I agree. I read the other article about free Windows, and while I agree with the author that it is easy to obtain a copy of Windows you didn't have to pay for, it's not something I want to do. My laptop computer was new two and a half years ago. It is still more powerful than what I need, but if I had to upgrade to Vista I'd be screwed because even if I could afford to buy the OS, I'd need new hardware. Maybe I should steal that too! Well, of course not, but I won't have to because I don't need new hardware thanks to Linux running just fine on what I already have.

Good point, man!

Keep it up. The world needs more articles like this.

A very good answer indeed, Steven. My reasons were almost exactly the same.

Thanks for sharing your ideas about it.

Kind regards,
Wolfgang

It shocks me how many people (I know) seem to have no trouble with using such illegal software and just passing round copied CDs and DVDs too.

I might not agree with the models but like all the comments seemingly I choose to be legal and still do everything they do. Usually quicker!

Anyway brag's about copied DVDs stopped around me in the work kitchen when I casually dropped into conversation the extent UK proceeds of crime act allows everything they own to be taken on top of the basic prison sentences and fines! Good for a chuckle.

I think a few commenters may have missed the point of the original article. The author was NOT avocating using pirated or cracked software, just making his point on how the easy availability of pirated or cracked software is slowing the adoption of Linux, and how it makes people think that Windows and other propriatory software is free, when in reality it is not.

I agree that using Linux and free and open source software is much better (in many ways) than stealing MS (or other canpany's) propriatory software. In fact, that is what I have done. I do have a legally purchased copy of Windows installed (in a dual boot configuration with Sidux)on my machine to run a few games. That is the only thing I use it for, and as I find more good games for Linux, I will probably use Windows even less than I do now.

I not only prefer not to steal, but in my opinion Linux is better than Windows in many ways, and will continue to be more and more superior as more hardware drivers and good games are developed for Linux.

I responded to the original article by D. Gutteridge that it has not been my personal experience that there are many regular end users who are putting "cracked" operating systems on their PC computers. Most people expect the current version of MS Windows to be on the new PC computer they buy just as people expect the current version of OSX to be on the Apple computer they buy. They usually use that version for as long as they own the computer and just buy a new computer in 3 to 5 years when that one no longer does what they need or want to do. Most "non-computer geek" folks don't really care about the OS one way or another, just as long as they are able to use it to run applications that actually do what they want to do.

But people do care about applications and, unfortunately, the story is correct that most people are not bothered about violating software EULAs. Indeed, most people don't even read those. If they can get a "free" copy of MS Office and Adobe Photoshop and whatever else, they will use it. Just those two mentioned software suites represent in most people's mind "over a thousand dollars worth" of software. Sure, they can get Open Office and Gimp, and many do, but those are free to everybody and do not instill the same feelings of value and prestige. If everybody actually had to pay for all the software they use out of their own pockets, most people would consider using MS Office and Photoshop a foolish waste of money since these suites are only marginally better than the free software alternatives.

And, this is one of the primary reasons why most people are not interested in "using Linux". It is not due to any great love of MS Windows, it is because they want to be able to use this high priced software that they get for "free". Most of the modern Linux distros are prefectly acceptable in appearence and ease of use for most people, except for running these applications. If people's experience with Linux were that they could just run the installation CD made for Windows and the program would install and run just like it does in Windows, then most people would be perfectly happy to use a Linux system on their PC.

My thoughts:

Piracy has its place.. There really is no ground or stance you can take. It takes a certain amount of knowledge to obtain it then.. which is usually the basic learning curve. Next you have the intermediate stages where your providing material and then to finish it off you have a post stage where you dont really need it because its like second nature and you focus on not getting busted by FED's/RIAA/Movie company's ... Regardless its just a skill set like cooking not a moral stance...

Linux is the same way..
Theres that initial couple first steps and dabbling around.. then you move on to learning more command line and conf files. Eventually you migrate to more interesting topics such weather you use wma , mpeg, ogg, divx to encode video audio. What kind of kernel do you need to run plus or minus modules / drivers.

really these two follow each other you get your basic taste then you start to move into a stage 2 of working with it and then you hit a plateau eventually and move to step 3 where it becomes second nature and a useful skill set.

Lol.. to say theres a moral high ground in MS piracy vs linux is sort of silly... Not flaming the poster but it really DQ's the fact that 9 times out of 10 company's get kick backs from Micro$crew to pre-load OS's. Whats slowing the migration of users into linux is the Zealots who sit in forums and believe theres some Heirarchy that has to be preached to Win to Lin converts.. realistically with the intro with Ubuntu we see alot of newb's hitting the floor running which im happy about but really we have alot of Zealots from 2.4Kernel bringing that sterotypical Linux is only for hardcore nerds. That kind of burn is what is people see, and its taking along time to really change that projection.. Dont you think? I would think that if theres any moral high ground that needs to be assessed it would be with the Zealots, no?

Though all these license battles lately... Its like leaving Micheal Jackson in a preschool and telling him to behave... rather silly no?