boats and airplanes? On a similar note, if chemical bombs work, then why did we need to nuclear?
To give you a good enough reason for an XP user to shift, the answer is support. XP isn’t supported anymore both in terms of Hardware and Software. The only reason it is still around is because of Netbooks (Vista couldn’t run on them but 7 can). If you plan to use an outdated machine, (I mentioned that 2nd hand thing in the article too) then XP would do fine for you.
As for Vista users, that would actually be a complement I guess. I mean Vista users were the one who complained about all the problems in the OS and asked for a better operating system. And from what I’ve seen, most Vista users (all from my personal contacts) are already switching to Windows 7.
As for Market share, the reason XP still has 69% (the number is too high actually) is that because of the “flaws” in Vista, enterprise users never switched over to it, even though most home users adopted it. Oh and its worth mentioning that Windows 7 already has a 5% user share just after 4 days of public release.
“Windows 7 looks to be an improvement over hugely dismayed Vista, but only time will tell about it’s stability and security. Right now, it’s Microsoft’s own OSs which are in the way of Windows7 and i don’t think people will give up XP any time soon just because of few visual gimmicks and over-hyped minor improvements.”
Clearly you haven’t user Windows 7 yourself. It has been around for over an year now, and still there hasn’t been any reports of a such “flaws”, even in the pre-release builds. I think you should try it for a couple of days yourself.
“Secondly, as far as the issue with buying genuine Windows here in Pakistan, i think we know what the reality is. More than 90% of people can’t afford that, more than that, those people who actually can afford it, don’t bother to buy it. Only some businesses and universities run geniune copies of Windows, and that’s it.”
I totally disagree on that. But if you can’t afford it, then just use Linux. It is free for God’s sake.
“Lastly, i want to ask a question to the author. Ok, lets suppose if i buy a licensed version of Windows. I’m concerned about piracy and i’m happy now that i have a genuine Windows running on my machine, and i’m feeling very elevated morally. So, now what about other applications that i use. Should i also buy all of them, i think i should. I just payed 10,000 rupees, i should be also be buying my office, Anti-viruses, firewalls, and other innumerable apps that i use. But I think i can’t, that will cost me a fortune. So obviously, i’ll go for pirated and cracked apps. So now the point is that if i’m using pirated applications then why shouldn’t i also be using pirated OS like other users.”
That is a very interesting scenario you mentioned. Tell me are you a computer science-related graduate? If so you might already have known the answer. In the 4 years of our graduate studies, we are taught that in every new computer you purchase legally, about 30% is the actual hardware cost. 40% is the cost of the software, and the remaining 30% or so goes into stuff like warranties and future promotions which you would never even take advantage of.
So, if you spend a $1000 on a new computer, about $400 in that would go to software for that machine. It is a basic fact, not rocket science. And that does not give you any right to pirate stuff.
For example, you buy a cell phone, you would have to pay for the operator charges. Is there any way you can use your phone without paying? Same goes for all basic commodities of life. Food, Water, Power etc. The bills end up totaling a lot more than the actual equipment you purchased.
A very good example for this would be game consoles. Manufacturers like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo sell hardware at a loss. A $300 Xbox 360 actually costs over $400 to manufacture. But they sell them cheaper because they make a lot more money selling games for that hardware.
That is the actual revenue model in this industry. Oh and if its worth it, a lot of organizations (including Microsoft) are shifting to the Services model instead, where you pay a small fee according to your usage, like your utility bills. But in my opinion, that would end up costing more.
Hope I answered all your questions :)
“Hope I answered all your questions”
Not at all. I think you’ve badly messed facts with fallacies. Let me explain.
“Congratulations for making the famous “If the current thing works why should we upgrade” comment for possibly a gazillionth time. I’ve stop answering that actually because that is just common sense, but for the sake of rest of your questions I will.”
And that’s exactly the gazillionth time you’d mis-interpreted it. Now, why should i run after something which i don’t need right now. Think according to customer’s point of view, not yours. May be, i’ll need it it in the future, but right now my system (under XP) works really good. All my apps are in place, working really good for me. I’ve projects to work on. I’ve to deliever some output to my employer and i’m doing it really well. You see, i’m not dying without new version. I’m sure new version would be great but man! i’m don’t really need it right now.
