Are you going to pirate Windows 7? Poll results in.
I originally created this poll because I thought it would be interesting to see how big of a concern piracy really is to Microsoft when it comes to operating systems. Here are the results:
Are you going to pirate Windows 7?
- No, I'm going to buy it (37.0%, 2,248 Votes)
- Yes (31.0%, 1,860 Votes)
- Yes, but if it's good, I'll purchase it (27.0%, 1,617 Votes)
- No because I'm not buying it anyway (6.0%, 354 Votes)
Total Voters: 6,075
Loading ...I’ve compiled a pie chart for better visualization of the percentages of votes below:
Let’s simplify things even more by filtering the results to just Yes and No. To do this, I used the numbers from “No, I’m going to buy it” to represent No. I didn’t include “No, because I’m not buying it anyway” because those results aren’t related to the objective. I took exact numbers from “Yes” and included them into Yes. Then I took 40% of votes from “Yes, but if it’s good, I’ll purchase it” and put them into Yes as well. 40% is the number of IT organizations expected to deploy Windows 7 by 2010. Although most votes probably weren’t given by IT professionals, it was the most accurate figure I could use for assuming how many people will buy Windows 7 after pirating it. The results are quite interesting.
A few factors that should be taken into consideration from these results:
- Articles on this blog discussing build leaks are some of the most popular
- Most people visiting Windows 7 Center are most likely fairly tech-savvy due to the nature of our site being a Windows 7 News / Fan Site
- This poll has been running for a few months
If you placed a vote and would like to comment on it, please leave a comment in this post. It will be interesting to see why users believe Windows 7 should or should not be pirated. A new poll will be posted tomorrow.
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45 Responses to “Are you going to pirate Windows 7? Poll results in.”
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Why don’t you come to Brazil to make the same question?
I’m sure that you’ll see others numbers here! lol
We already can buy windows 7 in many pirate stores for here!!!
Congratulations to your blog!
Cara para de ser mediocre e não fala pelo pais inteiro… ele é como é por causa de pessoas como você que vem em blogs estrangeiros e fala mau doproprio país… ¬¬
Ohhhh, how touchy. Another brazilian who thinks Brazil is the best country in the world…. how pitiful! Brazil is just another third world country loaded with corruption and piracy, but no different from many others. Dude, it’s no secret that Brazil is amongst the countries that pirates the most.
On the other hand, how do you expect citizens who make 400 USD a month to pay almost 100 USD for a copy of Win7 or any other piece of software?
For the curious ones, 400 USD a month is about TWICE the minimum wage in Brazil. The minimum i believe someone would earn in a month and be able to afford a cheap computer. And yes, not everybody makes the minimum wage here, but about 70% of the population (around 140 mi ppl) makes under 1000 USD.
It’s not just Brazil, also in Canada. You can buy pirated retail music and software for a little less than legit copies. These stores that sell these pirated materials are opened to the public.
If you’re in Canada and don’t know where to get these, I cannot help you.
Cara para de ser mediocre e não fala pelo pais inteiro… ele é como é por causa de pessoas como você que vem em blogs estrangeiros e fala mau doproprio país…
I am too poor to afford it. Thats why I’m going to pirate it.
So if someone is too poor to buy a car, or television, or computer, or cable television, or internet access, or a DVD, or a CD, or a book etc., etc., etc. that makes it okay to steal them too? Sorry but situational ethics aren’t ethics at all….
Stephen
Cars, televisions, computers are legitimate property. Intellectual “property” isn’t legitimate property. So, no, it’s not situational ethics; it’s clear thinking. The only unethical behavior is on the part of anyone using the copyright or patent system of the state to gain control of other people’s property, i.e. their copies. Perhaps you should reconsider your ethical foundation; it’s looking a little shaky.
Bad excuse. If you can’t afford it, don’t get it.
if you can’t buy it go to pirate bay lol
If you can afford a computer that is able to run W7, you’re not poor. You’re like most of the people and the thinking is that…”why pay for it when I get it for free.” There is nothing wrong with that thinking, it’s the action that is the problem. Most people that pirate software are hard working men/women, but it’s hard to keep them honest. I’m sure if you check Mr. Gate’s home computer, he will probably have some programs that are registered to someone else. Same for the RIA
The morale of most peeps is “Do what I say, don’t do what I do.”
