Paul Thurrot feeling the heat?

[Daze N. Knights]

Take care, Daze.

Always, lest I trip over my own feet ;-)

 

[Guest]

I totally agree. This is nothing more than BS on Microsoft's part. If they
want to reduce piracy then lower costs and do away with these parania
restrictions. How do think those who frequent Sharkys Extreme, HardOCP, Blues
News, etc are going to feel. These people, including myself have beta tested
MS products, for free. And this is how were treated, because this company is
paranoid!!!. Get over it Microsoft!!!. There are alot of people, and the
number is growing, that change their motherboard/cpu configurations
frequently. GAMING!!. And no I am not going to be forced to by an XBOX 360
for gaming. One change I would make to article on Windows Supersite article
by Koroush Ghazi, is unlimited transfers vs three if not more etc... If I
want to use Vista 10 years from now, than my $400.00 cost for Ultimate should
entitled me to do it. If not HELLO LINUX OR LEOPARD!!. Is this worth it. You
already to way to long to get Vista out and alot of the original features
have been stripped out of it!!.

 

[RoadRunner]

Now is the time we all should attack microsoft on this issue and not give up
until microsoft starts to make sense again , I'm TOTALLY Pi$$ off at them

 

[Guest]

I agree! I too have reinstalled windows xp various times throught the year,
mainly to clean up my harddrive. I also had to reinstall my retail verison
of xp on to another computer once during the 3 yrs I have had it because my
other computer died. This past week on my new computer my harddrive was not
acting appropriate and it was a smaller harddrive. So thinking about
someday purchasing vista, I bought a new harddrive and had it installed. I
also bought a dvd writer at the same time as I only had a cd burner. I was
also thinking of purchasing a new video card that is vista ready. But if
this goes, vista only allow all customers only 1 download per product key
retail version or other, I may consider not purchasing windows vista, and
just stay with my windows xp.
--
Robyn

Microsoft is really shackling the computer enthusiast.

These are the very people who drive the hardware and software market. They
are the early adapters, and are the ones most likely to go out and buy a
copy of Vista, just so they can have the latest and greatest.

The other 95% of the people get a new operating system when they purchase a
new computer. I really don't see many going out to buy a new computer just
because Vista is here.

Microsoft is hurting themselves with these "new" restrictions.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/93896/93896.html?Ad=1

Vista Licensing Changes Alienate Tech Enthusiasts
by Paul Thurrott, (e-mail address removed)

On Friday, I wrote a lengthy article for the SuperSite for Windows in
which I communicated Microsoft's licensing changes for Windows Vista.
In tech enthusiast circles, these changes--which include limiting the
number of times a user can transfer a Vista license from PC to PC--
were the source of a lot of controversy. However, it seems to me that
the new license, or End-User License Agreement (EULA), was really just
a clarification of the Windows XP license, and my original article
reflects that. But based on a weekend's worth of email, it's now clear
that a large and important group of Windows users will be alienated by
the new EULA.

Here's the problem. In the XP EULA, users were granted the right to
"move [XP] to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer,
[users had to] completely remove [XP] from the former Workstation
Computer." Many people read this clause and assumed they had the right
to move a single retail copy of XP from PC to PC as often as they
wanted. Not so. "This clause was always aimed at very specific
circumstances," Microsoft General Manager Shanen Boettcher told me.
"Someone has a hardware failure, but still wants to run that copy of
Windows on the new machine, for example." The intention, Boettcher
said, was for users to perform such a new installation only in the
event of a catastrophic hardware failure. A single copy of Windows is
licensed for use on a single PC.

The Vista EULA has been "clarified" to be more explicit. Now, a user
can "reassign the [Vista] license to another device one time."
Microsoft told me that the actual process of transferring Windows from
PC to PC hasn't changed since XP: You might be able to electronically
activate Windows on the new PC, but if you can't, you can activate
Windows over the phone. "[Now] we let them move a license, while being
clear about what the license is intended for," Boettcher said. "In the
past, we haven't been super clear up front."

I've never been a big fan of the Windows EULA, but given the inherent
restrictions in the document and the fact that Windows users don't
technically own their copy of Windows anyway (according to the terms
of the license, you're granted only limited rights to use the
product), I felt the Vista license change amounted to a simple
clarification. Besides, it would affect a very small group of users.
Last weekend, I heard from those users and I'm starting to see a very
real problem.

The computer enthusiasts who are most apt to run into problems with
the Vista EULA are the people who funnel the most money into the PC
industry--the ones who buy expensive gaming PCs and regularly upgrade
their systems. These enthusiasts are most likely to gravitate toward
the most expensive Vista version, Vista Ultimate. In short, one might
argue that Microsoft's new EULA will harm these people quite a bit,
especially if their reactivation attempts are thwarted because of
licensing problems.

Koroush Ghazi, the owner of TweakGuides.com, argues that if even 5
percent of PC users are affected by this change, we're talking about
50 to 65 million consumers. And again, these are the people spending
money on the most expensive PCs and accessories they can get their
hands on. These people are enthusiastic about technology and would
otherwise be championing Vista. These are the people that Microsoft
should be embracing, not alienating. And with mainstream PC makers
such as Dell and HP buying boutique gaming-PC companies to find new
revenue streams among these increasingly important customers, it's
clear that Microsoft should be reaching out to them as well.

If you'd like to read more about this topic, both my original article
and the excellent response from Koroush Ghazi are available on the
SuperSite for Windows.

Licensing Changes to Windows Vista
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_licensing.asp

 

[RoadRunner]

Its not one dowload per computer , It one transfer over onto a different
computer or if you make more then one hardware change , Its like if you were
to change your motherboard because your original MB has die on you, Well
then after that you can no longer make any more hardware changes , So if
your second MB dies on you ? You wouldn't be able to reinstall Vista with a
third MB , It never was like this with XP retail

I agree! I too have reinstalled windows xp various times throught the
year,
mainly to clean up my harddrive. I also had to reinstall my retail
verison
of xp on to another computer once during the 3 yrs I have had it because
my
other computer died. This past week on my new computer my harddrive was
not
acting appropriate and it was a smaller harddrive. So thinking about
someday purchasing vista, I bought a new harddrive and had it installed.
I
also bought a dvd writer at the same time as I only had a cd burner. I
was
also thinking of purchasing a new video card that is vista ready. But if
this goes, vista only allow all customers only 1 download per product key
retail version or other, I may consider not purchasing windows vista, and
just stay with my windows xp.
--
Robyn

Microsoft is really shackling the computer enthusiast.

