Funny: The “Windows Genuine Validation Tool” recognized Linux Ubuntu as a Genuine Windows installation:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=475709

It is probably not easy to build a tool that would be able to perform this Genuine validation and be 100% accurate, and that makes me wonder if it is worth it.

I’d like Microsoft to change its strategy, drop the genuine validation tool, Windows activation and other strategies that slow down machines and exist only for the sake of protecting Microsoft against piracy. I’d like Microsoft to go back to its old strategy… one OS for desktop. Combine all editions of Vista into a single one where you can choose to install packages (ex: aero, business tools, multimedia tools, etc.). All that at a decent price of 100-150$ per PC. To compensate for the lost, you may have less pirates willing to spend their time just to “fight” Microsoft strategies. That may not be enough, so since the price is low, I’d agree that Microsoft charges annual subscription fees for accessing the Windows Update site and allowing automatic updates. For those who wouldn’t sign-up, they should wait for the next service pack.

With its millions, I’d like Microsoft to work on what is worth it, enhance its operating system and increase security, stability and interoperability. Stop reworking user interface, end users need to learn it again and again, that’s not going to help increase user performance (and ROI)… We knew Microsoft Office menus and options, now we have to re-learn them in Office 2007.

It is not hard to find where Windows needs enhancements:

• Make the shell easy for administrators to script tasks
• Make it easy to work using reduced privileges
• Allow more desktop customization
• …

But doing all that would be listening to their users… not their investors…