There’s difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’. Right now, Win7 is a ‘want’, not a need. I think, you’ve got my point now. Please don’t get me wrong here that i’m not against changes. People must change with the time, but there’s a right time for everything, when it really matters and won’t affect my work. Changes that affect your work and cause you to spend unnecessary resources should be avoided at all cost. It is not wise to run after new versions. I say like, this application have new version, i must buy it else i won’t be doing good, i mean come’on, how rubbist that sounds. And for your information some the oldest apps are still around like IE6 still has 25% of the market share. No matter how much we hate it, it’s there after all those years and 25% is big number, you know it. And that’s just one example, there’re thousands many around you, just look for it.
“For starters, we are absolutely able to travel on foot then why did we invent the wheel? and then the boats and airplanes? On a similar note, if chemical bombs work, then why did we need to nuclear?”
Absolutely agree, but for example if tommorow, they make a super sonic aircraft which is much faster and (somehow) secure, you won’t say that your traditional airbuses are useless, slow or not safe and should be avoided. I think you won’t do that. Same applies to Xp/Win7 issue.
“To give you a good enough reason for an XP user to shift, the answer is support. XP isn’t supported anymore both in terms of Hardware and Software. The only reason it is still around is because of Netbooks (Vista couldn’t run on them but 7 can). If you plan to use an outdated machine, (I mentioned that 2nd hand thing in the article too) then XP would do fine for you.”
Man! you need some enlightment here. Windows XP has more support than any other OS. I can easily make a bet you on that, really. And please, XP is NOT JUST STILL AROUND, it’s there, it’s all over, Almost 70% market share, world’s most widely used OS, and still leading. I don’t know when Microsoft is giving up on supporting XP but that doesn’t matter to the Pakistani crowd coz almost all of them were using pirated Cds. They absolutely damn care about Customer Support. But, hey! in my opinion Customer Support really matter, it’s not just important, it’s vital. But don’t forget buddy, that you’re in Pakistan and i think people here are more like customer support themselves. I’ve a genuine XP and i never needed customer support until now, i fix my nifty problems myself. Asking you, had you ever contacted customer support ?
“I totally disagree on that. But if you can’t afford it, then just use Linux. It is free for God’s sake.”
Sorry buddy, but you can’t get away ignoring this. Think, in terms of what the ground realities are here in Pakistan. Just today, one of my friend wants Vista for his desktop. We went to market and found out that all the markets have abandoned selling pirated Microsoft products. We’ve searched it all over but all in vain. Where ever we go, we asked shopkeepers that if pirated ones are banned, what about the sales of licensed ones. And we got the same response everywhere, “very few and far”, they say that only some companies and very few people have purchased it. And i live in the Islamabad, the city where most rich people reside in the country. You can have some idea now, people simply can’t afford. And still practically it’s impossible here in Pakistan to buy all the softwares including OS, even if you’re a very rich one who can afford, it’s still foolish to buy every other new version of the software you use.
And as far about the INTERTING SCENARIO is concerned, i absolutely got your point. Thanks for some nice explaination.
That’s enough, but just one last thing and it’s a request. Please write more against PIRACY and encourage people to VALUE software. We must eradicate this illegal and immoral practice from our country, only then we can move forward. We always have options. If someone can’t afford, you still have an option to go for any flavor of Linux which better suits you. It’s still as good OS as Windows with only few exceptions.
I’m really sorry for misinterpreting your comment earlier. This is just a guest post I did here and I don’t really talk on such issues, and this post is getting a lot of comments. And to make things worse, I’m in a bus right now on the motorway replying through my cell phone.
I totally agree with your point that if you don’t have any use for anything beyond XP, you don’t need to upgrade to Windows 7. But never in the article did I force anyone to upgrade. All I was saying is that when you do upgrade, these are the reasons we should actually buy it instead of using a Pirated copy. And I believe you also agree with that so the whole argument was pointless.
On the other hand, vendors do have pressure to introduce newer, better products especially when their previous product was a market failure and their only rival, no matter how small it actually is, is winning over your customers because of a flawed product. Like I said in the article, I never switched to Vista even though it had features I wanted.
Of course its up to the consumer if they want to upgrade. But for those who have newer hardware (which came out after 2006), they would really be missing out a lot because XP was never designed for this hardware. It was meant for hardware which is 4 generations old now, or otherwise obsolete.
By the way, this might get a personal but I really do want all people to stop using XP. Because until people use the Operating System, companies would have to support it, no matter how small that support is. So for example, AMD comes up with a hot new CPU or GPU design, which doesn’t work on older software due to basic differences in the hardware layer, they would dump that design or complicate it to support both newer and legacy systems. And this almost always results in disasters.