These are the very people who drive the hardware and software market.
They
are the early adapters, and are the ones most likely to go out and buy a
copy of Vista, just so they can have the latest and greatest.

The other 95% of the people get a new operating system when they purchase
a
new computer. I really don't see many going out to buy a new computer
just
because Vista is here.

Microsoft is hurting themselves with these "new" restrictions.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/93896/93896.html?Ad=1

Vista Licensing Changes Alienate Tech Enthusiasts
by Paul Thurrott, (e-mail address removed)

On Friday, I wrote a lengthy article for the SuperSite for Windows in
which I communicated Microsoft's licensing changes for Windows Vista.
In tech enthusiast circles, these changes--which include limiting the
number of times a user can transfer a Vista license from PC to PC--
were the source of a lot of controversy. However, it seems to me that
the new license, or End-User License Agreement (EULA), was really just
a clarification of the Windows XP license, and my original article
reflects that. But based on a weekend's worth of email, it's now clear
that a large and important group of Windows users will be alienated by
the new EULA.

Here's the problem. In the XP EULA, users were granted the right to
"move [XP] to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer,
[users had to] completely remove [XP] from the former Workstation
Computer." Many people read this clause and assumed they had the right
to move a single retail copy of XP from PC to PC as often as they
wanted. Not so. "This clause was always aimed at very specific
circumstances," Microsoft General Manager Shanen Boettcher told me.
"Someone has a hardware failure, but still wants to run that copy of
Windows on the new machine, for example." The intention, Boettcher
said, was for users to perform such a new installation only in the
event of a catastrophic hardware failure. A single copy of Windows is
licensed for use on a single PC.

The Vista EULA has been "clarified" to be more explicit. Now, a user
can "reassign the [Vista] license to another device one time."
Microsoft told me that the actual process of transferring Windows from
PC to PC hasn't changed since XP: You might be able to electronically
activate Windows on the new PC, but if you can't, you can activate
Windows over the phone. "[Now] we let them move a license, while being
clear about what the license is intended for," Boettcher said. "In the
past, we haven't been super clear up front."

I've never been a big fan of the Windows EULA, but given the inherent
restrictions in the document and the fact that Windows users don't
technically own their copy of Windows anyway (according to the terms
of the license, you're granted only limited rights to use the
product), I felt the Vista license change amounted to a simple
clarification. Besides, it would affect a very small group of users.
Last weekend, I heard from those users and I'm starting to see a very
real problem.

The computer enthusiasts who are most apt to run into problems with
the Vista EULA are the people who funnel the most money into the PC
industry--the ones who buy expensive gaming PCs and regularly upgrade
their systems. These enthusiasts are most likely to gravitate toward
the most expensive Vista version, Vista Ultimate. In short, one might
argue that Microsoft's new EULA will harm these people quite a bit,
especially if their reactivation attempts are thwarted because of
licensing problems.

Koroush Ghazi, the owner of TweakGuides.com, argues that if even 5
percent of PC users are affected by this change, we're talking about
50 to 65 million consumers. And again, these are the people spending
money on the most expensive PCs and accessories they can get their
hands on. These people are enthusiastic about technology and would
otherwise be championing Vista. These are the people that Microsoft
should be embracing, not alienating. And with mainstream PC makers
such as Dell and HP buying boutique gaming-PC companies to find new
revenue streams among these increasingly important customers, it's
clear that Microsoft should be reaching out to them as well.

If you'd like to read more about this topic, both my original article
and the excellent response from Koroush Ghazi are available on the
SuperSite for Windows.

Licensing Changes to Windows Vista
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_licensing.asp

 

[Guest]

Well I have all ready made about 3 hardware changes with xp. My original
computer that xp was installed on quit. Bought a newer refurbished computer
(better than the other). Recently about a week ago preparing for vista, I
bought a dvd writer, but also discover my harddrive was up to par (small)
also it was about to quit (making noise). I also purchased a bigger new
harddrive! I am also considering of buying a new pci video card as my old
one is not good for vista graphics only 32 mb pci, would like 128 mb or more
instead. May even consider getting a new motherboard. I know I may do all
that before I get vista and all will be fine. But I also do like cleaning
out my computer of junk every now and again and format it. So I would hope
it will allow me if I purchase windows vista home premium as that is what I
was thinking of getting.
--
Robyn

Its not one dowload per computer , It one transfer over onto a different
computer or if you make more then one hardware change , Its like if you were
to change your motherboard because your original MB has die on you, Well
then after that you can no longer make any more hardware changes , So if
your second MB dies on you ? You wouldn't be able to reinstall Vista with a
third MB , It never was like this with XP retail

I agree! I too have reinstalled windows xp various times throught the
year,
mainly to clean up my harddrive. I also had to reinstall my retail
verison
of xp on to another computer once during the 3 yrs I have had it because
my
other computer died. This past week on my new computer my harddrive was
not
acting appropriate and it was a smaller harddrive. So thinking about
someday purchasing vista, I bought a new harddrive and had it installed.
I
also bought a dvd writer at the same time as I only had a cd burner. I
was
also thinking of purchasing a new video card that is vista ready. But if
this goes, vista only allow all customers only 1 download per product key
retail version or other, I may consider not purchasing windows vista, and
just stay with my windows xp.
--
Robyn

Microsoft is really shackling the computer enthusiast.

These are the very people who drive the hardware and software market.
They
are the early adapters, and are the ones most likely to go out and buy a
copy of Vista, just so they can have the latest and greatest.

The other 95% of the people get a new operating system when they purchase
a
new computer. I really don't see many going out to buy a new computer
just
because Vista is here.

Microsoft is hurting themselves with these "new" restrictions.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/93896/93896.html?Ad=1

Vista Licensing Changes Alienate Tech Enthusiasts
by Paul Thurrott, (e-mail address removed)

On Friday, I wrote a lengthy article for the SuperSite for Windows in
which I communicated Microsoft's licensing changes for Windows Vista.
In tech enthusiast circles, these changes--which include limiting the
number of times a user can transfer a Vista license from PC to PC--
were the source of a lot of controversy. However, it seems to me that
the new license, or End-User License Agreement (EULA), was really just
a clarification of the Windows XP license, and my original article
reflects that. But based on a weekend's worth of email, it's now clear
that a large and important group of Windows users will be alienated by
the new EULA.

