Nobody ‘plans’ on configuring a firewall. You, however, are an incompetent moron.

Your false curiosity is out of place, malgre.

furthermore, you could have a firewall too, how exactly do you suppose M$ could just “shut off” a pirated version of their OS running on a remote computer if it has a firewall and Win Update disabled?

Saying they could do that is kinda absurd. I know Microsoft has stated publicly that they don’t see people who use their software illegally as a loss in sales or a threat, much different than RIAA point of view, so I am not debating Microsoft’s feelings on general non-profit piracy of their OS, I agree with you on their intentions.

But to say they CAN stop everyone with the flip of a switch is so silly that it makes me feel sorry for you.

Your previous comment about how Microsoft could shut down all pirated copies in the world also made me laugh. Are you are you really so naive? You know that handy feature on your Windows OS called Windows Update? Diable it. Now M$ can’t do shit.

Software is not a machine at all, hence the term.

“There are no future versions to upgrade to.”

The general term is future release, which does apply to music.

“… and there’s no next version, like in games, …”

No.

“… a lot of companies are choosing to cut back on illegal copies or at least track them all over the internet.”

Oh, really? No, not really.

“Last year M$ turned off the wallpaper function in every single pirated copy of WIndows in China.”

That wallpaper thing was due to a windows update, so it is improbable that every one was affected.

“Millions and millions of people started to panic, we’re talking stockbrokers and bankers here, and the Chinese government begged M$ to restore the desktops, because their economy was being damaged.”

Just for wallpaper? I call BS on this.

“Since then, China has started enforcing IP laws, and sales of legitimate copies of Windows have gone through the roof.”

I call BS on this as well.

You are going absolutely nowhere.

Where the learning curve isn’t so steep, and there’s no next version, like in games, a lot of companies are choosing to cut back on illegal copies or at least track them all over the internet.

Last year M$ turned off the wallpaper function in every single pirated copy of WIndows in China. All the backgrounds were just black. Millions and millions of people started to panic, we’re talking stockbrokers and bankers here, and the Chinese government begged M$ to restore the desktops, because their economy was being damaged. M$ restored the function. Since then, China has started enforcing IP laws, and sales of legitimate copies of Windows have gone through the roof.

Kids grow and then use purchased copies in the workplace.

The same with MS. Its better to have 1.2 billion using Win, even if pirated, then to have them use Linux instead.

Another thing to think about is that M$ has they ability to disable every illegal copy of windows on the planet that’s connected to the internet – but they don’t. They want the potential customers especially in china. But you can be sure that they will retain at any cost the option of doing it.