14 DAY TRIAL // Hackers have one up on Microsoft when it comes down to the distribution of the latest iteration of the Windows client. Pirated copies of Windows 7 RTM are not only available for download in the wild, from various BitTorrent trackers and warez websites, but also sold in bootlegged DVD packages, and according to the latest reports, even pre-loaded on USB Flash drives. It is the case of Windows 7 10-in-1 Ultimate Steve Ballmer Signature Edition, obviously a counterfeit copy of Windows Vista’s successor.
Chinese website Tech.163 (via WinFuture) claims that the USBs preloaded with the pirated version of Windows 7 Ultimate Steve Ballmer Signature Edition, passed as a new, but also inexistent 10-in-1 SKU, is available for sale in Shenzhen, SEG Plaza. It is clear that the packaging is a rip of the genuine Windows 7 RTM Ultimate Steve Ballmer Signature Edition which Microsoft shipped for free to users that hosted launch parties for the operating system around the October 22nd General Availability date. However, the 10-in-1 reference is not associated in any way with the Redmond company’s latest version of Windows.
As you can see from the images included with this article, the Windows 7 10-in-1 Ultimate Steve Ballmer Signature Edition comes on an 8GB USB Flash drive from Netac, which is also pirated. What the package actually offers is a bootable USB with the Ultimate 10-in-1 pirated copy of Windows 7. Customers can simply stick the USB drive in their machines and boot from it in order to install Windows 7.
Reports indicate that the Windows 7 10-in-1 Ultimate Steve Ballmer Signature Edition and Netac USB packages are being sold for just 98 Yuan. In this regard, the pirated copy of Windows 7 along with the bootlegged USB cost approximately 9.5 Euros, or a little over $14. At this price, the counterfeiters offerings are unmatched by any of the genuine Windows 7 editions Microsoft is offering for Chinese customers in terms of price.