Here's the problem. In the XP EULA, users were granted the right to
"move [XP] to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer,
[users had to] completely remove [XP] from the former Workstation
Computer." Many people read this clause and assumed they had the right
to move a single retail copy of XP from PC to PC as often as they
wanted. Not so. "This clause was always aimed at very specific
circumstances," Microsoft General Manager Shanen Boettcher told me.
"Someone has a hardware failure, but still wants to run that copy of
Windows on the new machine, for example." The intention, Boettcher
said, was for users to perform such a new installation only in the
event of a catastrophic hardware failure. A single copy of Windows is
licensed for use on a single PC.

The Vista EULA has been "clarified" to be more explicit. Now, a user
can "reassign the [Vista] license to another device one time."
Microsoft told me that the actual process of transferring Windows from
PC to PC hasn't changed since XP: You might be able to electronically
activate Windows on the new PC, but if you can't, you can activate
Windows over the phone. "[Now] we let them move a license, while being
clear about what the license is intended for," Boettcher said. "In the
past, we haven't been super clear up front."

I've never been a big fan of the Windows EULA, but given the inherent
restrictions in the document and the fact that Windows users don't
technically own their copy of Windows anyway (according to the terms
of the license, you're granted only limited rights to use the
product), I felt the Vista license change amounted to a simple
clarification. Besides, it would affect a very small group of users.
Last weekend, I heard from those users and I'm starting to see a very
real problem.

The computer enthusiasts who are most apt to run into problems with
the Vista EULA are the people who funnel the most money into the PC
industry--the ones who buy expensive gaming PCs and regularly upgrade
their systems. These enthusiasts are most likely to gravitate toward
the most expensive Vista version, Vista Ultimate. In short, one might
argue that Microsoft's new EULA will harm these people quite a bit,
especially if their reactivation attempts are thwarted because of
licensing problems.

Koroush Ghazi, the owner of TweakGuides.com, argues that if even 5
percent of PC users are affected by this change, we're talking about
50 to 65 million consumers. And again, these are the people spending
money on the most expensive PCs and accessories they can get their
hands on. These people are enthusiastic about technology and would
otherwise be championing Vista. These are the people that Microsoft
should be embracing, not alienating. And with mainstream PC makers
such as Dell and HP buying boutique gaming-PC companies to find new
revenue streams among these increasingly important customers, it's
clear that Microsoft should be reaching out to them as well.

If you'd like to read more about this topic, both my original article
and the excellent response from Koroush Ghazi are available on the
SuperSite for Windows.

Licensing Changes to Windows Vista
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_licensing.asp

 

[RoadRunner]

You can reinstall the OS as many time as you like , it just whenever you
make more then 2 hardware changes that is where the problem is , After 2 you
can no longer be able to install Vista

Well I have all ready made about 3 hardware changes with xp. My
original
computer that xp was installed on quit. Bought a newer refurbished
computer
(better than the other). Recently about a week ago preparing for vista, I
bought a dvd writer, but also discover my harddrive was up to par (small)
also it was about to quit (making noise). I also purchased a bigger new
harddrive! I am also considering of buying a new pci video card as my old
one is not good for vista graphics only 32 mb pci, would like 128 mb or
more
instead. May even consider getting a new motherboard. I know I may do
all
that before I get vista and all will be fine. But I also do like cleaning
out my computer of junk every now and again and format it. So I would
hope
it will allow me if I purchase windows vista home premium as that is what
I
was thinking of getting.
--
Robyn

Its not one dowload per computer , It one transfer over onto a different
computer or if you make more then one hardware change , Its like if you
were
to change your motherboard because your original MB has die on you, Well
then after that you can no longer make any more hardware changes , So if
your second MB dies on you ? You wouldn't be able to reinstall Vista with
a
third MB , It never was like this with XP retail

I agree! I too have reinstalled windows xp various times throught the
year,
mainly to clean up my harddrive. I also had to reinstall my retail
verison
of xp on to another computer once during the 3 yrs I have had it
because
my
other computer died. This past week on my new computer my harddrive
was
not
acting appropriate and it was a smaller harddrive. So thinking about
someday purchasing vista, I bought a new harddrive and had it
installed.
I
also bought a dvd writer at the same time as I only had a cd burner. I
was
also thinking of purchasing a new video card that is vista ready. But
if
this goes, vista only allow all customers only 1 download per product
key
retail version or other, I may consider not purchasing windows vista,
and
just stay with my windows xp.
--
Robyn


:

Microsoft is really shackling the computer enthusiast.

These are the very people who drive the hardware and software market.
They
are the early adapters, and are the ones most likely to go out and buy
a
copy of Vista, just so they can have the latest and greatest.

The other 95% of the people get a new operating system when they
purchase
a
new computer. I really don't see many going out to buy a new computer
just
because Vista is here.

Microsoft is hurting themselves with these "new" restrictions.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/93896/93896.html?Ad=1

Vista Licensing Changes Alienate Tech Enthusiasts
by Paul Thurrott, (e-mail address removed)

On Friday, I wrote a lengthy article for the SuperSite for Windows
in
which I communicated Microsoft's licensing changes for Windows
Vista.
In tech enthusiast circles, these changes--which include limiting
the
number of times a user can transfer a Vista license from PC to PC--
were the source of a lot of controversy. However, it seems to me
that
the new license, or End-User License Agreement (EULA), was really
just
a clarification of the Windows XP license, and my original article
reflects that. But based on a weekend's worth of email, it's now
clear
that a large and important group of Windows users will be alienated
by
the new EULA.

Here's the problem. In the XP EULA, users were granted the right to
"move [XP] to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer,
[users had to] completely remove [XP] from the former Workstation
Computer." Many people read this clause and assumed they had the
right
to move a single retail copy of XP from PC to PC as often as they
wanted. Not so. "This clause was always aimed at very specific
circumstances," Microsoft General Manager Shanen Boettcher told me.
"Someone has a hardware failure, but still wants to run that copy of
Windows on the new machine, for example." The intention, Boettcher
said, was for users to perform such a new installation only in the
event of a catastrophic hardware failure. A single copy of Windows
is
licensed for use on a single PC.

