I can't believe what I just read. CrunchGear.com, a supposedly reputable tech reporting site, is telling folks how they can get Leopard for $40: The writer, Vincent Veneziani, recounts how he did just that: lie by getting a student to buy it for him, then split the license with a friend ( ie piracy ). An article endorsing fraud and piracy. It is unbelievable and unthinkable that a news reporting site would suggest to their readers that they commit fraud and piracy.

If this is the kind of writing CrunchGear and TechCrunch endorses, I'm unsubscribing from them.

Here is the writer's word for word, just in case it gets pulled:

Last night, I remembered something that you will no doubt thank me for later. When Mac OS X Tiger came out a few years ago, I was ready to buy it. I had my $130 in hand and was waiting in line. But as I approached the cash register, I ran into a coworker I knew and he told me that the University of Pennsylvania’s bookstore, which was right down the block, was selling copies to students for only $40.00. Being the cheapskate I am, I dropped the box I was holding and we headed out.

Sure enough, upon arrival at the bookstore, OS X Tiger was only $40.00. Neither of us went to UPenn, so we grabbed some dorky kid walking past us and asked him to buy it for us. He did, my coworker and I split a copy and I get Mac OS X Tiger for $20. So, if you have a college bookstore near you, I suggest taking a peak in there. You may find incredible discounts when Leopard comes out, you may not. It’s up to you to seek out the hot deals near you!

Editor’s Note: It’s worth mentioning that it was only the UPenn bookstore that was offering the OS for $40. Everywhere else, it was regular academic price. This is no different than you getting a hookup from your buddy at Best Buy or any other retailer. If you had a friend at UPenn, were broke and could get OS X for $40, you’re telling me you wouldn’t ask him/her to pick up a copy for you? Puh-lease.