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No...actually dongle protection is easy to get passed...
Basically if they could not replicate the dongle, they would break the code that looks for a dongle.

I knew an engineer one time (mechanical, not software) who used some kind of design program that required a dongle. Even taking into account it was not nearly as popular as the Windows operating system, he was still able to find a hack/patch that allowed him to no longer require the dongle.

The reason he did this...it was not because he didn't buy the version he used...but the dongle kept falling off the back of his computer or he would lose it. I actually think his cat knocked it off...but anyway, it was such a pain in his rear he finally circumvented the "protection" for his own sanity.

I'm sure they have made advances in dongle technology...but no matter how you slice is, the software is just lines of code...and eventually someone smarter than those in Redmond will find a way around it.

Here is what I don't understand. I think piracy of the Microsoft OS was really at its height back in the days of DOS, Windows 3.11, Windows 95...
Yet even with it being so heavily pirated...in fact EVERYONE I know had a pirated copy...every company I worked at had pirated copies on most of their machines...it was as common as tires on a car.
Yet somehow, with all this piracy and lack of copy protection, Microsoft still grew to be the monopoly they are...with unchallenged wealth and power.

So...in other words...whats all the beef about? It seems that even with the pirates out there, MS is making more than enough money. Since they can't beat the pirates anyway, why keep pissing off their paying customers with this kind of stupid and ridiculous copy protection crap they keep trying to push, implement, or develop?
It makes no sense....
Posted by: Stellardyne   Posted on: 09/30/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Desktop Linux a vehicle for pirating Windows  Loverock Davidson | 09/29/04
You'll believe anything won't you  jstead1 | 09/29/04
Misapplied fact, misbegotten conclusion  John Le'Brecage | 09/30/04
re: Misapplied fact, misbegotten conclusion  jdahs@... | 09/30/04
so is gartner saying ACTIVATION doesn't work?  V Sanders | 09/30/04
Not a word about activation  amicus_curious | 09/30/04
It does work..  d_jedi | 09/30/04
In case you hadn't heard..  Wolfie2K3 | 11/29/04
hmm...  wimbo_z | 09/30/04
"Linsux" and "fanboys"  Expatriate US Geek | 09/30/04
Oh Dear we got us a real live one here folks  peten | 09/30/04
'Splain Lucy....  Wolfie2K3 | 11/29/04
Windows Profit Margin Like 85%  andyhayes1 | 09/29/04
at some point all cost are covered - then is 100% from that point on(NT)  V Sanders | 09/30/04
and if they want a tax write off, just donate a few thousand copies  V Sanders | 09/30/04
You have apparently never donated anything  amicus_curious | 09/30/04
That is initial margin  amicus_curious | 09/30/04
Not really..  d_jedi | 09/30/04
Copycats...  jacarter3 | 09/30/04
Actually...  Wolfie2K3 | 11/29/04
read  wimbo_z | 09/30/04
Where do you get that number?  d_jedi | 09/30/04
Used to be worse  GreatInca | 09/30/04
"will be" ?  Richard Flude | 09/29/04
so ...  George Mitchell | 09/29/04
More Gardner FUD  Seething Ganglia | 09/29/04
I am not so sure about that  prong@... | 09/29/04
Geez, the story makes no sense  jstead1 | 09/29/04
No basis in fact  Chad_z | 09/30/04
What's really happening  CobraA1 | 09/29/04
great point  Jeff Spicoli | 09/29/04
All good points  Chad_z | 09/30/04
Microsoft in a catch-22  d_jedi | 09/30/04
This is a joke... right?  jstead1 | 09/29/04
MS Tax  mobrien_12@... | 09/30/04