The Vista EULA has been "clarified" to be more explicit. Now, a user
can "reassign the [Vista] license to another device one time."
Microsoft told me that the actual process of transferring Windows
from
PC to PC hasn't changed since XP: You might be able to
electronically
activate Windows on the new PC, but if you can't, you can activate
Windows over the phone. "[Now] we let them move a license, while
being
clear about what the license is intended for," Boettcher said. "In
the
past, we haven't been super clear up front."

I've never been a big fan of the Windows EULA, but given the
inherent
restrictions in the document and the fact that Windows users don't
technically own their copy of Windows anyway (according to the terms
of the license, you're granted only limited rights to use the
product), I felt the Vista license change amounted to a simple
clarification. Besides, it would affect a very small group of users.
Last weekend, I heard from those users and I'm starting to see a
very
real problem.

The computer enthusiasts who are most apt to run into problems with
the Vista EULA are the people who funnel the most money into the PC
industry--the ones who buy expensive gaming PCs and regularly
upgrade
their systems. These enthusiasts are most likely to gravitate toward
the most expensive Vista version, Vista Ultimate. In short, one
might
argue that Microsoft's new EULA will harm these people quite a bit,
especially if their reactivation attempts are thwarted because of
licensing problems.

Koroush Ghazi, the owner of TweakGuides.com, argues that if even 5
percent of PC users are affected by this change, we're talking about
50 to 65 million consumers. And again, these are the people spending
money on the most expensive PCs and accessories they can get their
hands on. These people are enthusiastic about technology and would
otherwise be championing Vista. These are the people that Microsoft
should be embracing, not alienating. And with mainstream PC makers
such as Dell and HP buying boutique gaming-PC companies to find new
revenue streams among these increasingly important customers, it's
clear that Microsoft should be reaching out to them as well.

If you'd like to read more about this topic, both my original
article
and the excellent response from Koroush Ghazi are available on the
SuperSite for Windows.

Licensing Changes to Windows Vista
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_licensing.asp

 

[Alias~-]

You can reinstall the OS as many time as you like , it just whenever you
make more then 2 hardware changes that is where the problem is , After 2 you
can no longer be able to install Vista

Have you got some documentation that verifies this?

Alias

Well I have all ready made about 3 hardware changes with xp. My
original
computer that xp was installed on quit. Bought a newer refurbished
computer
(better than the other). Recently about a week ago preparing for vista, I
bought a dvd writer, but also discover my harddrive was up to par (small)
also it was about to quit (making noise). I also purchased a bigger new
harddrive! I am also considering of buying a new pci video card as my old
one is not good for vista graphics only 32 mb pci, would like 128 mb or
more
instead. May even consider getting a new motherboard. I know I may do
all
that before I get vista and all will be fine. But I also do like cleaning
out my computer of junk every now and again and format it. So I would
hope
it will allow me if I purchase windows vista home premium as that is what
I
was thinking of getting.
--
Robyn

Its not one dowload per computer , It one transfer over onto a different
computer or if you make more then one hardware change , Its like if you
were
to change your motherboard because your original MB has die on you, Well
then after that you can no longer make any more hardware changes , So if
your second MB dies on you ? You wouldn't be able to reinstall Vista with
a
third MB , It never was like this with XP retail

I agree! I too have reinstalled windows xp various times throught the
year,
mainly to clean up my harddrive. I also had to reinstall my retail
verison
of xp on to another computer once during the 3 yrs I have had it
because
my
other computer died. This past week on my new computer my harddrive
was
not
acting appropriate and it was a smaller harddrive. So thinking about
someday purchasing vista, I bought a new harddrive and had it
installed.
I
also bought a dvd writer at the same time as I only had a cd burner. I
was
also thinking of purchasing a new video card that is vista ready. But
if
this goes, vista only allow all customers only 1 download per product
key
retail version or other, I may consider not purchasing windows vista,
and
just stay with my windows xp.
--
Robyn


:

Microsoft is really shackling the computer enthusiast.

These are the very people who drive the hardware and software market.
They
are the early adapters, and are the ones most likely to go out and buy
a
copy of Vista, just so they can have the latest and greatest.

The other 95% of the people get a new operating system when they
purchase
a
new computer. I really don't see many going out to buy a new computer
just
because Vista is here.

Microsoft is hurting themselves with these "new" restrictions.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/93896/93896.html?Ad=1

Vista Licensing Changes Alienate Tech Enthusiasts
by Paul Thurrott, (e-mail address removed)

On Friday, I wrote a lengthy article for the SuperSite for Windows
in
which I communicated Microsoft's licensing changes for Windows
Vista.
In tech enthusiast circles, these changes--which include limiting
the
number of times a user can transfer a Vista license from PC to PC--
were the source of a lot of controversy. However, it seems to me
that
the new license, or End-User License Agreement (EULA), was really
just
a clarification of the Windows XP license, and my original article
reflects that. But based on a weekend's worth of email, it's now
clear
that a large and important group of Windows users will be alienated
by
the new EULA.

Here's the problem. In the XP EULA, users were granted the right to
"move [XP] to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer,
[users had to] completely remove [XP] from the former Workstation
Computer." Many people read this clause and assumed they had the
right
to move a single retail copy of XP from PC to PC as often as they
wanted. Not so. "This clause was always aimed at very specific
circumstances," Microsoft General Manager Shanen Boettcher told me.
"Someone has a hardware failure, but still wants to run that copy of
Windows on the new machine, for example." The intention, Boettcher
said, was for users to perform such a new installation only in the
event of a catastrophic hardware failure. A single copy of Windows
is
licensed for use on a single PC.

The Vista EULA has been "clarified" to be more explicit. Now, a user
can "reassign the [Vista] license to another device one time."
Microsoft told me that the actual process of transferring Windows
from
PC to PC hasn't changed since XP: You might be able to
electronically
activate Windows on the new PC, but if you can't, you can activate
Windows over the phone. "[Now] we let them move a license, while
being
clear about what the license is intended for," Boettcher said. "In
the
past, we haven't been super clear up front."

I've never been a big fan of the Windows EULA, but given the
inherent
restrictions in the document and the fact that Windows users don't
technically own their copy of Windows anyway (according to the terms
of the license, you're granted only limited rights to use the
product), I felt the Vista license change amounted to a simple
clarification. Besides, it would affect a very small group of users.
Last weekend, I heard from those users and I'm starting to see a
very
real problem.

