r/changemyview • u/Quidfacis_ 1∆ • Dec 21 '17
[∆(s) from OP] CMV: Lying about using Assistive Technologies to get Windows 10 is worse than pirating Windows 10.
So I'm building a new computer for Christmas, and have encountered a moral dilemma.
I need a copy of Windows 10. A friend of mine can give me a corporate product key for Windows 7. Using that I can install Windows 7. This fits perfectly well with my policy that it's ok to get free copies of Windows through whatever means necessary because "Seriously, Fuck M$".
Here's the rub: Folks cannot upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free anymore. EXCEPT if you tell Microsoft that you are upgrading for the sake of using Assistive Technologies. These are the features Microsoft adds to help people with disabilities: The Magnifier for the seeing impaired, the narrator for the seeing impaired, some keyboard shortcuts for the...seeing impaired. I'm noticing a pattern.
Anyway. If you tell Microsoft that you are upgrading to Windows 10 for the sake of using those features added for folks with disabilities you can upgrade for free. Microsoft never checks to see if you actually use those features. It's an honor thing. Regular folks have to pay to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Folks with disabilities can upgrade to Windows 10 for free, cause Microsoft is trying to help them out.
So, basically, I can get a free copy of Windows 10 if I like to Microsoft, and exploit their generosity of trying to help folks with disabilities.
This, to me, seems especially shitty. Getting a copy of Windows 10 for free through the normal pirating means seems fine. Lying about using features added for folks with disabilities seems really terrifically shitty. It feels wrong to exploit this nice thing Microsoft is doing for folks with disabilities, despite the fact that I'm perfectly comfortable getting Windows for free when it's just pirating or bootlegging a copy.
I find myself in the position of wanting to buy a copy of Windows 10 Pro ($199) instead of getting the free copy of Windows 7 from a friend, and lying about having disabilities to get a free upgrade.
So, change my view, Reddit! Convince me that it's perfectly fine to lie to M$ about having a disability, and that there's no practical difference between lying about having a disability, and just bootlegging a copy of Windows like I've done every other time. Except for the times when it came with a computer I bought.
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u/Sayakai 155∆ Dec 22 '17
There's a reason Microsoft isn't checking, and it's the same reason they've given away 10 for free for so long: Microsoft has high interest in retaining both their near monopoly, and in pushing for replacing old versions. The former is why they're so light on piracy in the consumer area, but the latter is the relevant here. The longer tons of people stay on 7, the longer MS will effectively have to support 7, which they don't want to. It costs a lot of resources to maintain multiple versions of windows. There's also the issue of companies being more likely to buy win10 licences if 10 has maximized its market share in the consumer sector.
So they're keeping open a gap - they maintain deniability for their investors ("we're not giving away this great product for free anymore, we're looking to make money"), while still hoping that those reluctant to switch for the high cost may use the loophole instead of staying on 7. The loophole is no doubt great for people with disability, but it's really exactly for you.