CNet news has published a report indicating that Microsoft is easing up slightly on its Product Activation feature.

Product Activiation is a new feature Microsoft is planning to introduce with its WindowsXP operating system. It is designed to prevent piracy of the operating system by allowing it to be installed on only one machine. In essence, the Product Activiation feature aligns itself with the hardware in a computer, and will, from then on, only cooperate with that same hardware. In theory, it's actually a very clever idea.

Unfortunately, the system is far from perfect. The Product Activiation key is based on a hardware 'snapshot', a culmination of some of the critical hardware elements in a computer. The problem, however, is that users attempting to upgrade their computers could potentially trip the Product Activiation feature. In other words, if part of the hardware changes (say, perhaps, you buy a new motherboard and CPU), Product Activiation will think it has been installed on a different system altogether (pirated), and will cause WindowsXP to stop functioning. As a result, Microsoft has fallen under heavy fire from those who claim that this feature designed to protect its software is actually putting those who did legitimately pay for it through unnecessary and unfair trouble.

As a result, Microsoft seems to be backing off slightly. The CNet report claims that Product Activiation will now allow 'certain changes' to be made within 'certain timeframes', and that those will not trip the feature. In other words, it allows for part of the hardware to be changed, followed by another change (if needed) after another month, and so on. Microsoft claims this will users to upgrade periodically, without tripping any alarms. We think this is a good start, but keep going...

We do support the ideas behind Product Activation, as Microsoft most certainly has a right to protect its property. However, frankly, we don't think this incarnation of the feature is quite ready for primetime yet. It seems to us as this is going to cause more frustration with paying customers than it will save by preventing piracy. A system like this should absolutely be developed, however, by the same token, a system like this should absolutley NOT be implemented until it's completely problem-free, as the repercussions of a back-fire are completely unacceptable. Right now, MS' Product Activation is NOT problem-free.

Sending a human to Mars is a really great idea too, but it's not something you just 'take a shot at' without being pretty darn sure it's going to work.

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