The computer enthusiasts who are most apt to run into problems with
the Vista EULA are the people who funnel the most money into the PC
industry--the ones who buy expensive gaming PCs and regularly
upgrade
their systems. These enthusiasts are most likely to gravitate toward
the most expensive Vista version, Vista Ultimate. In short, one
might
argue that Microsoft's new EULA will harm these people quite a bit,
especially if their reactivation attempts are thwarted because of
licensing problems.

Koroush Ghazi, the owner of TweakGuides.com, argues that if even 5
percent of PC users are affected by this change, we're talking about
50 to 65 million consumers. And again, these are the people spending
money on the most expensive PCs and accessories they can get their
hands on. These people are enthusiastic about technology and would
otherwise be championing Vista. These are the people that Microsoft
should be embracing, not alienating. And with mainstream PC makers
such as Dell and HP buying boutique gaming-PC companies to find new
revenue streams among these increasingly important customers, it's
clear that Microsoft should be reaching out to them as well.

If you'd like to read more about this topic, both my original
article
and the excellent response from Koroush Ghazi are available on the
SuperSite for Windows.

Licensing Changes to Windows Vista
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_licensing.asp

 

[RoadRunner]

Yeah , read the Vista EULA , As to how it is now

http://download.microsoft.com/docum...lish_9d10381d-6fa8-47c7-83b0-c53f722371fa.pdf

You can reinstall the OS as many time as you like , it just whenever you
make more then 2 hardware changes that is where the problem is , After 2
you can no longer be able to install Vista

Have you got some documentation that verifies this?

Alias

Well I have all ready made about 3 hardware changes with xp. My
original
computer that xp was installed on quit. Bought a newer refurbished
computer
(better than the other). Recently about a week ago preparing for vista,
I
bought a dvd writer, but also discover my harddrive was up to par
(small)
also it was about to quit (making noise). I also purchased a bigger new
harddrive! I am also considering of buying a new pci video card as my
old
one is not good for vista graphics only 32 mb pci, would like 128 mb or
more
instead. May even consider getting a new motherboard. I know I may do
all
that before I get vista and all will be fine. But I also do like
cleaning
out my computer of junk every now and again and format it. So I would
hope
it will allow me if I purchase windows vista home premium as that is
what I
was thinking of getting.
--
Robyn


:

Its not one dowload per computer , It one transfer over onto a
different
computer or if you make more then one hardware change , Its like if you
were
to change your motherboard because your original MB has die on you,
Well
then after that you can no longer make any more hardware changes , So
if
your second MB dies on you ? You wouldn't be able to reinstall Vista
with a
third MB , It never was like this with XP retail

I agree! I too have reinstalled windows xp various times throught the
year,
mainly to clean up my harddrive. I also had to reinstall my retail
verison
of xp on to another computer once during the 3 yrs I have had it
because
my
other computer died. This past week on my new computer my harddrive
was
not
acting appropriate and it was a smaller harddrive. So thinking about
someday purchasing vista, I bought a new harddrive and had it
installed.
I
also bought a dvd writer at the same time as I only had a cd burner.
I
was
also thinking of purchasing a new video card that is vista ready. But
if
this goes, vista only allow all customers only 1 download per product
key
retail version or other, I may consider not purchasing windows vista,
and
just stay with my windows xp.
--
Robyn


:

Microsoft is really shackling the computer enthusiast.

These are the very people who drive the hardware and software market.
They
are the early adapters, and are the ones most likely to go out and
buy a
copy of Vista, just so they can have the latest and greatest.

The other 95% of the people get a new operating system when they
purchase
a
new computer. I really don't see many going out to buy a new computer
just
because Vista is here.

Microsoft is hurting themselves with these "new" restrictions.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/93896/93896.html?Ad=1

Vista Licensing Changes Alienate Tech Enthusiasts
by Paul Thurrott, (e-mail address removed)

On Friday, I wrote a lengthy article for the SuperSite for Windows
in
which I communicated Microsoft's licensing changes for Windows
Vista.
In tech enthusiast circles, these changes--which include limiting
the
number of times a user can transfer a Vista license from PC to PC--
were the source of a lot of controversy. However, it seems to me
that
the new license, or End-User License Agreement (EULA), was really
just
a clarification of the Windows XP license, and my original article
reflects that. But based on a weekend's worth of email, it's now
clear
that a large and important group of Windows users will be alienated
by
the new EULA.

Here's the problem. In the XP EULA, users were granted the right to
"move [XP] to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer,
[users had to] completely remove [XP] from the former Workstation
Computer." Many people read this clause and assumed they had the
right
to move a single retail copy of XP from PC to PC as often as they
wanted. Not so. "This clause was always aimed at very specific
circumstances," Microsoft General Manager Shanen Boettcher told me.
"Someone has a hardware failure, but still wants to run that copy of
Windows on the new machine, for example." The intention, Boettcher
said, was for users to perform such a new installation only in the
event of a catastrophic hardware failure. A single copy of Windows
is
licensed for use on a single PC.

The Vista EULA has been "clarified" to be more explicit. Now, a user
can "reassign the [Vista] license to another device one time."
Microsoft told me that the actual process of transferring Windows
from
PC to PC hasn't changed since XP: You might be able to
electronically
activate Windows on the new PC, but if you can't, you can activate
Windows over the phone. "[Now] we let them move a license, while
being
clear about what the license is intended for," Boettcher said. "In
the
past, we haven't been super clear up front."

I've never been a big fan of the Windows EULA, but given the
inherent
restrictions in the document and the fact that Windows users don't
technically own their copy of Windows anyway (according to the terms
of the license, you're granted only limited rights to use the
product), I felt the Vista license change amounted to a simple
clarification. Besides, it would affect a very small group of users.
Last weekend, I heard from those users and I'm starting to see a
very
real problem.

The computer enthusiasts who are most apt to run into problems with
the Vista EULA are the people who funnel the most money into the PC
industry--the ones who buy expensive gaming PCs and regularly
upgrade
their systems. These enthusiasts are most likely to gravitate toward
the most expensive Vista version, Vista Ultimate. In short, one
might
argue that Microsoft's new EULA will harm these people quite a bit,
especially if their reactivation attempts are thwarted because of
licensing problems.

