What would Bill Gates Prefer

[Mark]

Microsoft have openly admitted that they have to largely thank piracy for thier success with Windows.  In the early days of versions such as 3.1 piracy was rife and a low percentage of home users actually owned a legal version of the software.  However this piracy got people used to the Windows software, which has now lead to the market domination that Microsoft have as eveyone knows Windows as a operating system. 

However Microsoft are now trying to clamp down on piracy with the product activations and so on but do you think Bill Gates would prefer uses of pirate software to use his software or a free verion of Linux?.  A free version of Linux would not cost him anything, but it would mean one less user of Windows.  However a user o a pirate version of Windows is one less user of Linux but will cost him a sale of Windows.

Let me know what you think.

[Cache-man]

Moderater Note: This is a tricky topic to talk about to stay within forum rules and legalities, but I would like it to continue so we can all see the opinions. Users please note that all posts in this thread will be moderated!

Yes Butch I would be inclined to agree that Microsoft would like the best of both worlds - they would like everyone to use there product, which piracy admittedly helped to gain market domination in the initial instance, but they would also like to see more and more dollars from sales of Windows (as would all businesses though). They would also like to see more users prosecuted for using illegal software.

My argument with Windows (which goes for music CD's and DVDs too), is that if the cost was reduced for normal users of Windows to something reasonable that all could afford, then more individuals would buy original versions.