Microsoft Windows XP Product Activation
For years, most of us have wisely ignored PC hardware and software vendors' annoying Warranty or User Registration postcards. Regardless of whether we swept this administrative minutiae under the rug because we were lazy, didn't sense a compelling or serious risk, or just wanted to avoid getting hammered with "special offers" (marketing-speak for junk-mail), I don't know many who feared retaliation for refusing to turn over personal demographic data.
Background
It's a whole new story for Microsoft Windows XP. It seems that the soon-to-be-released operating system will literally go "on strike" and refuse to continue working if you don't "activate" the product during the allowed grace period.
Early reports promise that large corporate customers on enterprise site license agreements will be exempt, as well as people purchasing PCs from certain OEMs. What about the rest of us mere mortals in the small business world?
Now as a freelance writer, I'm one of the first to condemn both casual and planned software piracy. But Windows Product Activation is a draconian way of enforcing compliance. Here's why.
What if Microsoft controlled ________? (fill in the blank)
Imagine the public outcry if this logic were applied in other situations.
What if, for example, a paroled felon, under house arrest and being monitored by one of those "ankle bracelet" contraptions, fails to call in to their parole officer during a "configuration change" - such as moving from room to room, changing clothing, or bathing? Should the ankle bracket automatically inject the person with a heavy dose of tranquilizers that can only be countered by "reactivation"?!?
What if you forget to return an overdue video rental on time? Should the videotape sitting in your VCR be able to disable your VCR until the rental is returned?
I can think of only one example where this logic applies --- parking tickets. In many large cities, if you have a sizable amount of unpaid parking tickets, the police can immobilize your car with a "boot" until the summonses are paid.
So, we're now at the point where Microsoft's power over our daily lives rivals a major city's police force.
How does Windows Product Activation affect small business PC support costs?
So, how does Windows Product Activation impact small business computer support costs?
Every time a major configuration change is made to a PC, your internal guru or small business computer consultant will need to call into Microsoft Sales and plead your case for getting an unlock code. So the Inside Sales Rep becomes the judge, jury, and executioner.
And this whole process adds time (which of course means money) onto any major installation and troubleshooting efforts surrounding Microsoft Windows XP.
Or plan B, if your hard drive rolls over due to mechanical failure, or your new PC hard drive just needs a routine "rebuild" to continue functioning at peak levels, you can just throw away the copy of Microsoft Windows XP that you already own and buy another!
Concerns over privacy abuse with Windows Product Activation
Also consider the privacy issues. When you initially activate Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft takes a "snapshot" of your hardware baseline configuration. Think of it like a fingerprint.
Posted privacy policies not withstanding, do you really think Microsoft won't be tempted to "sell" or "barter" a list of millions of people who are activated for Windows XP, but have a sub-optimal amount of RAM?
I know if I were VP of marketing at a company like Kingston Technology, I'd love to get my hands on that database.
What about people who activate Microsoft Windows XP with broadband Internet access and no personal firewall? Forgetting about hackers who would eat that stuff up alive, think about the ISVs who sell personal firewall software. What a scandal that breach of privacy would be!
Note: Microsoft's official statement on Windows XP Product Activation is located at
The Bottom Line
Microsoft Windows XP may offer some features that ultimately reduce your small business computer support costs. However, don't let the slick marketing presentations fool you. All the Windows XP controversy in the media over the past several weeks does impact small businesses.
In the last issue of "Tips", we recapped how The Wall Street Journal's award-winning Personal Technology columnist Walter Mossberg raised public awareness of the dangers of "Smart Tags" in Windows XP and Internet Explorer 6. This week, we looked at Windows XP Product Activation and how Microsoft's latest attempt at combating software piracy means major headaches for small business internal gurus and computer consultants.
In the next installment of "Tips", we'll continue to focus on the upcoming Microsoft Windows XP product launch and how various third party news stories provide a valuable glimpse into what to expect from Microsoft Windows products going forward.
Copyright (C) 2001, KISTech Communications Corporation
You have permission to reprint this article from "Tips" in your newspaper, magazine, trade publication, e-zine or web site as long as you use the article in its entirety, without editing and you include the following information:
Copyright (C) 2001, KISTech Communications Corporation, Used by Permission
AND
Joshua Feinberg is an internationally recognized small business technology expert, consultant, columnist, author, keynote speaker, and trainer. He is a published Microsoft Press author, as well as the creator of and two-year veteran writer of the Microsoft Direct Access
"VAPVoice: Notes From the Field" column. Learn what your highly paid computer consultant doesn't want you to know! Subscribe to Joshua Feinberg's FREE bi-weekly Smallbiztechtalk.com "Tips" e-zine at
ALSO
You must notify us, or send us a copy of the publication or hyperlink where the article reprint has appeared. If this will be a hard copy of a tear sheet, contact us at KISTech Communications reserves the right to modify this policy in the future, for any articles that have not yet been published. Any questions? Please contact our Business Manager Jennifer Feinberg at
