Analyst: Vista’s price, requirements may foster piracy in developing states

Technology Business analyst Allan Krans has expressed his concern over Microsoft‘s new Windows Vista operating system. He says the steep system requirements and the high price point it carries may make it less of a global success than its predecessors.

Compounding the situation, Krans points out that the inability of users in developing countries to acquire legitimate copies may result to an even bigger piracy problem. China, in particular, is the biggest area of concern.

Reports two weeks after the release of the new OS say that only 244 copies of the installer discs have been sold in the entire nation. Consumers have been downloading the software for cracked Vistas in the internet and installing them for free. Still, the rest of the world has caught on to Linux, and Chinese users are leading the charge in experimenting with alternatives.

Measures have been taken by Microsoft to curb the piracy issue. Among the steps taken is the selective retail policy wherein Microsoft chooses which countries to sell discs in, a Windows Vista Starter option which allows governments to purchase cheap copies with restrictions, and software security measures to prevent pirate hackers from cracking installers open.

Krans, however, says that these measures are proving insufficient so far. He suggests that Microsoft soften its pricing policy with respect to the nation’s fiscal status, that way, an equitable solution can be utilized to solve the legitimacy issues of operating systems in problem regions.

Technology Business analyst Allan Krans has expressed his concern over Microsoft‘s new Windows Vista operating system. He says the steep system requirements and the high price point it carries may make it less of a global success than its predecessors.

Compounding the situation, Krans points out that the inability of users in developing countries to acquire legitimate copies may result to an even bigger piracy problem. China, in particular, is the biggest area of concern.

Reports two weeks after the release of the new OS say that only 244 copies of the installer discs have been sold in the entire nation. Consumers have been downloading the software for cracked Vistas in the internet and installing them for free. Still, the rest of the world has caught on to Linux, and Chinese users are leading the charge in experimenting with alternatives.

Measures have been taken by Microsoft to curb the piracy issue. Among the steps taken is the selective retail policy wherein Microsoft chooses which countries to sell discs in, a Windows Vista Starter option which allows governments to purchase cheap copies with restrictions, and software security measures to prevent pirate hackers from cracking installers open.

Krans, however, says that these measures are proving insufficient so far. He suggests that Microsoft soften its pricing policy with respect to the nation’s fiscal status, that way, an equitable solution can be utilized to solve the legitimacy issues of operating systems in problem regions.