Genuine Advantage...

Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) is an anti-piracy system created by Microsoft that enforces online validation of the licensing of several recent Microsoft Windows operating systems when accessing several services, such as Windows Update, and downloading Windows components from the Microsoft Download Center. WGA consists of two components; an installable component called WGA Notifications that hooks into Winlogon and validates the Windows license upon each logon and an ActiveX control that checks the validity of the Windows license when downloading certain updates from the Microsoft Download Center or Windows Update. WGA Notifications covers Windows XP, Windows Vista and current test versions of Windows 7. It does not cover other versions of the Windows NT family, such as Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003, or the Windows 9x family. The ActiveX control however checks Windows 2000 Professional licenses as well.[1]

WGA also advertises the latest service pack for Windows XP, which requires manual intervention to disable. Previously voluntary, it became mandatory for use of these services in July 2005.

Now you would be thinking why am I telling all this. You have had probably experienced your share of it already. What I want to bring out is the problem what we all are facing out here. The problem is this cost of softwares. I mean why would a student buy out a copy of Microsoft Office for such a price when all he has to do is a couple of projects. Why would I want to buy an original copy for such a high price when I am not going to be paid out in return for t?

The simple thing is that why is the price being kept so high that its rather unaffordable for many of us?

Microsoft and why only them all these software firms are content that their softwares are being pirated. They are all out spending so much money in developing all these checkings and all when one simple step could be slashing the cost for the customer.

I mean there are hordes of ways to cut down end user cost why not apply them.

Most easy and productive is advertisements in your adds. Who would mind a cola add embedded in the background till they are getting a fair deal?

One other problem that end customer faces is the acquiring of the legal copies. There are limited outlets available and the availibility out here is not good. True we ca donload all of them from the internet but a big problem with many of us is the payment. I had been many times unable to get them just because I did not have a credit card.

I am sure if it is thought about not as a war between software firms and piraters but a problem for the end user then we would surely get a good and feasible solution.

And now a note for all of us who just cant resist piracy and no matter what are bent on acquiring these copies- You are commiting an act of crime. If you can not pay for the software dont get it by crook. You are in doing so making a mockery of someones hard work and skill. Acquire opensource copies. You are sure to find a cheap version and even a free one for your need out on the net....and its true You should only know where to look far.

And of course for all those who keep on getting entangled with the WGA problem I would want to seriouly advice you to either acquire a legal copy or even better go for LINUX...its great. I've been myself working on it (Ubuntu) for quite sometime and believe me there has been no problem. The interface is very identical to windows and very easy to understand. Just type linux download in your search bar and you wold get lots of genuine free download links.

And if you still can not find what you want just tell me and I will try my best to make it available for you as soon as possible.

Enjoy....