Mad_Gerbil gets Burned

[Meh_Gerbil]

I'm posting this here because I'm an honest guy and I can be very forthright when my evil plans blow up in my face.

You see, I just put together some computers in my home for my daughters and I'm left 1 license short for Windows XP Professional. I hopped onto the web and began poking around for a license.

THEY COST $300.00

And no, I don't want the upgrade because then I'm left sheperding disks from previous operating systems. There is no reason why an operating system should be so expensive.

Bill, you've betrayed me.

[Darth Executor]

They invented bittorrent for a reason.

Although the reason why it's so expensive is probably pirating.

[foahchon]

Windows XP Home is only $80 on Pricewatch, which includes the price of the license to use it.

[Dee Dee Warren]

he is looking for xp pro which is more expensive

[JonAdams]

Windows XP Home is only $80 on Pricewatch, which includes the price of the license to use it.

Just for your information: The price is for the license. You never (well almost never) buy the actual software, what you buy is permission to use the software subject to certain constraints.

[A Cup of No]

Hey I didn't know you built computers. I'm not your daughter, but can you build me one?

[Meh_Gerbil]

Hey I didn't know you built computers. I'm not your daughter, but can you build me one?

By build I mean take an old one, update a couple of components and install a new OS.

You can get a great computer from Dell for $500.00

[Sheepdog]

dude, didn't they just open up licences so taht resellers can sell them at a discount?

[Anthem]

newegg has XP pro for $161. at least for today.

[Calvinist4Him]

he is looking for xp pro which is more expensive

MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP PRO FULL VERSION OEM $111.00

Is the box worth $200? I don't think so. But if the box is THAT important, here's the retail version for $209 at: http://www.dealdealdeal.com/microsof...-E85-02665.cfm

[$cirisme]

They invented bittorrent for a reason.

Although the reason why it's so expensive is probably pirating.

Why? Pirating doesn't drive up costs, and high costs don't drive down piracy.

[Darth Executor]

Why? Pirating doesn't drive up costs

It does with me actually. Instead of saving up money for software I spend it on junk food and download the software. If there was no piracy I'd starve to death.

, and high costs don't drive down piracy.

No but it makes up for some of the losses (in theory, in practice I'd need some real data before I can give my opinion).

[$cirisme]

It does with me actually. Instead of saving up money for software I spend it on junk food and download the software. If there was no piracy I'd starve to death.

That doesn't increase the expenses of developing the software.

What you describe is not costing the software developer anything, you're merely depriving them of potential income which is an entirely different argument.

No but it makes up for some of the losses (in theory, in practice I'd need some real data before I can give my opinion).

And it actually increases the loss of potential income.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not in any way defending piracy. I just think it's used as a copout to increase the cost on intangible goods.

I am against piracy on moral grounds, not economic grounds.

[Teallaura]

I can't make as much money as I would have because people are pirating my stuff, so I'll charge more (and make it more likely that people will pirate my stuff rather than pay exorbinent prices).

Makes sense to me.


Not.





(Still morally wrong - and no, I don't buy anything I suspect may be pirated....)

[Darth Executor]

That doesn't increase the expenses of developing the software.

What you describe is not costing the software developer anything, you're merely depriving them of potential income which is an entirely different argument.

Sorry about that, I thought that when you said "cost", you were talking about the cost of the product, not developing expenses.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not in any way defending piracy. I just think it's used as a copout to increase the cost on intangible goods.

I don't necessarily think it's a cop out. Piracy does take a way a good chunck of what they would have gotten otherwise. I only question whether the increase in prices is relative to piracy.

I am against piracy on moral grounds, not economic grounds.

I used to be adamantly against piracy. I don't feel like talking about the morality of it though so I'll leave it at that.