Oh and by support I didn’t mean customer support. I meant supporting the operating system in future products. Like certain GPU enhanced features in Photoshop CS4 don’t work in XP, because it doesn’t have the required capabilities. Same is the case with DirectX 10. It is an enormous waste of resources trying to support both legacy and new technologies in future products.
This directly applies to the Pain in the *$$ Internet Explorer. I really hate that browser though most of that is overrated. Internet Explorer 8 actually is very good now but still I hate it because of its Trident core which is still mostly the same as IE6. Even Microsoft employees hate it. They say they made mistakes with IE6 by not following open standards and at that time, it didn’t have a real rival so most Enterprise applications are built across that functionality. Now in 2009, when the web has evolved so much, they are still stuck with old tech in IE because Enterprises never let go of XP which meant Microsoft still had to support IE6.
I’m hopefull that this will change with Windows 7 as more businesses make the move which held back on Vista. And maybe Microsoft would bring its new technology browser to mainstream which has been in its R&D Labs for so long.
And I’ll still like to get away from that affordable discussion because a lot of my friends and family members would also come in the heat. But to cut it short, most of the people I know would gladly spend thousands on weekend hangouts in Jinnah Super or M.M. Alam here in Lahore, but start to choke when it comes to paying for software. Its more of a corrupt ideology which even you suggested needs to be changed. But I’m very happy to know that at least someone took charge and stopped people from selling pirated OS in the streets. Maybe we finally will see a better Pakistan.
As for addressing Piracy in general, it is a very huge topic which includes everything we do from Media, music, television to using smuggled goods etc. And I’m just an Engineer who just turned 22. No way am I qualified to speak on such a critical topic. Maybe someone senior should do that.
By the way, please ignore any spelling mistakes I made. T9 isn’t very reliable you know :)
Fair enough, just look at this video …
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid42806360001?bctid=44795599001
It further proves my point as well as yours.I think we now have some consensus on things. Win7 is excellect but you should upgrade when you really need to.
AMIR BHAI! I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS. BUT HOW CAN A PERSON ASK TO BUY AN EXPENSIVE WINDOW COPY, WHO USED TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT TRICKS TO USE FREE INTERNET ON MOBILE AND OTHER UTITILITIES LIKE FREE BALANCE CHECK TRICKS? I ALSO READ YOUR OLD ARTICLE IN WHICH YOU SHARED A TRICK TO USE LDN CONNECTION FOR FREE!!! YOU ALWAYS DID IT AND MADE OUR LOCAL NETWORK PROVIDIERS INCUR IN LOSS. SO HOW COME YOU SAY THESE HONEST TYPE OF THINGS FOR MICROSOFT???
Kashif, thanks for your comment, pls use small caps, as being a standard.. no offense on this pls
About LDN thing, if you check that post again, one copy of the post was emailed to CEO of Link Dot Net, so that they can rectify the flaw in their system. Similarly, all other flaws were made public to address them, but not to help ppl use them. You can ask any of Link Dot Net employee about how CEO reacted on the situation. Same happened with balance check and so many other flaws that we surfaced.
I must appreciate the questions of AAmir Atta. Because it’s a common rumor rather a grapevine that Microsoft allows end users to pirate to continue its monoply. It’s like the same joke about American Space Tech that inspite of having multi-quality Sattelites they are still searching for Bin-Laden manually!!
As far as this new version is considered I’m really looking forward to use it.
Aslam-o-Alaikum
29.99$ Windows 7 is a limited time offer and is available in 8 countries only not in Pakistan. And also MS is not giving it on Dreamspark.
To confrim here are the Official Sites:
http://win741.com/
https://www.dreamspark.com/default.aspx
You can also get it for the said price via your IEEE or ACM subscription. Check with your institute for the details.
Go back to woods and live with your XP.
Indian site has linked to your article
http://www.techgoss.com/Story/1942S14-Why-Pak-must-buy-Windows7.aspx
I live in Lahore. How can I get my hands on Windows 7 for $30.
Does your University or College have MSDN Academic Alliance, IEEE or ACM memberships?
If so, you can get it through them.
Windows 7 is brilliant, no doubt! but I wonder how you justify the following statement?
“OS X is inferior to Windows in terms of security”
I would really love to know on what basis you declared this since I am not going to take your word for it.
Last time I checked Windows 7 still requires an anti-virus while Snow Leopard doesn’t.
Can I answer that offline in the university instead? By the way I did mention some of the reasons in the article, and that is what Mac security experts say, It wasn’t my statement.
As for the anti-virus thing, I did cover that in the article as well.
