There's a local computer store here in the Reading area... actually West Reading [
across the bridge] which was well known for their great work and prices on custom computers plus many other things which they provided.
Let me re-phrase that.... there
WAS a local computer store. They were doing work for banks, real estate companies and all kinds of high end businesses in the area. He approached us to do some work, but we said we didn't need hm at the time, but my computer guy said... it just ain't possible to do some of the things he's doing for his prices.
Well, some guy I happened to know got like 5 or 6 computers from him and all kinds of software, had him network everything together and all kinds of other computer work. I'm not quite sure how he found out, but he wanted to do something and contacted the software company and eventually found out that he had some kind of a pirated piece of software. It was kinda hard to trace, but he found out that he didn't have a legit copy of even 'Windows' on his computer, let alone the other stuff. The innards which were promised weren't in there either. There was all kinds of illegal chit in
ALL of his computers. Of course the guy denied it and asked for them back and he'd make good on them and couldn't figure out how he got so much crap from HIS supplier. Yeah, right
!! My friend, then contacted other people he knew that had this guy do their work and after a few months of this.... it became quite well known this computer wiz was too good for his own good. Seems he was putting together illegal machines with illegal parts and software and charging everyone as if they had one-of-kinds in their systems.
Last I heard, Tim [
the computer pirate] was investigated and it was all his doing and paid some fines, was forced out of business and I'm not sure if he did jail-time, but I do know he is gone from the area with the promise of never doing this sorta thing again..... anywhere. He will be watched and not allowed back in the computer world. Yeah, right again !!
If you are
not a student or an educational institute, you may not use this kind of software for any reasons, no matter how you justify it in your own mind. Want to think different and be illegal.... go right ahead, but don't sit there and lie to me that it's Okay to do because it's not....... anywhere-anytime across the whole country.
You're just lying to yourself and justifying that you can beat the system, while you hold others up to a different light and set of standards. This kinda chit and 4' flames really burns my ass.