Koroush Ghazi, the owner of TweakGuides.com, argues that if even 5
percent of PC users are affected by this change, we're talking about
50 to 65 million consumers. And again, these are the people spending
money on the most expensive PCs and accessories they can get their
hands on. These people are enthusiastic about technology and would
otherwise be championing Vista. These are the people that Microsoft
should be embracing, not alienating. And with mainstream PC makers
such as Dell and HP buying boutique gaming-PC companies to find new
revenue streams among these increasingly important customers, it's
clear that Microsoft should be reaching out to them as well.

If you'd like to read more about this topic, both my original
article
and the excellent response from Koroush Ghazi are available on the
SuperSite for Windows.

Licensing Changes to Windows Vista
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_licensing.asp

 

[Alias~-]

Yeah , read the Vista EULA , As to how it is now

http://download.microsoft.com/docum...lish_9d10381d-6fa8-47c7-83b0-c53f722371fa.pdf

I don't see anything there about hardware at all.

Alias

You can reinstall the OS as many time as you like , it just whenever you
make more then 2 hardware changes that is where the problem is , After 2
you can no longer be able to install Vista

Have you got some documentation that verifies this?

Alias

Well I have all ready made about 3 hardware changes with xp. My
original
computer that xp was installed on quit. Bought a newer refurbished
computer
(better than the other). Recently about a week ago preparing for vista,
I
bought a dvd writer, but also discover my harddrive was up to par
(small)
also it was about to quit (making noise). I also purchased a bigger new
harddrive! I am also considering of buying a new pci video card as my
old
one is not good for vista graphics only 32 mb pci, would like 128 mb or
more
instead. May even consider getting a new motherboard. I know I may do
all
that before I get vista and all will be fine. But I also do like
cleaning
out my computer of junk every now and again and format it. So I would
hope
it will allow me if I purchase windows vista home premium as that is
what I
was thinking of getting.
--
Robyn


:

Its not one dowload per computer , It one transfer over onto a
different
computer or if you make more then one hardware change , Its like if you
were
to change your motherboard because your original MB has die on you,
Well
then after that you can no longer make any more hardware changes , So
if
your second MB dies on you ? You wouldn't be able to reinstall Vista
with a
third MB , It never was like this with XP retail

I agree! I too have reinstalled windows xp various times throught the
year,
mainly to clean up my harddrive. I also had to reinstall my retail
verison
of xp on to another computer once during the 3 yrs I have had it
because
my
other computer died. This past week on my new computer my harddrive
was
not
acting appropriate and it was a smaller harddrive. So thinking about
someday purchasing vista, I bought a new harddrive and had it
installed.
I
also bought a dvd writer at the same time as I only had a cd burner.
I
was
also thinking of purchasing a new video card that is vista ready. But
if
this goes, vista only allow all customers only 1 download per product
key
retail version or other, I may consider not purchasing windows vista,
and
just stay with my windows xp.
--
Robyn


:

Microsoft is really shackling the computer enthusiast.

These are the very people who drive the hardware and software market.
They
are the early adapters, and are the ones most likely to go out and
buy a
copy of Vista, just so they can have the latest and greatest.

The other 95% of the people get a new operating system when they
purchase
a
new computer. I really don't see many going out to buy a new computer
just
because Vista is here.

Microsoft is hurting themselves with these "new" restrictions.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/93896/93896.html?Ad=1

Vista Licensing Changes Alienate Tech Enthusiasts
by Paul Thurrott, (e-mail address removed)

On Friday, I wrote a lengthy article for the SuperSite for Windows
in
which I communicated Microsoft's licensing changes for Windows
Vista.
In tech enthusiast circles, these changes--which include limiting
the
number of times a user can transfer a Vista license from PC to PC--
were the source of a lot of controversy. However, it seems to me
that
the new license, or End-User License Agreement (EULA), was really
just
a clarification of the Windows XP license, and my original article
reflects that. But based on a weekend's worth of email, it's now
clear
that a large and important group of Windows users will be alienated
by
the new EULA.

Here's the problem. In the XP EULA, users were granted the right to
"move [XP] to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer,
[users had to] completely remove [XP] from the former Workstation
Computer." Many people read this clause and assumed they had the
right
to move a single retail copy of XP from PC to PC as often as they
wanted. Not so. "This clause was always aimed at very specific
circumstances," Microsoft General Manager Shanen Boettcher told me.
"Someone has a hardware failure, but still wants to run that copy of
Windows on the new machine, for example." The intention, Boettcher
said, was for users to perform such a new installation only in the
event of a catastrophic hardware failure. A single copy of Windows
is
licensed for use on a single PC.

The Vista EULA has been "clarified" to be more explicit. Now, a user
can "reassign the [Vista] license to another device one time."
Microsoft told me that the actual process of transferring Windows
from
PC to PC hasn't changed since XP: You might be able to
electronically
activate Windows on the new PC, but if you can't, you can activate
Windows over the phone. "[Now] we let them move a license, while
being
clear about what the license is intended for," Boettcher said. "In
the
past, we haven't been super clear up front."

I've never been a big fan of the Windows EULA, but given the
inherent
restrictions in the document and the fact that Windows users don't
technically own their copy of Windows anyway (according to the terms
of the license, you're granted only limited rights to use the
product), I felt the Vista license change amounted to a simple
clarification. Besides, it would affect a very small group of users.
Last weekend, I heard from those users and I'm starting to see a
very
real problem.

The computer enthusiasts who are most apt to run into problems with
the Vista EULA are the people who funnel the most money into the PC
industry--the ones who buy expensive gaming PCs and regularly
upgrade
their systems. These enthusiasts are most likely to gravitate toward
the most expensive Vista version, Vista Ultimate. In short, one
might
argue that Microsoft's new EULA will harm these people quite a bit,
especially if their reactivation attempts are thwarted because of
licensing problems.

Koroush Ghazi, the owner of TweakGuides.com, argues that if even 5
percent of PC users are affected by this change, we're talking about
50 to 65 million consumers. And again, these are the people spending
money on the most expensive PCs and accessories they can get their
hands on. These people are enthusiastic about technology and would
otherwise be championing Vista. These are the people that Microsoft
should be embracing, not alienating. And with mainstream PC makers
such as Dell and HP buying boutique gaming-PC companies to find new
revenue streams among these increasingly important customers, it's
clear that Microsoft should be reaching out to them as well.