I don’t quite get how you can make assumptions about how everyone does it – I think that is your point but I am not quite sure. While running pirated software was common in the 90s, I don’t know anyone in the broader world of people with whom I interact professionally who intentionally run illegal software. Yes, I know people who run the copy of Acrobat, etc. that came with one of the other office Dells because they didn’t think it mattered which disk they used since all of them came with a copy. I also know people who have stuff that was installed by a third party that they didn’t know was illegal. By and large though, most of the poeple I know seldom go beyond what was originally installed on their systems, only add a few apps over the life of the systems; the vast majority also don’t even know what a torrent site is in the first place. Beyond this, I also know many large and small business that have explicit (and rigorously enforced) policies regarding only running company licensed software – these policies typically have termination clauses in them. Leaving all of this aside. When it comes to the statement, “There is nothing wrong with that thinking….,” sorry, but yes there is. It conveys a sense of flawed personal ethics that most I know do not share. Theft is (simply put) theft, regardless of what type of rationalization (or little happy face) one tries to put on it….
Stephen
So Stephen, are we right to assume that you’ve never actually used any pirated software in your? Unless you:
A) Don’t know how to obtain or install pirated software.
B) You’re a perfect saint.
C) You’re rich.
Then I highly doubt you have never done it before. That would be like answering no when someone one asks you “have you ever lied before?”
I must also say that I believe there is nothing wrong with this way of thinking either. If I were to steal a car, the person who I stole it from would suffer. However when I pirate a software, no one suffers. The developers/publishers/etc. do you say? Well here’s a little insight on how the economy works mate. Rich people, people who can afford to buy software will do so, while those who can’t are forced to pirate it. A good example would be baseball cards, if you had money to buy the real copies, and not the fake ones, even though their nearly exact copies of each other, would you choose the fake one? Course you wouldn’t, you’d buy the real one. It’s human nature and you can’t deny that. You say that we shouldn’t pirate software, that we shouldn’t pirate, if we can’t afford it, we shouldn’t have it. That’s a pretty high-class statement spawning out of you John. Don’t stereotype people, it ain’t nice. Most of us don’t pirate software for entertainment or greed. we do so out of necessity. Students use microsoft word, publisher, etc. and some are in circumstances where they can’t afford software at their ridiculous prices. Same goes for working class people. What people who pirate really think isn’t just “I am too poor to afford it. Thats why I’m going to pirate it…” it’s “I am too poor to afford it. Thats why I’m going to pirate it… and I’m not hurting anyone am I?” What software developers/publishers/etc. heck even every type of product manufacturer/seller in this world is to create a system wherein the cost of the product depends on the income of the buyer, whilst still making a profit. If such a system could be put in place. We wouldn’t just solve 90% of piracy. We’d also solve poverty.
I’m going to buy it, but I’ll use the “alternative” version for 4 weeks to make sure everything runs smooth when I pay money for it.
No need to do that. You can run the real deal without activating for a month.
Also, it’s worth remembering that most people don’t “buy” Windows 7 — they buy new computers, and those computers are preloaded with an operating system (non-pirated). It’s a fair point nonetheless.
Could still download the RC and test that. I mean it’s almost just as stable. I guess my beta testing and RC testing was my free trial. I bought it for 50 bucks before the discount upgrade program ended.
Waiting for a decent discount as I own XP x32 Pro SP3 and Vista Ultimate x64… until then it’s the freebie version! [^_^]
I’m with you. No point in trying to rush into something else just because it’s the latest (and still to be proven greatest).
When I have a need for it, it will probably cost me $40 to get the ultimate version.
I’ll buy it after I use up all of my re-arms. By that time I’ll have the moola saved up to purchase the Ultimate. Or I may go and pay a year sub to technet and get it that way.
I am purchasing a copy in fact I have ordered two. But my issue is that I have already paid for vista last year and as we all know it is rubbish and now I have to purchase again and it is grossly over priced. Also I live in the UK and we have to pay much more than everybody else and they won’t even offer us the family pack deal so I have very little sympathy for Microsoft and as far as I’m concerned go ahead a keep on pirating until they change their business model.
