Guys, I read through the "Activating FSX amazing results" thread and posted a couple of comments. I can

Yogi Berra said "when you come to the fork, take it". All roads have more than one fork with only two choices.Doug

> Yogi Berra said "when you come to the fork, take it".>All roads have more than one fork with only two choices.>>Doug:-lol :-lol :-lol :-lol

Well, this is one more reason why I have delayed purchasing FSX, for now anyway (the reports of inferior textures/landclass and other performance issues notwithstanding). I will take the same approach and due diligence when Vista is released. I have no problem with the software companies rightfully implementing copyright protection measures to protect their investment, but as it stands, I have little recourse as a consumer when the product is opened and I, for example, can't even activate it. Seems unbalanced and unfair, but as they say "caveat emptor". I would hope software companies in it for the long haul take this "imbalance" into account in the future and not simply go for sales. JMHORegards, KendallDell 8400 3.2 GHZ H.T.800 FSB/2MB L22 GB 533 DDR2X800XT 256MB/Catalyst driver - 6.9's6x Adaptive AA/16x HQ A/FIntegrated SoundDual Monitor: Dell 2405/1905CH Yoke/Pedals

The Ironic thing about their activation, is that it was defeated, and a patch released before FSX even reached the October 17'th Official release date. now you just patch the Sim, and blamo, no activation is required.What's that show ya?(I'm not endorsing this patch, I'm simply pointing out how great their activation is)It just goes to show, that the Legitimate user, gets screwed once again!

>The Ironic thing about their activation, is that it was>defeated, and a patch released before FSX even reached the>October 17'th Official release date. now you just patch the>Sim, and blamo, no activation is required.>>What's that show ya?>>(I'm not endorsing this patch, I'm simply pointing out how>great their activation is)>>It just goes to show, that the Legitimate user, gets screwed>once again!Exactly.Didn

>>The Ironic thing about their activation, is that it was>>defeated, and a patch released before FSX even reached the>>October 17'th Official release date. now you just patch the>>Sim, and blamo, no activation is required.>>>>What's that show ya?>>>>(I'm not endorsing this patch, I'm simply pointing out how>>great their activation is)>>>>It just goes to show, that the Legitimate user, gets screwed>>once again!>>Exactly.>>Didn

>If everyone takes that same stance, the activation requirement>is gone as soon as they can get a patch out to fix an error in>judgement that would kill most companies.Yeah, good luck with that, buddy. :(When Simbin released GTR, it used StarForce protection, a known problem for many users requiring the CD in the drive to play the game. The community was in uproar and demanded StarForce be removed. Despite several patches, Simbin refused to remove it, and indeed used it again for GTR 2!You really think MS are gonna listen to us and remove the activation policy? Did they remove it for Windows XP?

Maybe. UBI Got rid of starforce, because their customers refused to buy another UBI Product with Starforce installed. Revolutions work, if enough people jump on it.However, i never had any problems activating my copy of FSX when I bought it, so activation for me, isn't an issue.

The only Vista issue that concerns me is how long it will take for the "Genuine Windows Checker Thingy" to be hacked. Such that it will turn off your operating system because it thinks you have a pirated copy. That should be a field day for lawyers.Bob... :)

Ubi are the exception. As I said, MS have used activation for WinXP for over five years now, and you can bet your sweet #### they'll use it for Vista too.I had no problem with activation either, took 30 seconds online. The people having problems probably constitute around 0.01% of the users of FSX. However their problems make them vocal about the issue.Activation will stop *casual* piracy, and that's all it will do. I know the crackers have or will bypass the activation, but I don't blame MS for using some form of IP protection.How much revenue would they lose if FSX was left open to casual pirates?

"Ubi are the exception"Ahh, so you just proved my point. Copy protection is here to stay, however, Nasty system harming copy protection like Starforce was defeated by the public, for sticking to their guns.We might as well get used to it, but someone will ALWAYS figure out how to break it, and exploit it. Normally like you said, only the casual simmer will be effected, but anyone that has a clue, will figure a way around it, it's the nature of the beast.In a perfect world, there wouldn't be any copy protection, but we sure don't live in that world.

>"Ubi are the exception">>Ahh, so you just proved my point.But my point is that MS have used activation for over 5 years with no sign of stopping.Ubisoft are a lot smaller than MS, and were more able to react to their customer base. Consider the following:FSX User: "Hey, MS, get rid of activation on FSX"MS: "Oh, okay, here's a patch"FS User: "By the way, I also use Office 12, remove the activation from that too"MS: "Well, I guess so..."FSX User: "While you're at it, remove it from WinXP."MS: "Oh, now come on..."Can't see it happening, personally. Did the 9.1 patch for FS9 remove the CD check? Nope.

I'm a big supporter of FSX and MS in general but I must agree with your post.If someone genuinely purchases a product, and they, for whatever reason, cannot use it, they should either:Promptly get their money back, orreceive immediate and effective support for getting it working immediately.In my mind that should be the end of the discussion right there.James

My earnest opinion is not that MS are intentionally trying to "screw us over", but thought that their activation system would be quite accurate and would work every time, as well as being effective and painless.It's one of those things where it didn't end up being as effective as they'd hoped. I certainly understand why they took the path of activation -- there are software pirates everywhere out there and it's those pirates that have ruined it for the honest buyers.It's like a pendulum, it swings one way, then overcompensates and swings the opposite way.I'm sure this issue will be resolved by MS in due course, if they receive enough complaints.James