Loophole enables anyone to get a Windows 8 license for free

Yeah, I tried that. I found 3 keys to try, though none of them worked. I remember reading something on TS about it a while back, though I got tired of looking. Logic tells me that TS would post something about it on the Win 8 RTM download page they linked to in the article, but I couldn't find it anywhere.

At this point in space in time, isn't it possible that good old M$ isn't as far out of the loop as this article would lead you to believe? I couldn't find a trial of 8 anywhere on their site.That's not to say it wasn't there, I'm just fessing up to my own incompetence

I've considered the same thing, and have come to the same conclusion. Oh well... NASFWG

To be fair, I think MS is well aware of this exploit and couldnt care less about it. The goal is simply expose W8 to as many people as possible and make big bucks from Windows Store once paid apps start rolling.

Similar to Google's strategy of selling cheap Nexus devices with little profit but heavily invested on Google Play.

This is, as "prismatics", pointed out, "commatose"...... LOL

no kidding, especially when you think this has been around a month and everyone is talking about it. A company like microsoft would have already fixed this issue by now! btw is this media center part of the app store or bundled in win 8? Does the kill switch rules apply to media center like other apps? heh good luck

I forsee M$ will turn a blind eye to this exploit while some users become completely dependent upon Win8 for their pc/internet time. Then they will simply release a service pack that voids all these exploit keys, leaving all these "trapped" users with no option but to buy the Win8 properly and thereby rescue their games; music; assignents etc.

This is prolly why they just sacked the head of Windows Division. That and when Steve Balmer showed it to Bill Gates, Bill said "fuc# Steve, this is sh1t". Yes folks, Steve Jobs has taken possesion of Bill Gates' body. Steve, as Bill, is now planning to get back all the cash he gave to Africa etc by giving them free RT devices with cached credit card details so their kids can 'accidentally' spend the money Bill gave away in the first place.

Steve can't die....he just caaaan't.

You'd get the key in 24 hours? I got this message when I signed up for it
"Thank you
Your product key will be emailed to you within 72 hours. If the email doesn?t arrive in your inbox, be sure to check your junk email folder. "

I think they're going to patch it.

Please tell us if Windows 7 legalize whit similar method. Thanks

Aye I did it while it said 24, now it says 72. they are trying to fix it im assuming.

Are they that desperate to get Windows 8 on everyone's desktops? LOL

I got my key within 5 minutes.

If you use a free copy, don't come crying to me when they have to reimburse everyone 'cause it's crap!

I think that nearly makes sense!

It was, sort of free up to Win ME !

Im confused as to how to get that windows 8 pro trial..the one I downloaded from here was enterprise edition..
so how do I install windows 8 pro to activate the media pack for it in the first place?

I'm reading this on Nov. 23rd and the links in the article don't seem to be what I was expecting them to be.

In the first sentence it says
"Copies of Windows 8 Pro are freely available from Microsoft’s website for anyone who wants to try out the operating system..."
But when I click on the 'freely available' it goes to the Win 8 RTM page.

Will Win 8 RTM update to Win 8 Pro?
I somehow don't think so, but I'm hoping to be corrected.
And if Win 8 RTM doesn't upgrade to Win 8 Pro, anyone wants to get Win 8 Pro (which is what the article is about, right?) will still have to go to M$ and pay for the Win 8 Pro Pack.
Again, please correct me if I'm wrong.

And the second link which I don't think goes where it should is at the end of the first paragraph in the sentence
"But a loophole in the company’s Key Management System allows anyone to legitimately activate their copy of Windows 8 permanently, for free."
But when I click on 'legitimately...", the link goes to a Reddit page discussing Bill Gates' philosophy about pirating.

I can understand the relationship of that discussion to this article as a whole, but I don't see why that particular link sends you there.

Hoping someone can clarify if Win 8 RTM will update to Win 8 Pro, and if it doesn't, how to get that "trial" that can be loopholed into a permanent license.

Absolutely correct. I do not want Windows 8 Cr^p even if it is free.
I do not need to be locked into their virus enabled bloated software.

Are you replying to anyone in particular or did you just want to throw that out?