It’s called exchange rate.
Maybe you should be-friend someone who works for MS. In the US, MS employees get a $$$ credit amount which they can use to buy MS products for dirt cheap. It’s part of the incentive, so they can do whatever they want with it.
NOTE: Buying software or souvenir off the MS online store is the only thing you can do with this credit.
I wonder if it’s possible to just buy in the US from someone you trust, pirate the software, then use the activation keys. There’s a little bit of unethicalness but you’re still paying for it right?
Sure sounds like it is in the realm of a little bit pregnant. There is no such thing as only a little bit unethical – it either is unethical or it is not….
Stephen
First of all, there is nothing wrong with Vista; however, if you bought it but don’t like it, that is no different than buying anything else. Do you expect that if you don’t like your current computer or car or toaste) that the next time you need to buy one, it will be free? If someone’s child doesn’t like a Harry Potter book, should they get the next one for free or for a discount?
BTW, if you mean you bought a computer that had Vista loaded, you hardly even paid for it in the first place. All that garbage preloaded on your typical new computer purchase is there at a price to the various software producers and that price is what helps keep new computer prices down.
Leaving all of this aside, your underlying premise seems to be that if you don’t like someone’s policies, it is okay to steal from them. Does that mean if you don’t like the prices (or discount policies) at the local supermarket or department store, it is just okay to steal the merchandise. One can rationalize to one’s heart’s content but theft is still just theft….
Stephen
There is others facts that we need to consider:
The price in some countries are expensive;
Some countries don´t have the pre-order options;
Some people will wait until by new computers with W7 pre-load e etc,
Good point. But I’m sure the prices in each country is suitable or relevant to the overall income
Suitable for the overal income, this is great!
Ok, let’s face the facts. First, most of the people from the Emerging Countries (EC) face tree simple facts:
1) Their governments are corrupt (I know, even in the U.S. there’s corruption, but there so much money that it becomes irrelevant);
2) The taxes paid for anything are absurd. When they buy something from the U.S., it comes with the regular price + U.S. taxes + Importation tax + Country tax. The price rises at least 50%~70%;
3) The business representatives in those countries are a joke. Imagine someone that doesn’t spend a dimme on marketing, just updates a website, the ‘wonderful’ called ‘Developer’s Day’ and make some banners for a profit of no less than 25/30% of the regular price. The software in most cases sells for itself, so you don’t even need to leave your chair to have your account smiling.
Sooo, lets build a little table:
U.S.:
Average Income (IT professional):
About 6,000.00~10,000.00 ???
Windows 7 Price (Home Premium):
239.99 (Sounds good???)
EC:
Average Income:
About 1,000.00~2,000.00
Sofware Price (Home Premium):
US Price + Taxes + Profit :
239.99 + 50% + 30% ~470.00 USD
(okay, it doesn’t work exactly like that for every country, but it’s an example)
IF you do the reverse math (which is simple), you come to the simple fact that the U.S. IT professional pay ~4% of his income for a copy of Windows, and the EC IT professional pay 47%. It is the same as the first pay 2,820.00 USD. Think about that and imagine if you’ll be willing to pay this value for a copy of software. I’m not endorsing piracy, just showing the facts.
Stop talking nonsense, like ‘If you can afford a computer that is able to run W7, you’re not poor.’. The computers are cheap, even in the developing countries (with about 300~500 USD you can buy one that runs Windows 7, and you can also pay in 12, 24 months. Try to buy software that way). And don’t be sure about anything, just living in those countries gives you another perspective. I think piracy is a shame, but if you need to survive in the IT market, sometimes you have to bend some rules. I typed too much, Maybe I’ll become a gardener (This is cheaper)…..
BTW, I also use Linux. Great for many things, but when comes to Multimedia and Games, sucks! And Microsoft Office Home and Studend costs about 100.00 USD here. Why they can’t have a Windows Home Premium with the same price?????
If the price here in Mexico is the same like the US price I’ll buy it but I think that they won’t make any special promo like the $50 USD pre-order.
I tried to get the pre-order in US but I needed a valid US adress.
I don’t believe this poll should even be a topic in here because this is supposed to be a legit site. The correct wording should have been similar to the following.