I recommend looking at the pwn2own contests. OS X almost always falls over first. I believe that Vista was “owned” last year only because the attackers went after an Adobe app on the system; they didn’t attack Windows directly. See, for example, http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9129978/Researcher_cracks_Mac_in_10_seconds_at_PWN2OWN_wins_5k
It’s not true that Snow Leopard doesn’t need anti-virus software. Here’s an old (2006) post about OS X malware: http://news.techworld.com/security/5392/worlds-first-os-x-virus-hits-apple/
However, there’s a practical reason for why no one really installs antivirus software on a Mac. The actual figure varies depending on who you talk to, but Windows has somewhere upwards of 90% of the world market, especially in desktops. If you wanted to infect the greatest number of systems, would you target something other than Windows?
Thanks Faried I was looking for the recent pwn2own statistics as well.
@Saad these were the facts I based my words opon.
So some brilliant hacker hacks Leopard at a convention and suddenly it’s labeled as insecure?
Guys please get a hold of yourself.
Mac and Linux are Unix-based operating systems and Windows still uses the mighty-old ‘Registry’
Why are we even debating on what’s more secure and what’s not.
I respect your opinion Uzair and Faried but I have lived on Windows a long time myself and I know the problems that I had to face.
I don’t seem to be finding those problems anywhere on a Mac since I recently switched to it.
So being an end-user, what do you think would be my choice.
That’s why I preferred to discuss this with you Offline :P
The brilliant hackers happen to be Mac security experts and the reason Macs and Linux are easy to crack is because they don’t have advanced security technologies like ASLR, which make it extremely difficult to inject code.
And in my opinion, 70% of the times Windows is compromised because of the 3rd party software installed.
On more personal note, the last Virus/Worm to affect me was Blaster in 2003. Besides that I have absolutely no memory of any virus outbreak I had to face.
“So some brilliant hacker hacks Leopard at a convention and suddenly it’s labeled as insecure?”
See http://secunia.com/advisories/product/96/?task=advisories and just count the number of security updates. Note also the problems that are still not fixed, months after being reported.
“Mac and Linux are Unix-based operating systems and Windows still uses the mighty-old ‘Registry’”
The registry is not the problem. The fact that most users login to their Windows system with an account that has administrative access is the primary problem. This doesn’t go away with Linux, or OS X: people have been spoofing the admin access dialog box for years. The earliest post I found about it dated from 2003; here’s a recent post about the issue: http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/mac-os-x-dialog-box-spoofing-believe-me-i-m-system-preferences
“So being an end-user, what do you think would be my choice.”
You’re not just an end-user, you’re an end-user who can afford to pay for a Mac (unless you set up a hackintosh system). That separates you from most of the people reading and commenting on this post.
“Genuine Windows gets security updates automatically so you are always free from viruses and other security threats.”
u are mistaken. the only difference between a so called genuine windows and non genuine one is the license. i can download a windows 7 iso from the piratebay and apply the genuine key that comes with my laptop and in microsoft’s eye it will be genuine. similarly i can install from the recovery disc that comes with my laptop and apply some crack to make it “genuine”!
its just the licencing difference. my pirated windows 7gets all security updates and stuff.
getting viruses has noting to do with pirated windows.
I think you just contradicted yourself.
Genuine is 100% original “untampered” build. Cracked/Torrented/Activation Patched images are “tampered”.
They inject code to bypass authentication and validation. One genuine key doesn’t make your windows Genuine.
The tempering opens up security holes which later these hackers can easily exploit through their viruses and malware. In other words you are putting your system at the mercy of these people who can modify your operating system in any way they want.
This is basic computer science :)
I think Uzair, you also just have contradicted yourself, like you saying earlier that, …
“…they don’t have advanced security technologies like ASLR, which make it extremely difficult to inject code.”
now, you’re saying that
“They inject code to bypass authentication and validation. One genuine key doesn’t make your windows Genuine.”
So, my question is, where this ASLR thing goes, “which make it extremely difficult to inject code” as you claimed, when they are really injecting code, and i think this doesn’t have to do with any 3rd-party application.
You confused two different things actually. To be more specific, you would need to have basic knowledge of software engineering and information security to understand this correctly, but still I’ll try.
There are different types of code injection. One technique is to modify the program files and add your own code which the program mistakes to be its own. Another technique is to modify the program code or data when the program is actually running and its code is loaded in the RAM. But in order to do this, you need to know the address of the memory blocks where the program is stored. The basic addressing scheme is fixed for most operating systems which includes Windows versions up till XP, as well as Mac OS X, and Linux.
