Why use a virtual machine? **RESOLVED**

[Eberhard Roloff]

Ignazio Palmisano wrote:
> Steven Vollom wrote:
>> Eberhard Roloff wrote:
>>> Nils Kassube wrote:
>>>   
>>>> iodine at runbox.no wrote:
>>>>     
>>>>> WGA is implemented in XP also. It can be a major annoyance.
>>>>> But I reckon it's a big plus for Linux, which has no such restrictions.
>>>>> So I'm glad MS is keeping it up ! :-D
>>>>>       
>>>> You can have something similar to WGA for Linux if you want:
>>>> <http://www.linuxgenuineadvantage.org/>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Nils
>>>>
>>>>     
>>> Great!!!
>>>
>>> Thanks much!
>>> Eberhard
>>>
>>>
>>>   
>> Dear Eberhard,
>>
>> When you have time only, but what is this email about.  I went to the 
>> website that Nils included and read what was there, however, I am still 
>> stumped.  Isn't kubuntu free?  Am I supposed to pay someone a license 
>> fee?  Sorry to be so stupid, but I don't understand what Linux Genuine 
>> Advantage is about.  I don't want to cheat anyone anymore, so please 
>> explain.  (two exceptions, I have no conscience when it comes to 
>> Microsoft and the Movie Industry)
>>
>> Steven
>>
> 
> The page is meant as a joke, I'd guess :)
> I.
> 
> 
> 
Dear Steven,

great that you ask!

You are absolutely correct. Kubuntu is free and you won't have to pay a 
license fee, as long as you use the software that comes with your 
Kubuntu DVD.

Actually WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) is famous and over time it grew 
to be a synonym for "unfree software
forcing it's users to pay"

WGA became an abrevation for Microsofts way of doing business, which 
might be legally ok, but from a OpenSource perspective, it might look to 
be obscure.

For a much more qualified description, see here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage

Moreover, at some time, microsoft had technical problems with WGA which 
led to this:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070124-8690.html
(WGA falsely accuses millions)

Now, Linux-WGA is just a great joke.

It claims that Linux Users migrating from windows will miss the 
Microsoft world in general and the WGA Trouble in particular.

Now the latter is said to be cured by Linux WGA, so that your new Linux 
OS will behave like you know it from your old MS-OS.

Again, it's just a professionally made joke, but it really made my day 
to read about it, outlining all the various facettes of WGA, and it's 
never ending "WGA is testing your installation to be legally valid" way 
of treating customers that paid good money for the OS and other software 
from Redmond.

Kind regards
Eberhard