From: "Rich Gauszka" 

Yet another lost customer. The Apple and Linux groups should send bouquets
to the wga team. Never have so few done so much for their competition.

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/104743.asp

WGA: One PC user's experience

Following the recent news about the lawsuits over the Windows Genuine
Advantage anti-piracy program, reader Ray Clem of Henderson, Nev., wrote in
to share his experience. Under the circumstances, it may not be a clear-cut
case of right or wrong, but I thought it was worth posting as a reflection
of the types of things people experience, and how they feel about it. Read
on for his message:

    I bought a Gateway desktop computer about a year ago to replace my aging
Win98 SE system. I am an older guy and light computer user using it mostly
for sending/receiving FAXs and writing letters and email. I found that if I
were using my dial-up and wanted to use my FAX functions, I had to reboot
the computer to reactivate my dial-up. I always got an "Error 20"
message on trying to go back on dial-up. I even bought and installed a new
FAX/Modem card to no avail. Trying other FAX programs was no help either.
Gateway's support is less than worthless.

    A neighbor of mine told me I had a bad system file and suggested I
reinstall my Win XP program. I told him Gateway did not provide such a
program. He told me he'd let me borrow his install disk and that by running
it, the bad file would be replaced. We did do the reinstall and
lo-and-behold the dial-up / FAX conflict was resolved! If Microsoft had
provided Gateway with a good copy of Win XP there never would have been a
problem.

    Now comes this continual implied threat about Microsoft turning off my
computer!

    I bought my computer with earned money. The money was not stolen. The
problem I had was a result of a bad system program provided to Gateway. I
in no way feel responsible in this problem and damn sure take exception to
my treatment from Microsoft. When this computer gets outdated or Microsoft
kills it, this will be the last Microsoft product I will ever buy. Hello
Apple!

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5