ASLR or Address Space Layout Randomization is a technique that assigns random memory addresses to programs so it is extremely difficult if not impossible for someone to inject their code into a specific program because they wont know where is the program in memory.
Of course the above explaination is over simplified. Its actually a lot more complex.
First of all, please avoid this >
“you would need to have basic knowledge of software engineering and information security to understand this correctly”
I’m sure this whole discussion is not a technical one but a practical one. Why don’t you arrange some kind of event, and let’s us discuss this face to face, i think that’ll be much better approach. Then we’ll see who have more basic knowledge of software engineering and information security.
This wasn’t meant to offend anyone. I just wrote that because I felt that the person should know if they can’t understand something then its not actually their fault. Its just like if pick up a medical journal I won’t even understand a word they are trying to say because I don’t have the basic idea.
And I implied that you don’t have the idea because you wouldn’t have asked the question then would you?
SALAM
How can i get windows 7 from bahria university, as i am student of this university, please explain………………………………….
Depends on which campus you are. If you are in Bahria Karachi then contact your computer science department or Taimur Asad. He’s the Microsoft Student Partner there.
If you are in Islamabad then contact IEEE or ACM here. Contacts that would be helpful include myself, Ali Naqvi or Adnan Shaffi.
Asslam o Alikum!!
Nice stands on different opinions and by different people.
But.
I want to say that every person who can afford a genuine Win o.s and has already taken it will always take a stand its pirated versions because of human pyschy. He/she will never allow anyone to use win installed from a PKR Rs 30 c.d as he/she has taken the same in 10,000 PKR Rs.
Example:- In 2004 my parents gave me my first P-III SYSTEM(Branded/2nd Hand) costing them 13000 rs and I was really Happy,,,,,, In 2007 I switched to P-Iv for 7000 Rs again branded and i had no issues with it and with other people P.C’s around me but in 2009 i got a Core 2 Duo Worth of 30,000 Rs (All new Stuff in it)so i visited manufacturer’s Websites and got myself registered there and it gave me so much inner satisfaction and i was very happy until oneday one of my friends got the same configuration P C(Branded one) of just 10,000 Rs and it really gave me big shock and brand royalty for my P.c Manufacturer brusted inside me and I started thinking and telling other people that we should not buy these branded PC’S and they are giving loss to the companies manufacturing them……………. So why I was not worried about Those manufacture’s when I my ownself was using a branded system?????? see it is human Psychy to react in such ways and thats the reason why one of my brothers here said that one who cant afford should leave this operating system!!
So coming back to point that all those who can afford it should buy a licensed Win O.s and its very good but all those who cant afford it, Quiting from Wins is not the solution for them.
As I am a business Student and whatever I have learned from my studies i would say that in todays World business’s are run by customers and not by their manufacturer’s!!! and thats one reason that why Today HRM( HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT) is so much stressed. So Microsoft should visit Pakistani Market and they should conduct serveys of Consumer market in Pakistan their needs and affordability and then they should introduce their own packages(Installments, Renting, Demos,Leasing, Discounts for students) on the basis of all those market studies!!!
These steps would definately help Microsoft to capture a large market share!!
Thanks
Atif Rasheed
While I couldn’t get the idea that you tried to convey in the first part of your comment (I’m truly sorry for that), I would like to say that I sort of have a personal grudge with Management Students and professionals.
Most of my family and friends are management graduates from respectable institutions like LUMS etc. and they have never agreed with me on the fact that piracy is bad. No offence but I believe that in this industry, managers should also be engineers because they understand the problems better.
Oh and Microsoft has been in Pakistan for about a decade I think and they do offer various promotions but I really do think that they should promote them more.
Dear Uzee:
The only idea is:
Microsoft should take concrete steps to capture Pakistani consumer market for Microsoft O.S and if they dont want to and they dont care than they should not be worried about the O.S piracy in Pakistan.
If microsoft is here for a decade than sorry to say that they have the worse setup and management in Pakistan as they dont even know the affordability of their customers.
Who would say that a common man Living in Pakistan can afford Win 7 which is worth 10,000Rs???? Infact no ne would!!!
(I believe that in this industry, managers should also be engineers because they understand the problems better)
May be we Business students and professional dont know the hardwork involoved in manufacturing something but we do know how to cater customers within different markets and how to make them aware of a certain product, its value, its features and finally making them to pay a certain price which is offcourse a fair price.
Thanks
Atif
Windows 7 is the best Windows ever. And I used Linux, Mac OS and even Vista. Nothing can come close to Windows 7. The ease of use, simplicity, support for older and newer drivers and the affordability is great in this version. Microsoft needs to promote it a little more.