If you'd like to read more about this topic, both my original
article
and the excellent response from Koroush Ghazi are available on the
SuperSite for Windows.

Licensing Changes to Windows Vista
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_licensing.asp

 

[RoadRunner]

Ok you know what bud ? go buy vista retail when it becomes available ,
Though just remember after you make more then 2 hardware changes don't go
crying to Microsoft because you can't install it any longer

Here a little clue , if you are familiar with this newgroup ? If I wasn't
right as to what I am saying don't you think about now that a MVP would of
corrected me ? Thats because they know i am , Also I bet SOME are tick off
as well with this new EULA , Remember though this is how it is now , Which
means it can still be change by the time it becomes available , This is why
I am posting like a mad man to INFORM others so they can also freak out

Yeah , read the Vista EULA , As to how it is now

http://download.microsoft.com/docum...lish_9d10381d-6fa8-47c7-83b0-c53f722371fa.pdf

I don't see anything there about hardware at all.

Alias

RoadRunner wrote:
You can reinstall the OS as many time as you like , it just whenever
you make more then 2 hardware changes that is where the problem is ,
After 2 you can no longer be able to install Vista
Have you got some documentation that verifies this?

Alias
Well I have all ready made about 3 hardware changes with xp. My
original
computer that xp was installed on quit. Bought a newer refurbished
computer
(better than the other). Recently about a week ago preparing for
vista, I
bought a dvd writer, but also discover my harddrive was up to par
(small)
also it was about to quit (making noise). I also purchased a bigger
new
harddrive! I am also considering of buying a new pci video card as my
old
one is not good for vista graphics only 32 mb pci, would like 128 mb
or more
instead. May even consider getting a new motherboard. I know I may
do all
that before I get vista and all will be fine. But I also do like
cleaning
out my computer of junk every now and again and format it. So I would
hope
it will allow me if I purchase windows vista home premium as that is
what I
was thinking of getting.
--
Robyn


:

Its not one dowload per computer , It one transfer over onto a
different
computer or if you make more then one hardware change , Its like if
you were
to change your motherboard because your original MB has die on you,
Well
then after that you can no longer make any more hardware changes , So
if
your second MB dies on you ? You wouldn't be able to reinstall Vista
with a
third MB , It never was like this with XP retail

I agree! I too have reinstalled windows xp various times throught
the
year,
mainly to clean up my harddrive. I also had to reinstall my retail
verison
of xp on to another computer once during the 3 yrs I have had it
because
my
other computer died. This past week on my new computer my harddrive
was
not
acting appropriate and it was a smaller harddrive. So thinking
about
someday purchasing vista, I bought a new harddrive and had it
installed.
I
also bought a dvd writer at the same time as I only had a cd burner.
I
was
also thinking of purchasing a new video card that is vista ready.
But if
this goes, vista only allow all customers only 1 download per
product key
retail version or other, I may consider not purchasing windows
vista, and
just stay with my windows xp.
--
Robyn


:

Microsoft is really shackling the computer enthusiast.

These are the very people who drive the hardware and software
market.
They
are the early adapters, and are the ones most likely to go out and
buy a
copy of Vista, just so they can have the latest and greatest.

The other 95% of the people get a new operating system when they
purchase
a
new computer. I really don't see many going out to buy a new
computer
just
because Vista is here.

Microsoft is hurting themselves with these "new" restrictions.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/93896/93896.html?Ad=1

Vista Licensing Changes Alienate Tech Enthusiasts
by Paul Thurrott, (e-mail address removed)

On Friday, I wrote a lengthy article for the SuperSite for Windows
in
which I communicated Microsoft's licensing changes for Windows
Vista.
In tech enthusiast circles, these changes--which include limiting
the
number of times a user can transfer a Vista license from PC to
PC--
were the source of a lot of controversy. However, it seems to me
that
the new license, or End-User License Agreement (EULA), was really
just
a clarification of the Windows XP license, and my original article
reflects that. But based on a weekend's worth of email, it's now
clear
that a large and important group of Windows users will be
alienated by
the new EULA.

Here's the problem. In the XP EULA, users were granted the right
to
"move [XP] to a different Workstation Computer. After the
transfer,
[users had to] completely remove [XP] from the former Workstation
Computer." Many people read this clause and assumed they had the
right
to move a single retail copy of XP from PC to PC as often as they
wanted. Not so. "This clause was always aimed at very specific
circumstances," Microsoft General Manager Shanen Boettcher told
me.
"Someone has a hardware failure, but still wants to run that copy
of
Windows on the new machine, for example." The intention, Boettcher
said, was for users to perform such a new installation only in the
event of a catastrophic hardware failure. A single copy of Windows
is
licensed for use on a single PC.

The Vista EULA has been "clarified" to be more explicit. Now, a
user
can "reassign the [Vista] license to another device one time."
Microsoft told me that the actual process of transferring Windows
from
PC to PC hasn't changed since XP: You might be able to
electronically
activate Windows on the new PC, but if you can't, you can activate
Windows over the phone. "[Now] we let them move a license, while
being
clear about what the license is intended for," Boettcher said. "In
the
past, we haven't been super clear up front."

I've never been a big fan of the Windows EULA, but given the
inherent
restrictions in the document and the fact that Windows users don't
technically own their copy of Windows anyway (according to the
terms
of the license, you're granted only limited rights to use the
product), I felt the Vista license change amounted to a simple
clarification. Besides, it would affect a very small group of
users.
Last weekend, I heard from those users and I'm starting to see a
very
real problem.

The computer enthusiasts who are most apt to run into problems
with
the Vista EULA are the people who funnel the most money into the
PC
industry--the ones who buy expensive gaming PCs and regularly
upgrade
their systems. These enthusiasts are most likely to gravitate
toward
the most expensive Vista version, Vista Ultimate. In short, one
might
argue that Microsoft's new EULA will harm these people quite a
bit,
especially if their reactivation attempts are thwarted because of
licensing problems.

