I’m looking to test out Windows, but I don’t want to download it without my VPN. I’m trying to use it in a virtual machine with GPU passthrough so I can play all my games. I also obviously don’t want to pay for a copy. TIA!

      • SinningStromgald@lemmy.worldEnglish
        82·
        10 months ago

        Because they get your data as long as you install Windows and your data over time is worth more than you would pay for the OS.

        • SchizoDenji@lemm.eeEnglish
          14·
          10 months ago

          Not really as that brings pennies. The logic is the same as WinRar. Basically they don’t care about users pirating since it helps them retain the market share since middle aged or older people aren’t that tech savvy.

          The biggest moneymaker in retail sector is laptop manufacturers bundling windows with their laptops and companies/corporations using legit windows copies.

          They get ridiculous amounts of money just to provide security updates to windows XP because there are loads of equipment that can’t be run without the specific software that is incompatible with later versions.

          And they will get ridiculous amounts of money 20 years down the line for doing the same with windows 10 too as long as they retain the massive market share and middle aged people will be accustomed to win 10.

          • 0ops@lemm.eeEnglish
            3·
            10 months ago

            I’ve heard that that’s similar to why Adobe creative cloud was so easy to pirate for years (maybe it still is, idk, I switched to affinity forever ago). Adobe is the industry standard because everyone uses it -> person wants to learn photo/video editing, digital illustration, etc, but can’t afford it -> pirate Adobe instead of trying cheaper/free alternatives, because it’s the industry standard -> person with Adobe skills gets hired by business that pays for Adobe legitimately because that’s what most people know -> Adobe is the industry because everyone uses it, and the cycle goes on…

            • SchizoDenji@lemm.eeEnglish
              3·
              10 months ago

              It comes to everyone. At a certain point you just lose the energy to keep learning new tech.

      • Kairos@lemmy.todayEnglish
        30·
        10 months ago

        I heard from someone that MS support just tells people to use this if something goes wrong with their key.

        • dRail@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          6·
          10 months ago

          This right here. If I remember correctly Gates even said there was no issue as long as people were using Windows.