http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 1:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/@AndrewNoNumbers
Every single build of windows 7 were released before Microsoft. Even the ones that Microsoft didn't release were released.]]>Jul 25th 2009 2:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 3:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Nope. No one cares. Go be pissed somewhere else.]]>Jul 25th 2009 4:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Sorry that's how it goes. I can avoid buying software but I cannot easily avoid paying my rent, car payment, etc. If I lived in a world where I absolutely had to buy software I would use OSS stuff exclusively or just stick with an old version. So, as a software engineer, you're probably not losing much to piracy. You can't assume every download = a lost sale.]]>Jul 25th 2009 5:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 5:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 6:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 7:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/
As a software/web developer, I get where you are coming from, but there are a few things to consider..

Windows 7 is not released yet. There are many enthusiasts who are not developers and do not have TechNet/MSDN subscriptions, and want to get their hands on the RTM. Many of those who download it have pre-ordered or are going to buy Windows 7 upgrades when it is released. If you already have it, all the better as you can install it now and just enter the legit serial code later when you buy it.

On a more general level, as I'm sure many others did, I grew up using pirated software in junior high and highschool. I am not taking about PC games, or cheap shareware, I am talking about applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, Flash, 3D studio max, Visual Studio, and many other expensive media applications and development tools that I could have never afforded.

Similarly, there was no other way I would have been able to learn to use these tools without piracy. With piracy, I would have used crappy consumer-level apps or open source software. And now that I am older, all of these companies have gained a loyal paying customer. So while it may not have been the most ethical thing to do at the time, it actually became a positive thing for many companies.

Granted, there are many unscrupulous adults and businesses out there who use pirated software to decrease costs, but I think it is a major disservice to both software companies and students that organizations like the business software alliance completely ignore the reasons behind piracy, and treat it as a monolithic crime problem. I do have to commend a lot of companies now days, as many have created initiatives for getting cheap software to students for learning. Microsoft's in particular has done a great job of getting kids started with software development with the free Visual Studio express editions. Similarly, companies like Adobe should really find a way to make a far cheaper Creative Suite for students to learn. After all, these are their future customers.]]>Jul 26th 2009 8:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/
@Inect - I can only hope that's the case, if so, great.

@Sinister Joe - If you lived in a world that you had to buy software, there wouldn't be such a thing as OSS. And you're right, I can't assum every download is a lost sale, which brought me to..

@Loosley Coupled - You have a lot of good points and I can see where you're coming from. Piracy is a vicious cycle, once you're in and you see how easy it is to get the tools for free that would normally cost you hundreds and hundreds of dollars, what would make you want to stop? I would only hope that morally you feel guilty enough to stop, or else it just keeps feeding and its a snowball effect.]]>Jul 27th 2009 12:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 5:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 5:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 5:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 7:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/
I guess talking shit about every non-apple product is the only thing he is capable of

]]>Jul 25th 2009 10:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 26th 2009 1:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 26th 2009 10:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/
In computer science, "code" is an abbreviation of "source code". Which means "human readable". As opposed to "binaries".

Just because Micro$oft wants to obscure this difference, and I wonder why they might want to, doesn't mean you have to also. ]]>Jul 25th 2009 2:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/
Oh wait, I meant Micro$oft.]]>Jul 25th 2009 2:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/
That is like the awesomest thing I've seen in a long time!

I wish I was you friend and for some reason your opinion is so genuin and awesome now!]]>Jul 25th 2009 2:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 3:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/I been a computer engineer for 20+ years. And I realize that "code" can also mean object code, which is what MS is handing off here.]]>Jul 25th 2009 3:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 4:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 26th 2009 12:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/07/25/oems-pick-up-windows-7-rtm-code-today-in-redmond.aspx
they mentioned the names and companies along with each photo....check it out]]>Jul 25th 2009 3:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 3:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 4:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 11:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/]]>Jul 25th 2009 4:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/
anyone want to elaborate on that abbreviation?]]>Jul 25th 2009 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 2:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 3:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/microsoft-invites-some-of-its-bestest-oem-buddies-over-for-a-win/Jul 25th 2009 8:24PM