3 ms·
Not everyone that is looking for cracked software does it because they wouldn't pay. Some do it because the vendor is useless at actually selling them the soft
by bborud 10y ago
Not everyone that is looking for cracked software does it because they wouldn't pay. Some do it because the vendor is useless at actually selling them the software.
On 3-4 occasions over the last 7-8 years I have been trying to buy a legal copy of Windows, download it to my Mac and then install it in VMWare. Every time this has been a situation where I just needed to OS to run some piece of software to fix a problem there and then and I didn't have time to wait for physical medium or there were no shops carrying Windows near by.
For instance when I need to adjust the idle-parameters on the engine of one of my cars that has a specialty ECU.
I have _never_ succeeding in buying a downloadable Windows in any of these situations. Not a single time. Microsoft has made such a big mess out of it each and every time I gave up and then found some pirated Windows that I could boot for one time use and then throw away.
A couple of days ago I was trying to buy Microsoft Office. The reason was that I needed to fix a problem in a document and none of the other software I had would deal with that feature. So I go to the Microsoft website. After noodling around for 3-4 minutes I'm still confused what product I really want to buy. I want the cheapest possible alternative that doesn't require me to register for this and that and which will defecate unwanted stuff all over my laptop.
In the middle of the checkout process a popup asks me if I want alerts when there are new products or some similar bullshit.
In the checkout process! If there is one place you should take care not to upset the user it is while the user is handing over his or her money to you.
I am continually amazed at how bad Microsoft are at this. I understand that Satya Nadella is a busy man, but I would take time out of my day, walk over to whomever is responsible for Microsoft's online retail and fire the moron responsible for it.
All the software I use I have licensed. Some of it even though I'm not even required to license it, just because I want to support those who make it. But perhaps once per year I use unlicensed copies of software perhaps once. And it is almost always due to incompetence on part of the vendor.
- kilroy123 10y agoCan you not just download and use one of these vms? https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/ https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/v...