Computer screens are darkening in China, and it’s not because the nation’s netizens are powering down.
Several dozen users of Microsoft’s XP operating system and its Office software took to the Internet today to say that their desktop backgrounds had begun turning black. The switch doesn’t render the computer unusable, but it undoes people’s efforts to personalize their computer screens with photos or designs. Many said they were able to restore their original desktops only to have their screens turn black again an hour later.
The software isn’t restricted to China, but with many users owning illegitimate copies it has created a stir online there.
At issue, say users, is the price of a legitimate copy of Windows XP. Windows XP is sold at $199, which is over 1,400 yuan. The company says that it has already adjusted the policy to make the price more attractive to Chinese computer users. For instance, the Windows XP Home/Student Edition is sold at a promotion price of 199 yuan, and suggested price for Windows Vista Service Pack is 499 yuan. Still, the price is steep for many Chinese users who have vastly cheaper pirated versions available to them.
We do not stand up for piracy, but against your company for not thinking how the users feel.
中国的电脑屏幕暗下来了，这并不是因为这个国家的网民关掉了电源。
一些微软XP操作系统和Office软件的用户们今天上网说他们的桌面背景变成黑色的了。这种变换并不会使用户的电脑不能使用，只是让他们个性化电脑屏幕的图片或设计失效。一些用户说他们可以重新保存他们的原始桌面，只是一个小时候就会再度变黑。
这个软件并不是只在中国运行，但是因为中国有为数众多的盗版，所以在中国引起了轩然大波。
据用户反映，问题的重点是正版XP系统的价格。Windows XP售价199美元，折合人民币超过1400元。微软说他们已经调整了价格政策来吸引更多中国的电脑用户。比如，Window XP 家庭/学生版以199元的促销价卖出，Windows Vista建议价格是499元。但对于一些中国用户来说，他们可以用比这低得多的价钱买到盗版，所以他们仍然认为这个价格很高。
我们不应该支持盗版，但是微软也应该照顾一下广大用户的感受啊。
