# I can't wait for Microsoft to go bankrupt! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816 "2013-01-20T17:37:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/1 "2013-01-20T17:37:18Z")
Let me say at the outset, that I’m a Mac guy. I can understand that some people may understand Windows, and a few deranged individuals may even like it. That’s OK - everyone is entitled to their own (stupid) opinion. But - there is NO excuse for Microsoft’s draconian and fundamentally brain-damaged licensing scheme! I recently had to rebuild one of my machines, after an SSD failed. After doing so, I find that I can’t launch Office 2011, because I’ve “Exceeded the maximum number of computers.” Which is bullshit. I’ve just upgraded hardware a number of times, and now I’ve tripped some type of alarm in Microsoft HQ. Of course, there’s NO WAY to deactivate all my installations, so I can re-activate them one at a time. And, after typing in the 30-digit activation number, over the phone, I get disconnected! Fuck them. I can’t wait for Microsoft to go belly-up! ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/2 "2013-01-20T17:50:41Z")
If you think Windows and Office activation is “draconian,” holy hell, never use CAD software. (nevermind Apple’s draconian “we don’t care if you paid for the device, we’ll still tell you what you can and can’t install on it.”) ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/3 "2013-01-20T17:55:53Z")
They’re sitting on 60 billion dollars of cash. I think you might be waiting for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/4 "2013-01-20T18:04:02Z")
If you’re a Mac guy, why are you using a Windows machine at all? It couldn’t be that your Mac doesn’t actually run the software you need, because it’s a closed architecture completely owned by the most paranoid development team on earth? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/5 "2013-01-20T18:06:04Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > If you’re a Mac guy, why are you using a Windows machine at all? It couldn’t be that your Mac doesn’t actually run the software you need, because it’s a closed architecture completely owned by the most paranoid development team on earth? I’m not using a Windows machine - I’m trying to activate my copy of Office 2001 for Macintosh. And, I do all my software and hardware development in OS X. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/6 "2013-01-20T18:13:18Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I’m not using a Windows machine - I’m trying to activate my copy of Office 2001 for Macintosh. So no one in the enlightened and morally superior Appleverse makes a vastly superior alternative? And you’re surprised that you’re having trouble with ANY software that’s almost 13 years old? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/7 "2013-01-20T18:17:18Z")
typo, he means 2011. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/8 "2013-01-20T18:18:26Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > So no one in the enlightened and morally superior Appleverse makes a vastly superior alternative? There are plenty of alternatives. I own them, and they work just fine. It’s just that I bought the fucking package, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let those douchebags at Microsoft screw me! Honestly, I use Office so rarely that I could just give up, but as I said above, it’s the principle of the thing. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/9 "2013-01-20T18:19:28Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > typo, he means 2011. Yes, 2011. My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/10 "2013-01-20T18:29:25Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Yes, 2011. My mistake. Okay, understood. MS software for Mac has never been very good… let’s talk about iTunes for Windows sometime, shall we? Seems like you’ve gone out of your way to set up a situation you knew you wouldn’t be happy with. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/11 "2013-01-20T18:34:26Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > Okay, understood. > > MS software for Mac has never been very good… let’s talk about iTunes for Windows sometime, shall we? Seems like you’ve gone out of your way to set up a situation you knew you wouldn’t be happy with. At least iTunes is _ **FREE** _. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/12 "2013-01-20T18:46:43Z")
Hahaha… look, the fanboys are at it again! So cute! Wait, there’s something missing. Where’re the Linux-heads to tell everyone that they shouldn’t be using either Apple or MS products? Shoot, this thread sucks. I’m going to stop here and go play games on either my console or my PC system, because of course one is so much better than the other (it’s so clear I don’t have to say which). ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/13 "2013-01-20T18:48:02Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > Okay, understood. > > MS software for Mac has never been very good… let’s talk about iTunes for Windows sometime, shall we? Seems like you’ve gone out of your way to set up a situation you knew you wouldn’t be happy with. At least MS _tries_ to make their software at least look and act like it belongs on a Mac, unlike Apple insisting that their Windows programs bloat up with a coat of Mac-like “wallpaper.” > [@beowulff](#): > > At least iTunes is _ **FREE** _. So is a kick in the balls. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/14 "2013-01-20T18:57:53Z")
I once read the following online. It was a list of funny or unusual things people have said with regards to driving. To the question of “How would your life change if you can no longer drive legally?” someone wrote in response “I would be forced to drive illegally” I feel the same way about Microsoft Office. If I cannot use MO legally, I would be forced to use it illegally. Because fuck them ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/15 "2013-01-20T18:58:30Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > At least iTunes is _ **FREE** _. Well, I suppose it is. But the iPhone (1) I bought that turned out to be utterly dependent on iTunes wasn’t, and Apple managed to hide the fact that iTunes did not then run on 64-bit Windows machines. I spent far longer trying to make that POS sync and getting strange error messages than you have trying to authorize your copy of Office for some umpteenth time; it was not until I had exhausted all help and reference sources that I found the roaring, angry thread on the net of all the other 64-bit Windows owners who had been similarly screwed by Apple’s failure to disclose this point. Oh, that’s unfair - they did disclose it, as someone eventually found. One footnote on a tech document six layers down in their support system read “32-bit only.” Too bad their massive advertising specifically claiming full Windows compatibility and support couldn’t mention that. So I can’t wait for Apple to go bankrupt. We can wait together. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/16 "2013-01-20T19:00:26Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > So is a kick in the balls. Just try telling that to my dominatrix! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/17 "2013-01-20T19:05:35Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Just try telling that to my dominatrix! :eek: Did she allow you to comment in this thread? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/18 "2013-01-20T19:06:59Z")
Leave it to SDMB to find the one exception to everything. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/19 "2013-01-20T20:01:30Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > Okay, understood. > > MS software for Mac has never been very good… let’s talk about iTunes for Windows sometime, shall we? Seems like you’ve gone out of your way to set up a situation you knew you wouldn’t be happy with. You know, this has _nothing_ to do with my complaint. It’s irrelevant to me how crap-tactualr Office is. I just want to be able to use the copy I purchased. As far as I’m concerned, what Microsoft is doing is _stealing_. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816/20 "2013-01-20T21:32:11Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > But - there is NO excuse for Microsoft’s draconian and fundamentally brain-damaged licensing scheme! I recently had to rebuild one of my machines, after an SSD failed. After doing so, I find that I can’t launch Office 2011, because I’ve “Exceeded the maximum number of computers.” Which is bullshit. I’ve just upgraded hardware a number of times, and now I’ve tripped some type of alarm in Microsoft HQ. That’s just the way the licensing system works - it’s just trying to make sure you don’t buy a one-seat licence and install it on a hundred computers - so it generates a hash based on the properties of various key bits of hardware. Of course, that means that changing some of those bits of hardware stops it working - it’s just an unfortunate outcome of the way the system works. Have you tried calling MS and explaining the situation to a real live human? If that doesn’t work, I’ll join you in saying this sucks, but until then, the system is just doing what it’s designed to do. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-wait-for-microsoft-to-go-bankrupt/647816.md?page=2)