Windows Longhorn build leak starts hype two years

[Daniel F. Administrators]

Microsoft is due to release Windows Longhorn build 4051 to attendees of its Professional Developer Conference (PDC), which kicks off today, and immediately before this, build 4051 leaked. So did it jump or was it pushed?

Actually, that's not a question that's particularly worth pursuing directly. Microsoft builds leak regularly, Microsoft knows this, and Microsoft knows that the wider the distribution of the software, the faster it's going to spread all over the internet. So even if you reckon that leaking builds at this juncture in the development process are extremely helpful to Microsoft, it's entirely unnecessary to presume that anybody at Microsoft needs to throw a switch. All they have to do is sit back and let it happen.

Which is where it does start to get interesting, because if we presume that the level of concern within Microsoft about leaking builds is likely to be in direct proportion to the intensity of the company crackdown to suppress these builds, then we'll be able to measure this as the development process unfolds. Lots of enthusiasm, screenshots and fairly direct routes to illicit downloads means Microsoft doesn't care/ maybe likes the publicity, while barrages of take-downs and people skulking in increasingly dark corners mean the other. And bear in mind the crackdowns on WinXP leaks got increasingly heavy as RTM neared. So go figure.

But we digress towards conspiracy theory again, so we'll knock that off. Neowin has a selection of screenshots and discussion, and WinBeta has some more. FTP access to the build will now be making its traditional way through IRC channels, and some form of activation crack is claimed to exist. But leaked, genuine keys are likely to start escaping when Microsoft hands out the official version on Monday.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/33590.html

[enigma-penguin Veteran]

gee someone would think.... someone has an insider.. :laugh: :shifty:

i say it was pushed

[acidic-e-]

What better way for MS to test there new WPA that will come with longhorn then to leak builds themselves and see if/when it can be cracked. I remember reading newgroups during the XP betas where people were posting links for MS to bust people. I found it funny after a month the links were still working.

[HellBender]

I dont think microsoft persay LEAKED their own software, but they don't mind if others leak it as long as its still in early beta stages. People can get hyped about it and still buy the full version, if the beta version doesn't have all the features. Once it nears RTM, the software is much too complete, so then it begins to border on piracy and MS starts to loose money, so they crack down.

[Jean-Claude Van Damme]

I dont think MS is too excited of the Longhorn leaks regarding the utter stupidity and inability of members to recognize that it's an alpha software, yet are spreading all over the internet how crappy it'd be.

[bangbang023 Veteran]

The thing is, it's free testing for them. Let the builds get out then sit back nad watch people report bugs and such. Come release time, they don't have to send any of these people gifts.

[Tews]

The thing is, it's free testing for them. Let the builds get out then sit back nad watch people report bugs and such. Come release time, they don't have to send any of these people gifts.

With all the $$ that MS has, I dont think they need to worry about getting "free" testers. What they do get though is momentem for Longhorn.... Hype goes a long way in providing anticipation for new software....

[wstokeley]

If longhorn is truly meant to be what XP was to windows 98, its unlikely that they'd leak it in its current version, as it is most definatley a mess. Unless of course they want publicity, be it bad or good.