Hi Dave
-- some companies like NOVELL encourage the use of Torrents to download the latest version of the open source OPENSUSE 11.1 Linux distro. It's actually a good way of downloading stuff without overloading commercial servers etc. Some users (and we usually know who they are) give these sites a bad name etc.
I think even well established organisations like S.E.T.I use a lot of P2P stuff for quite legitimate purposes (although I know some people regard S.E.T.I as being a little bit better than "The Flat Earth Society").
By downloading Commercial / Copyright software --- I meant of course downloading Pirate / Hacked / other modified copies -- not products which the downloader has paid for and accepted the license.
Windows 7 is actually in an interesting case as it's not being charged for currently and Microsoft has been deafeaningly silent in the whole business of "leaked builds".
I would say that whilst most people do not willingly use pirate software etc -- there IS a certain amount of ambivalence on obtaining the latest builds -- I'm guilty as well.
As we are all likely to purchase the final product it's quite easy to "salve our consciences" by saying "well we are testing it for Microsoft as well).
I won't believe that Forums such as these are NEVER read by the powers that be in Seattle. If they wanted to stop this stuff working it would be really easy :
1) Why are the BETA keys still working.
2) As soon as you logon to the Internet - any "leaked" build could always "Ring Home" whereupon Microsoft could do anything it liked to hobble the product. Any "101 Learning Coder" could probably fix this for them.
I don't like the idea of ISP's getting involved in blocking sites -- where does this end -- we've seen already how much freedom is being ceeded back to the Police and State in hitherto quite democratic countries like the USA and UK all "in the name of terrorism / National security". Once given up these freedoms are almost never returned again to the individuals.
The ISP should just be an "apolitical supplier". After all "Guns don't kill people" It's People who do the killing.
Thank goodness that the Internet is almost impossible to control in spite of fairly populous countries (and some not so populous one's) attempting to do just that.
Cheers
jimbo
Once again.. don't use daily/interim builds people..
Their not worth the time and effort it takes to download them (illegally) and install them build after build.. just wait for the RC..
Not long to wait now....
Hi there
If you have a fast ISP it only takes around an hour or two at the most anyway .
Just enough time to vist the local Hostelry for a nice drink or two (or three)
.
Keeps the servers busy as well.
cheers
jimbo