Plz do specify the shops from where we can get original windows 7 in Pakistan thx.
Bro, find the list available here: https://propakistani.pk/2009/10/23/where-to-buy-original-windows-in-pakistan/
It’s really pathetic – how difficult it is to obtain a Full License for Windows7 in Pakistan. The simple fact is that it’s not available for Pakistan.
The best you can get is an OEM copy that has no free-support, only for one PC, and no way to migrate if your PC breaks. If Windows7 activation inherits from it’s predecessors then ‘breakage’ includes upgrading your PC beyond a certain level.
The price difference is also a lot, when you consider that an FPP (say Professional) is for three machines (amounts to about 9K per machine). The same in OEM packaging is for 14K.
Obviously a home user isn’t supposed to buy OEM versions because they are strictly for OEMs. By the way, Windows 7 is available in Pakistan. Check online stores.
Oh and Microsoft doesn’t provide OEM customer support because that is the job of the OEM.
Nice pricing for Pakistan. Finally Microsoft realized that they should come up with better pricing for countries like Pakistan.
I am sure in future the pricing will even come down when piracy is reduced.
Very nice article and very informative.
I am using Windows 7 and its coool!
LOL @ UzEE
who says:
<>
lol is that a difficult task to stop PIRACY issue for microsoft ?
Answer = a BIG NO
its much easier for Microsoft or any Big Software house to stop their product from pirating. Infact many have already deployed that system such as KASPERSKY… (but that’s a simple antivirus app).
we are talking about Windows. And microsoft can anytime restrict all pirated copies running their next future OS. ( BUT THEY WOULD NEVER WANT TO DO SO).
Simple Reason: Mircrosoft (esp. Bill Gates) vision is to see Microsoft OS on every PC. And even a DUMB person would know that if they STOP piracy they wont even see WINDOWS on 20% PCs in world.
What microsoft wants is that all BUSINESS companies and those customers who can afford to buy should Pay for their OS.
They simply wont STOP PIRACY at large scale. Infact they want to get there products used for FREE (but only those who cannot buy the licensed copy).
For Businessmen & High End Buyers microsoft is strict and would crack on them if they would get illegal copy. So try understanding their point of success.
Its more than easy for them to STOP PIRATING their products. But WHO LOOSES IN THAT CASE ? Microsoft. they will loose market share which is nearly 90% (just coz of Piracy) and they still make $5 Billion Each Year. what more they need ?
You are sadly mistaking my friend.
If what you say is to be believed, that all major companies can stop their products from being pirated, then why is that we still can easily download music and movies even though major labels and studios are trying their best to stop piracy?
You’re right about Microsoft’s vision, but your wrong about their execution strategy. They want to put Windows on Every machine by bundling it through IHVs and OEMs, which they have been doing for over a decade now.
90% of that market share is BECAUSE of these OEMs and not because of the piracy.
Oh and more importantly, the main focus of the article is on using UNMODIFIED Windows code, failure to do which results in heaps of trouble, security risks, viruses and more.
I think that is far more important than the fact that you’d have to pay “Big Bad Microsoft”.
Man just leave all this cramp.Take some advantage of being a pakistani ive got windows 7 since march 2009 its genuine its updating and hell its free. didnt even paid a single penny
You mean you are using Windows 7 RC. That build will expire in February 2010 and your system won’t work after that. You would have to install an RTM build by then.
Well, i was using beta in early 09 then i got ultimate which is not legal but genuine, if you say passing WGI and keeping update is a genuine windows then i have a genuine one.
its good to be leagal in anyway, windows 7 is much much more better than vista. thing you write all ok but with drivers compatibility but im not sure if this is able to install xp softwares on windows 7, i am a gamer but many of games e.g, Need for speed previous series are not working on 7 just because those games use directX version 9c and windows 7 using dx 10 and dx 11 so here is the compatibility issue. 2nd many software like demon tools, alchohal, nero burning and virtual drive programes are not supporting windows 7 or i say windows 7 not supporting them yet.
microsoft should make it perfect then no doubt ill buy a copy but with these software issues i dont think its a good idea to wast your money atleast not untill they fix the software issues.
Genuine doesn’t mean passing the genuine check. It means you are running Unmodified code, which wasn’t tampered with someone outside of Microsoft.
Unfortunately, no pirated build runs untampered code because it needs to be cracked to continue beyond the activation period.
