Rage Against The Machine

[Giorgi]

As you surf the net, dear "anti-microsofter", trying to find more and more articles about how microsoft hides the truth from you and makes you buy, re-buy, re-re-buy almost the same soft for tons of money, you may notice one detail. In all of these articles you can find something like: "Only you can stop Microsoft, don't buy the soft that they sell, use alternative options".
And there goes a large list of alternative OS'es... But what if you're a 60 old lady, that is full of anger and wants to protest against MS because of Win's instability and who cannot re-install or download 1GB Linux packages? (OK, it's pretty difficult to imagine, but anyways...)
There IS an option that doesn't require any additional knowledge.
I was 10 years old,my parents bought me my first PC and in just few months I've discovered IT: yeah, cracked software As many people must be viewing this page I'll say that it was for educational purposes only... (of course!!)
If you can't change to Linux, you can just crack MS soft. (ONLY MS)
So, what do you think?  Is this a way to fight "the machine"?

PS. Sorry if I have lot's of grammar errors and other incomprehensive words, i'm not from USA/UK.

BTW do u like the hardrock/metal band rage against the machine ?

[KernelPanic]

No we do not (as a 'site) endorse warez, nor do I personally. In fact, I hope Microsoft are successful in ruducing the numbers of people illegally obtaining their software.

I don't really like Rage either, not my cup of tea. But I don't even like tea...

[bedouin]

The problem with warezing Microsoft's software is that it doesn't solve the problem.  It doesn't stop the spread of proprietary formats, nor does it stop the kind of mental colonization that keeps Microsoft afloat.  MS knows full and well most people in the world pirate their software -- and they don't care.

To be quite honest, the warez scene just gives developers free publicity.  It's not unlike DJs who release mixtapes containing records not yet out in stores: they create street buzz.  Warez kids put buzz out there, that eventually trickles down to those making big purchases (i.e. businesses).  Case in point, 21 year old system administrator downloads some program off the net illegally at home; finds that said app can solve a problem his employer is having; employer buys legitimate license.  Meanwhile, the kid who warezed it probably ran it once or twice, tops.

ID Software is a company that would not exist if it weren't for warez.  

That said, as a Mac user it feels good to contribute back to the platform I love, especially since it's a minority.  Now, Firefox is successful because it's not merely a clone of what people already have, but because it's visibly superior.  If you want to convince people to make the switch from MS the product has to be more than a mere clone; that's why many are flocking to Apple nowadays -- OS X has upped the ante.  If Linux wants to take on the desktop it needs to offer visible superiority over Windows, and as it stands now, it is at best a clone.  

About Rage, I haven't given them much of a chance, but politically they're interesting.  

BTW, I believe your sig should read "word is bond" not "born," as in "My word is my bond."