Mike,

>Over the next five years Microsoft will donate an estimated $25 million to nonprofit organizations worldwide—half of the company's anticipated software piracy recoveries during the same period.
>
>These donations will help support:
>
>Access to technology for disadvantaged communities
>Select academic institutions
>Innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity in the fields of science and technology.

This all sounds great. I still don't know how they can accurately depict piracy losses, much less estimate what their savings will be by adding enhanced registration.. But I guess in a way the piracy numbers I am calling bogus will eventually be responsible for very real funds going to the above needs. Let's hope it pans out that way!

>But as they become more and more advanced, only the most elite of the car theives will be able to steal your car. This is just another step for Software makers doing the same thing as car makers.

Yes, but car makers also have to be very careful that their "more and more advanced" security systems don't end up inconveniecing the owner of the car or other people around. Every been awoken my a car alarm for a car that isn't yours? At that point I rather wish that car had been stolen than had a security device put on it. *smile* In my last car, if my battery would have ever lost power completely I would have had to dig through my manual and enter a security code just to get the security-protected stereo to work again. Was that worth it? I don't know...I never lost battery and I never had my stereo stolen, but I am sure I paid more for the R&D that GM put into such security measures (that I didn't ask for in the first place).

>If I owned stock, I'd want teh develoeprs to buy MSDN and use it legally, in which case, I think you can do the clean wipe as many times as you want. I'd also want all the casual copiers to be caughing up the money in order to use the OS legally.

Well, then you are a different breed of stockholder than most. Most (especially institutional holdings) care only about the bottom line. If the piracy numbers are in fact inflated and MS's tactics end up alientating folks more than they do good, that bottom line won't fare so well. Time will tell I guess...

JoeK