Microsoft Streets And Trips 2008 Activation crud

[NigelH]

Having used releases of Streets And Trips back to 2003,  I had decided to skip 2007 and wait for 2008.
That was an unfortunate decision, as 2008 now includes activation crud.
Perhaps 2007 did as well, I don't know.

Seriously Microsoft, no more.
You will not see another $ for software from me - ever.

[Josh]

Is activation that big of a deal? I have never had an activation related problem that wasn't self-spurred.

[NigelH]

For me it's the principle.
I have to trust that, if a machine gets hosed, MS will allow me to activate the software.
XP Pro falls in the same boat regarding my decision - the last OS I will buy from them.

This activation stuff is in the same category as DRM.
I've just started reading Cory Doctorow's "Content"
Content

[Josh]

I fail to see it as a real issue. Many companies use this method of software protection and it hasn't proven to me, at least, to be problematic. If it did, I would raise a big fuss about it. However, I find most of the activation problems that most users fear are just brought upon by uneducated news media spreading information that doesn't represent a large majority of a given sample populous.

[Grorgy]

Those that could not activate their Vista systems due to server outages may disagree with you Josh.

[fenixproductions]

The only thing that makes me worried with activation is:
will they allow me to do it when their support will end? How long will it be possible to activate my WinXP?

Teoritically it should be possible to run XP without activation for couple of days but last time I had made an installation it couldn't run without. I had to call some robot and input strange numbers to make everything work. I can't imagine myself to use pirate version because of that. And, after all, I paid my month salary for CD.

[Josh]

Has that happened since? And all that did was delay it a day. Activation allows you 30 days last I checked and that can be extended up to 120 days. Every system has bugs and microsoft has since ironed those out.

[NigelH]

Josh, you have the right to feel that way.
Others like me disagree - many of us.

Like I said, this is no different than the issue regarding DRM - especially with regard to music and books.
Read Cory's book.