Will you buy Windows 7?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Undecided
Why? We don’t promote pirating of Windows 7 but I think it is ok to ask users if they will pirate it.
@ Stephen.
Please, please stop with the moral high-ground. People know the difference between right and wrong. People also know that pirating software is wrong, no matter how you try and rationalize it.
Forty nine percent of people whom took part in the above poll [b]will[/b] pirate W7. Hardly surprising!
Your constant ranting over morality and your analogies seem (to me) to be futile here, not to mention boring to read.
I do understand where you’re coming from, and i agree with what you say. It’s frustrating that you’ve paid good money for software, knowing that your neighbour has a pirated copy. I bet you wouldn’t visit his house and lecture him though would you?
Thanks for reading
I second that.
Hey there, I completely agree with you, pirate users know its wrong, but we convince ourselves (and I’m betting it’s a fact) it isn’t hurting anyone. Most also have a valid reasons. (Student/Working Class/etc. can’t afford to pay) We also convince ourselves that rich people are going to buy it any way, so it’s unlikely the company wouldn’t lose any money, or they’d still make a profit, just less. (Again I’m fairly certain this is true.) If I were to put this subject on a moral compass I’d say it’s in the grey area.
Well I can start to say like this. I have never payed for software. So, I’m not used to it. I’m a student (born -85) with a tight budget. So why pay for something that I can skip without hurting anyone. If there were no pirated apps out there I wouldn’t by them. Instead I would use freewares and be forced to do more stuff at the schools computers instead. So wouldn’t change any income for anyone. To me it isn’t at all the same as stealing.
Aqui no Brasil você paga quinzão e é mais fácil do que comprar nas lojas até Huahsuahus
If it would be cheaper, I would buy it. Not not, it is overprized and I can get it for free just in few more minutes of work.
Use Linux, Plain and Simple
For starters use Linux Mint http://linuxmint.com
Don’t think so. I want to play my games and apps made for windows. So, no. Not plain and simple
You guys in the developed nations have it made; you have access to the Windows 7 Family Pack upgrades and Student promotions. I wonder when (or if) Microsoft will also offer those kinds of promotions for developing nations? Had they offered the Windows 7 Family Pack here in the Philippines, I’d gladly buy two already. However, since they don’t I have no choice but to go full price.
*Sigh* one can freely dream…
Well… First of all, the morality issue. Scientifically, morality is defined in very few circumstances, which do not include theft. If one has religious superstitions, one must bear in mind that few, if any, religions make any reference to “copyright”.
Personally, I use Linux. But from time to time, I like to play a game. So, I will pirate windows 7 when my PC-bundled XP are useless. The fact that Microsoft and Windows has established a monopoly is more disturbing than the fact that someone pirates software. If it weren’t so, Microsoft wouldn’t charge 200$ for it. How much did it cost to develop anyway? They made ten times that in the first day of release. There goes a moral highground.
I’m happy with Windows 7, currently Im using it. I didn’t pay for it, just downloaded from Technet.
I haven’t install any pirated software with my Windows 7, mostly I use free and open source softwares, but top-notch ones.
YES i will pirate windows 7. i paid for vista witch was a real letdown and i think windows 7 is way over priced since it’s what vista should of been
[...] Are you going to pirate Windows 7? Poll results in. I originally created this poll because I thought it would be interesting to see how… [...]
guys,it’s obvius that most of the people will pirate it,because it’s free,i simply cant imagine a microsoft representer coming in your house to check ur windows (lol).so god bless hackers
even though they do bad things,they do them to sustain their lifes,as joe must work to have food,hackers must steal joe’s money,who has pirated software from them ,cause they cant be fed just by knowing their pirated version of whatever they pirated has 100000000000000000000000 hits 
im affraid to do the complete switch to gnu/linux ubuntu cause in vista i have more battery life,unfortunately…so i would rather than use linux pirate win 7 and put it on a clean all HDD install,or just keep windows vista and ubuntu in the same configuration .
heh,as an answer,no ,i wouldnt buy win7.at this moment i use ubuntu on an 10GiB partition,and on the rest 240 GiB of the hard drive i have windows vista oem
awesome website. I’ve honestly appreciated it!