Microsoft has Vista set up so that if you do not activate the product legally within a 30 day period (much like the XP timeline), Vista will activate a lockout procedure and run on a “reduced functionality mode”.
In this mode, Vista will allow a user to access the internet via a browser but only for a limited time (one hour). After reaching your time limit, Vista will lock you out of your own computer.
Microsoft is trying out this new “Software Protection Program” and I have a feeling it will increase the unhappy users. We all know how Microsoft runs things and I’m betting that 8/10 of the lock outs will be because of a simple user mistake or Microsoft error.
Microsoft realizes that many software pirates have acquired past versions of their products and I know they don’t take kindly to that action. Microsoft probably hopes that this will be a stepping stone to more secure versions.
Vista and “Longhorn” server versions will be widely available in January of 2007. Many have already climbed aboard the new OS train.
If all goes well with this lockout procedure, Microsoft plans to use this in all future versions.
What is really amusing is that they have all this protection AGINST pirates….but the pirates themselves simply don’t WANT to crack it….not that it can’t be cracked but more and more people are saying that sticking with XP is the way to go.
I think I’ll just stick to XP.
i am sure someone will crack it none of us want to make gates any richer how many billions can he spend.
I hope they get around this I want Vista for DX10 gaming but I dont want to shell out that kind of cash for Vista Ultimate