The latest news about Micro$oft’s new “security” for their Vista operating system is its apparent ability virtually to shut down computers using pirated versions of the operating system.

According to the Bangkok Post (chosen from Google News at random):

If Microsoft thinks you are running a pirated version of its next-generation Windows Vista, it will shut down your access to the operating system and, within a month, to most everything on your computer.

Microsoft is adamant that these technologies “cannot and will not turn off your computer.” But the measures raise the question of: What’s the difference?

According to a White Paper issued by the company yesterday, Microsoft will severely limit what the operating system does when the product hasn’t been properly activated, using a product key, after 30 days.

Like a frog in a slowly heating pot of water, the PC of a user using an allegedly unlicensed copy of Windows Vista will gradually lose functionality, until he or she can do nothing but surf the web one hour at a time, then be logged off by Windows. (Source)

MS still does not take into account why much of the world uses pirated software: cost. Microsoft does not offer tiered pricing in countries where the average earnings are much lower than in the States, and so many users resort to piracy. In Poland, for example, a legit copy of Windows XP would have cost me at least half my monthly earnings.