OSNews

I'd argue that many people pirating windows are using other operating systems. Think of the Linux and Mac folk running it in a vm either to play with it or to run their one or two need-to-have windows apps.

I don't know who wins in that case, maybe the app vendor (unless the app is pirated as well. ;> ).

It's still Microsoft; Mac and Linux developers don't fill the niche occupied by the "must have" software because there's "no demand"…

- chrish

I may disagree, at least from my individual observations, located in Germany. Here, people generally don't seem to have problems to use any illegal stuff on their PCs. But allow me to go into detail.



Because Linux and Mac don't exist, they can't be used. :-)

I've usually found the case that those who use Linux and Mac OS X do not want to use pirated copies of anything. On Linux, there's mostly no need to do so because of the free applications (FOSS), and since there's WINE, you don't need an actual MICROS~1 "Windows". But finally, that's arguable.

Another point is... how do I express it... the feeling that it's simply not okay to use pirated copies - software you aren't legally permitted to use - is mostly found among those who use FOSS, while the feeling that there's no problem with such illegal stuff is more and more present in the "I don't care" fraction (long term "Windows" users). "Mens rea" was the term I was searching for.



The applications - often the most recent and expensive "Office" and "Photoshop" applications - are usually pirated copies, too. Why pay for software when you've got a friend who can get you the install DVDs for free... :-)

But who wins... of course MICROS~1, because even a pirated copy of "Windows" increases their usage share (that's the "opposite" of oh joy oh market share).