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It's the reason why Microsoft has always turned a blind eye to the extreme Windows piracy in China. If the Chinese couldn't pirate it (somehow), then Windows wo
by higherpurpose 12y ago
It's the reason why Microsoft has always turned a blind eye to the extreme Windows piracy in China. If the Chinese couldn't pirate it (somehow), then Windows would have a much smaller market share, perhaps of 50 or 60 percent. And Linux would have a thriving ecosystem of programs. The lack of that is why Windows has such a strong lock-in now.
- TorKlingberg 12y agoI would think it is also that Microsoft cannot do much much about it. The pirated versions of Windows XP are already out there. They could have tried to block updates, but that just means more unpatched Windows machines and bigger botnets. Macs are not an option, and I really doubt 40-50% of Chinese users would start using Linux.
- seanmcdirmid 12y agoMacs are an option and are increasingly popular...not just by high end consumers but also in SOEs. Linux has done well enough via android and lenovo is making big bets beyond mobile devices with it.
- TorKlingberg 12y agoI am not saying the nobody in China buys Macs, but it is probably not the same people who would otherwise run pirated Windows.
- seanmcdirmid 12y ago7 years ago I would have agreed with that. Today I'm not sure.