As for compatibility, Windows 7 is fully compatible with almost all the software which could run on XP. And for the very small percentage which can’t run on Windows 7 directly, it features Windows XP Mode (a separate download) to run the legacy applications.
Oh and I’m surprised that you don’t know this already: Windows 7 is backwards compatible with DirectX 10/10.1 and all releases of DirectX 9.0c or any other DirectX release for that matter. All versions of DirectX are backward compatible. I’m even able to run pre-DirectX games that I played on Windows 3.1 (from the Microsoft Entertainment Pack).
Most games were patched and updated to support Vista and so all games that run on Vista also run on Windows 7. Just update them and they would work.
As for software, Deamon Tools, Alcohol (both versions), Nero, VIrtual Clone Disc etc all work on Windows 7. I use Alcohol and Nero personally and I can confirm their compatibility. You should really consider using the latest versions.
I think it should be clear by now that there aren’t any software issues with Windows 7. Microsoft isn’t touting 100% application compatibility for nothing.
Here is the direct link for win 7 at student discount price…..
http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/us/software/windows-7.aspx#
Dude you said good university gives free license, I am from NUCES Fast university, how can i get my license? wats the procedure
really any informative packed blog .Just going to get connected with windows 7 .Hope this will be its final version
Dont Know whether i should opine or not..but i must say One thing..I love to Use all pirated software with no shame..if in future,i have to go for window 7 ultimate,i wont pay 17000…but bring this little baby thru Hack world…(dont know)but i love Hack/Piracy…I need no comment on that as i know,98% users of this Blog using Pirated Windows and also love to use cracked softwares…Thats how things are going alike whether admit or not..
Can i upgrade from Vista to 7 and still the drivers of the hardware that are installed in my laptop be working, (iam talking about dell inspiron 1721)as once i installed XP and it did not support the drivers and also Dell site does not support and provide drivers for either XP or 7. Would appreciate if reply is also emailed to me on my gmail ID i.e. [email protected]
Uzair And Aamir Bahi
Really a great topic and specially great information and responses your giving.
I like the whole price related issue since i think that Microsoft should change some of their strategies relating some of the 3rd world counties.
really great
I really think that 7 is going to be the next big thing soon
and also i want some assistants regarding my studies
you see I am a BBA student but i have some interest in computer related stuff
so what actions i can take now when its a little late for me to turn back (figuratively hahaha)
Thankx
Whatever you do, buy a Genuine product. Think about it, most of you developers would want the same for your product. No other way possible. Khudahafiz
Sale sale sale
Buy cracked dvd of window 7 ultimate from my shop only for 50 rupees.
you are actually talking about the pirated version they are torrents
salam
uzee bahi i want to buy a windows 7
i was recently graduated from COMSATS
then tell me how can i got the windows 7 at student package price
i have both XP,VISTA original
xp is on my destop pc
vista is on my laptop
plzz reply me on [email protected]
AOA
I personally checked win 7. WOW . V nice .especially driver support at the top
Dear bro,
As you mentioned that windows OS is sold less than that of in international market due to piracy it is not like that as you are mentioning, it is due to extreme poverty in Pakistan. and tell me that how can a man who can afford only 7 to 8 thousands for buying a 5 to 6 years old PC than how would he afford some more thousands for buying a genuine copy of windows. secondly Genuine Windows are available only in big cities not in others.
nice effort but you did not tell how can we buy windows seven 350pkr per month. i will wait for your reply
I’m sorry for being a noob, but I wanted to know that where can I get a windows 7 ultimate for Rs2500, as you said that student can buy it.
Hey Uzair,
Thanks for this resourceful post.
Do you think you have convinced Pakistanis to use original Windows licenses?
Mostly corporate sector buys original licenses due to compliance and audit purpose. Rest just don’t see any problem in using pirated windows software.
Good try any way..
Itne ka to mera PC bhi nai hy jitni ki windows 7 ultimate hy………
I don’t understand why Microsoft do not open online store in Pakistan
Dude, i have 2 licensed windows Xp pro SP2 and had been using since 2005. In these past years i didn’t see any change or benefits of Genuine Win XP , so now i am using ubuntu 10.04 and a pirated windows 7 ultimate and have no problem.
So buying a windows or using a pirated doesn’t make any difference in your lives…
even if i buy windows home premium it cost ten thousand rupess, in ten thousand rupees i can buy a new pc….
and windows starter is of 3500 in which i can buy a branded used cpu….
wt abt tht author…:)
^huh Chori ki cheez istamaal karnay ka mazaa aata hai kia? Rs.4000 wali Microsoft WINDOWS 7 STARTER bhi to khareed saktay ho.