Same thought  SC-man | 09/30/04
Sounds like a lot of trouble  John L. Ries | 09/29/04
.. but the advantage of that approach is..  d_jedi | 09/30/04
.And your point is...  John L. Ries | 09/30/04
My point is..  d_jedi | 10/01/04
I'll accept that.  John L. Ries | 10/01/04
MS should employ a dongle ...  George Mitchell | 09/29/04
Wow...that would be awesome! After all...  Stellardyne | 09/29/04
is the same thing basicly  V Sanders | 09/30/04
and do not forget  V Sanders | 09/30/04
Isn't that what they're doing?  d_jedi | 09/30/04
And just suppose ...  George Mitchell | 09/30/04
I agree with you but you were harsh on the other guy  DigitalKid | 09/30/04
Actually...the hack could circumvent the dongle...  Stellardyne | 09/30/04
Thanks for explaining  DigitalKid | 09/30/04
No...actually dongle protection is easy to get passed...  Stellardyne | 09/30/04
You are right, Windows piracy is not new.  George Mitchell | 09/30/04
Palladium anyone?  mobrien_12@... | 09/30/04
sounds good  V Sanders | 09/30/04
Thats true  anon_engr | 09/29/04
Umm...I don't get it...  Stellardyne | 09/29/04
I agree with you  V Sanders | 09/30/04
Huh?  d_jedi | 09/30/04
GETTING AWAY OF HAVING TO PAY FOR A NEW VERSION EVERY YEAR  gui_mart | 10/12/04
Oh My GAWD! what a bunch of MORONS!  igaduma | 09/29/04
How about instead of name calling...  Michael Kelly | 09/30/04
Onebase  richdave | 10/02/04
Well, since Gartner hates MS, it must be true  FilledOut | 09/30/04
MS is gartners biggest 'customer'  doh123 | 09/30/04
I've never seen such a poorly written....  BitTwiddler | 09/30/04
what percent of windows pc become linux  V Sanders | 09/30/04
Survey says: Gartner's hidden truths  John Le'Brecage | 09/30/04
HEY EVERYONE! HE MENTIONS ME!!  Loverock Davidson | 09/30/04
And you wonder why  Physco Dude | 09/30/04
Same old trick  achavez382 | 09/30/04
Same old trick  Loverock Davidson | 09/30/04
Must be  IT_User | 09/30/04
You are after all the epitome of the remark...  John Le'Brecage | 09/30/04
Up to the OEMs  amicus_curious | 09/30/04
Only in theory  Yagotta B. Kidding | 09/30/04
This article misleading at best..  d_jedi | 09/30/04
What About Removing XP to Install Linux??? Refund???  brenthawkinsmd | 09/30/04
Someone tried that in Australia a few years back!  B.O.F.H. | 09/30/04
Ummm, and you didn't know Windows was included in the price?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
Hey, dull ax.  richdave | 10/02/04
This USED to be a good argument ...  George Mitchell | 09/30/04
$36  Bill4 | 09/30/04
If you only want to run three apps at a time, with no networking, no WMP...  d_jedi | 09/30/04
Hmmmmm.  richdave | 10/02/04
Sink the pirates  Yagotta B. Kidding | 09/30/04
Sink the pirates  rcarlson52@... | 09/30/04
Please Define Desktop Linux  rcarlson52@... | 09/30/04
Screams past!!??  richdave | 10/02/04
Using Licensed copies  RexBallard | 09/30/04
MS "Monopolistic Extortion" continues...  PVkWatts | 09/30/04
I don't understand why MS hasn't revived Xenix.  richdave | 10/02/04
Can be a good little sandbox for viral testing  FilledOut | 09/30/04
Gartner has it backwards - again  RexBallard | 09/30/04
Truth hurts.... (nt)  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/30/04
Happens everytime  dw5437@... | 09/30/04
I don't like bootleggers. I like P2P. Free is better than a buck.  GreatInca | 09/30/04
I knew it was gartner just from the title  Arrg | 09/30/04
.....and why?  ka0mos | 09/30/04
Windows is a bigger vehicle for piracy - read how !  mvaar | 10/01/04
Biased Viewpoint.  Traveler545220 | 10/01/04
Blackbeard the Pirate calling FOUL ? ? ? ?  Oat Mea1 | 10/01/04
Piracy!? Wait a minute  richdave | 10/02/04

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