Back in the day, when XP was rearing its head from the depths of Microsoft's Engineering division, Windows 2000 was considered the most pirated operating system at the time. Windows 2000, based on the NT (New Technology) platform, was a successful upgrade from NT 4.0. The stable kernel and programming that we saw hints of back in Windows 3.1 and Windows NT 3.5 were there to shine. Users flocked to it and service releases were common in 0 day warez sites.
By the time the Windows XP had come out, it took the lead as far as greatest operating system pirated. There are many reasons for that, but that is not the topic. Poor windows 98 and ME got left out in the cold.
When the idea of a more intergrated operating system came about, during the decisions of the 2003 Servers, Microsoft decided to find a way to prevent piracy on the large scale. anything that they were doing, and this includes up to SP2 ( cracked in 2.3 hours of RC 2 release), seemed to be a expensive waste of time. The source code was so open to fault that it was easy to exploit the O/S for nefarious means.
The idea of the Network OS came into light. From this idea, what would happen is simple: You, the consumer, would go to the store and buy a Windows Longhorn disc. On the disc would be the primary install, and a coded IP address to connect with the Microsoft Servers. Your OS would remain on their servers, and connection via the Internet and their own PPTP would be used to set up a secure line to the server to retrieve the OS for your use. All in the name of anti-piracy. Other Microsoft software would follow suit.
You wanted to get Microsoft Office ______? Downloaded Client only. That was the plan for the rest of the Microsoft line. Nevermind having a hard copy. No more " make one legal backup" there, since there was no hard copy to archive.
One way or another, the plan was scrapped. I have yet to hear of the official reason for it. My guess is that it flaunted Privacy laws. While Microsoft has earned the right to scan your computer whne connecting to Windows Update, the contents of your computer past the OS is your business. From this OS model, they could see everything that was being used because your computer would be alive and kicking on their servers.
Regardless, there is no word yet whether they have given up the ' Client Download' only for their other products. I assume that it will take place in the future, but at the cost of how much? While the buy online revolution is gaining ground, there are enough of a customer base that such a scheme could cost customers. What do you think?