One thing the author forgot to mention is that the more you buy legal software the more companies will invest here and the more our country will prosper :p
Dear Salman, tum jo itni bateen kar rahay ho na, i am sure u also using pirated copy, and one thing more, windows7 starter tum hi use karoo, hamray tu kissi kaam ki nahee…
OMG meray paas Windows 7 Professional 64-bit hai bro no need of Starter :o
Asalam-u-alikum
i am 13 years old n reads in a school i purchased my pc with a pirated copy of windows 7 now i am familiar with the use of windows 7 (leggal) after reading this article but need a cheaper windows 7 as i am not a university student cant have a license so where do i can get the same cheap priced windows 7 (home premmium)
Assalamualaikum,
Great Article I hope this will encourage users to go for the licensed version of windows and other softwares.
I myself is using Windows 7 Home Premium which came with my HP Laptop. Do you know where I can buy Outlook 2010 from Local Market and what is the price.
Thanks.
lol why waste money? Try Thunderbird by Mozilla
http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/
Dear Uzair,
First of all i would like to say thanks to bring this issue but on the other side, the last words of your article are not good i must say, calling others loser is not a good gesture…..
If someone cant afford or buy the OS, it doesn’t mean he/she is a loser…
Personally i am using Windows 7 Pro 64bit (Licensed) Windows XP Pro 32bit (Licensed).
But i am a huge fan of ubuntu too, i am using it since 7:04 version till the latest version.
the only thing, i am still using windows is for gamming and Ms Access support…
Note: I am also using Ms Office 2010 (licensed)
and i am pretty sure you also have a pirated Ms Office, (so calling you a loser will not be good)
i hope you got it what i want to say
my kind regards
Imran
Microsoft Windows 7 Genuine (x86) Professional / Ultimate 32 Or 64 Bit Version .
Microsoft Windows 7 Genuine (x64) Professional / Ultimate 32 Or 64 Bit Version .
System Requirement : 1Gb Ram Or 6Gb Hard Disk Space
Free Installation .
Windows Charges : 800 rs
Cell : +92-3337095605
Email : [email protected]
Pakistan / karachi
Thanks .
assalamo alaikum yar genuine window ki keys bar bar lagai ja sakti hai ya sirf aik baar istimaal hoti hain mai genuine window 7 khareedna chata hu.reply must . window 7 home premium
Yar yeh genuine window ki keys aik dfa hi use hoti hain yah hum bar bar use kar sakte hain . And genuine window 7 home premium kitne arse tak chal sakti hai. PLZ REPLY FAST agar keys baar baar use ho sakti hain to mai kal hi home premium window 7 khareed leta hu .
ASA Nice post. You really sounded my conscience on that last paragraph.
However, I missed the part about WHERE I could purchase my Rs. 3,500 copy of Windows 7.
Also, I’m a cash-starved 30-year old part-time private student taking CIMA examinations. Do I get a student discount?
Finally, about the OS, does the starter edition leave a lot more to wish for? As in, how basic does it get? How about Ubuntu? Do you need to be a computer geek to use it? What CAN’T I do with each of these?
Thanks for the information.
We should not buy or sell pirated softwares. I have a dual boot with Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Genuine) and Ubuntu 11.10. I use Microsoft Windows XP Professional for gaming and entertainment and Ubuntu 11.10 just for fun (because it is an open-source operating system).
Actually, Ubuntu isn’t so bad. I has many interesting features. You can look for Ubuntu at http://www.ubuntu.com
I can get you a genuine Windows XP. Just go to my website.
i enjoyed your article and surely windows 7 are better than windows vista and also which university did you study in
Windows XP Professional Sp3 (Genuine)
MULTI-ROOT
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Sp3 (100%
Genuine)
• Available in 32bit or 64bit
• 100% Genuine
• 100% Activated
• U can also receive all updates from Microsoft
website.
• No fake
Its Original’s copy of those windows which is in
use own Microsoft Corporation.
U can validate this window in Microsoft website.
contact me…. omer javed zafar @ facebook
i have window 7 professional, vista enterprice or xp all register and cheap or cheapest version
if u interested so call me 00923334535108( in pakistan simple dial 03334535108) or mail me [email protected]
we are facing such type of an environment in which government itself donot intentionally rely on genuine microsoft products , thats why officially piracy everywhere ON PCs of offices . so ppl of pakistan is not very much use to a broader approach of legality .
how can i participate in dreamspark or bizpark?. Reply me on my e mail adress.