November 2nd, 2006
Microsoft Backtracks on Vista Licensing Rules
By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
First Microsoft said you could only transfer Vista to one other PC. There was quite an outcry over that, and now, two weeks later, there’s been a course correction.
Microsoft is returning the licensing terms to basically what they were in Windows XP–users can transfer their license to a new PC an unlimited number of times, provided they uninstall and stop using it on the prior machine.
The software maker said it paid attention to the response both directly to the company and on blogs and decided to reverse course. Microsoft had hoped to use the change to aid its ongoing efforts to thwart piracy. Source: News.com
We Say: To be clear, this only concerns retail boxed software. Licensing on OEM copies of Vista is different, and typically an OEM license cannot be transferred to a different PC.
John Corliss says:
“…aid its ongoing efforts to thwart piracy” my ***. More like “aid its ongoing efforts to maximize their profits.”
Does anybody believe for a second that Microsoft won’t try this again at some point in the future? FWIS, they always pull this stunt.. pretending to cave to public outcry, then later slipping it in with more subtlety.
At any rate, who cares. Vista is all flash and no actual improvements. In fact, the end user will only be more restricted in what he or she can do and everything will run slower. Business as usual.
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:55 am
Kevin K. says:
I agree with John. I still think the best thing they can do is to give away the OS for free and make their money on add ons like MS Office, etc.
At the very least they could offer a Home-User 5-10 PC volume license for people who have 3 kids and a PC in just about every room. It’s bad enough upgrading each one to W98 much less XP and again to Vista. That’s almost $1000 each new OS I have to spend!
But you are right, John. They are just making a more bloated and restrictive OS which is why a dual or triple boot system is the way to go so you can continue to use the old and only use the new if absolutely necessary!
November 3rd, 2006 at 11:50 am
Microsoft Backtracks On Vista Licensing Rules ~ Windows Fanatics says:
[…] Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes: […]
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:09 pm