Southern Bread

When software companies first started adding “Activation” to their software it was met with a resounding “oh crap!” from the sysadmin brotherhood. While in many ways it is very annoying, it has one extremely good side effect: deniability. The idea that software can no longer be installed willy nilly on any machine with only a product key makes for a very good buck passing factor. We have all had users ask us if they can “borrow” a copy of Microsoft Office or Windows. My answer used to be a 15 minute lecture on software licensing. Now it’s a simple “no, it won’t let you”. I have to admit that it’s one less thing I have to worry about. At least product activation isn’t all bad.