I've always disliked Microsoft. Partly because Windows was the most expensive component in the system I built and partly because of little things that I'd heard, (but not actually experienced problems with), like Windows Genuine Advantage. I'd bought into the "Microsoft is evil and rips people off" idea, but my idea was changed a little this week.

I recently upgraded my computer's motherboard and CPU. The process was not quite as simple as I thought because Microsoft decided that this change had voided my license of Windows. WGA said that I now needed to purchase a new license of Windows to change my hardware. This is somewhat rediculous so I was trying to figure out how to get around this.

I called a Microsoft tech support person who unsurprisingly had a very strong Indian accent. I expected him to give me the same line the WGA gave me, but he didn't. He gave me a code that allowed me to activate my Windows.

I had been working on how to obtain an illegal license of Windows while I was talking to him because I had bought into the "Microsoft is evil" line and assumed that he was going to say no. My view of Microsoft has been changed. I now will give Microsoft a chance before I write them off completely, but I'll still continue to use Open Office, FireFox, etc.