Koroush Ghazi, the owner of TweakGuides.com, argues that if even 5
percent of PC users are affected by this change, we're talking
about
50 to 65 million consumers. And again, these are the people
spending
money on the most expensive PCs and accessories they can get their
hands on. These people are enthusiastic about technology and would
otherwise be championing Vista. These are the people that
Microsoft
should be embracing, not alienating. And with mainstream PC makers
such as Dell and HP buying boutique gaming-PC companies to find
new
revenue streams among these increasingly important customers, it's
clear that Microsoft should be reaching out to them as well.

If you'd like to read more about this topic, both my original
article
and the excellent response from Koroush Ghazi are available on the
SuperSite for Windows.

Licensing Changes to Windows Vista
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_licensing.asp

 

[Daze N. Knights]

RoadRunner wrote:
I am posting like a mad man to INFORM others so they can also freak out

While I may be disappointed and disgusted with MS over the licensing
limitations they intend to enforce on an OS that they expect us to pay
US$400 for, I hardly intend to let them cause me to act like a mad man
and freak out, too. Bite my nails and tear out my hair, maybe, but . . .

 

[Alias~-]

Ok you know what bud ? go buy vista retail when it becomes available ,
Though just remember after you make more then 2 hardware changes don't go
crying to Microsoft because you can't install it any longer

Here a little clue , if you are familiar with this newgroup ? If I wasn't
right as to what I am saying don't you think about now that a MVP would of
corrected me ?
Thats because they know i am , Also I bet SOME are tick off
as well with this new EULA , Remember though this is how it is now , Which
means it can still be change by the time it becomes available , This is why
I am posting like a mad man to INFORM others so they can also freak out

I still don't see any mention of hardware, sorry. If you do, please
quote it.

Don't worry, I won't be buying Vista for a long time, if ever.

Alias

Yeah , read the Vista EULA , As to how it is now

http://download.microsoft.com/docum...lish_9d10381d-6fa8-47c7-83b0-c53f722371fa.pdf

I don't see anything there about hardware at all.

Alias

RoadRunner wrote:
You can reinstall the OS as many time as you like , it just whenever
you make more then 2 hardware changes that is where the problem is ,
After 2 you can no longer be able to install Vista
Have you got some documentation that verifies this?

Alias
Well I have all ready made about 3 hardware changes with xp. My
original
computer that xp was installed on quit. Bought a newer refurbished
computer
(better than the other). Recently about a week ago preparing for
vista, I
bought a dvd writer, but also discover my harddrive was up to par
(small)
also it was about to quit (making noise). I also purchased a bigger
new
harddrive! I am also considering of buying a new pci video card as my
old
one is not good for vista graphics only 32 mb pci, would like 128 mb
or more
instead. May even consider getting a new motherboard. I know I may
do all
that before I get vista and all will be fine. But I also do like
cleaning
out my computer of junk every now and again and format it. So I would
hope
it will allow me if I purchase windows vista home premium as that is
what I
was thinking of getting.
--
Robyn


:

Its not one dowload per computer , It one transfer over onto a
different
computer or if you make more then one hardware change , Its like if
you were
to change your motherboard because your original MB has die on you,
Well
then after that you can no longer make any more hardware changes , So
if
your second MB dies on you ? You wouldn't be able to reinstall Vista
with a
third MB , It never was like this with XP retail

I agree! I too have reinstalled windows xp various times throught
the
year,
mainly to clean up my harddrive. I also had to reinstall my retail
verison
of xp on to another computer once during the 3 yrs I have had it
because
my
other computer died. This past week on my new computer my harddrive
was
not
acting appropriate and it was a smaller harddrive. So thinking
about
someday purchasing vista, I bought a new harddrive and had it
installed.
I
also bought a dvd writer at the same time as I only had a cd burner.
I
was
also thinking of purchasing a new video card that is vista ready.
But if
this goes, vista only allow all customers only 1 download per
product key
retail version or other, I may consider not purchasing windows
vista, and
just stay with my windows xp.
--
Robyn


:

Microsoft is really shackling the computer enthusiast.

These are the very people who drive the hardware and software
market.
They
are the early adapters, and are the ones most likely to go out and
buy a
copy of Vista, just so they can have the latest and greatest.

The other 95% of the people get a new operating system when they
purchase
a
new computer. I really don't see many going out to buy a new
computer
just
because Vista is here.

Microsoft is hurting themselves with these "new" restrictions.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/93896/93896.html?Ad=1

Vista Licensing Changes Alienate Tech Enthusiasts
by Paul Thurrott, (e-mail address removed)

On Friday, I wrote a lengthy article for the SuperSite for Windows
in
which I communicated Microsoft's licensing changes for Windows
Vista.
In tech enthusiast circles, these changes--which include limiting
the
number of times a user can transfer a Vista license from PC to
PC--
were the source of a lot of controversy. However, it seems to me
that
the new license, or End-User License Agreement (EULA), was really
just
a clarification of the Windows XP license, and my original article
reflects that. But based on a weekend's worth of email, it's now
clear
that a large and important group of Windows users will be
alienated by
the new EULA.

Here's the problem. In the XP EULA, users were granted the right
to
"move [XP] to a different Workstation Computer. After the
transfer,
[users had to] completely remove [XP] from the former Workstation
Computer." Many people read this clause and assumed they had the
right
to move a single retail copy of XP from PC to PC as often as they
wanted. Not so. "This clause was always aimed at very specific
circumstances," Microsoft General Manager Shanen Boettcher told
me.
"Someone has a hardware failure, but still wants to run that copy
of
Windows on the new machine, for example." The intention, Boettcher
said, was for users to perform such a new installation only in the
event of a catastrophic hardware failure. A single copy of Windows
is
licensed for use on a single PC.

The Vista EULA has been "clarified" to be more explicit. Now, a
user
can "reassign the [Vista] license to another device one time."
Microsoft told me that the actual process of transferring Windows
from
PC to PC hasn't changed since XP: You might be able to
electronically
activate Windows on the new PC, but if you can't, you can activate
Windows over the phone. "[Now] we let them move a license, while
being
clear about what the license is intended for," Boettcher said. "In
the
past, we haven't been super clear up front."

I've never been a big fan of the Windows EULA, but given the
inherent
restrictions in the document and the fact that Windows users don't
technically own their copy of Windows anyway (according to the
terms
of the license, you're granted only limited rights to use the
product), I felt the Vista license change amounted to a simple
clarification. Besides, it would affect a very small group of
users.
Last weekend, I heard from those users and I'm starting to see a
very
real problem.

The computer enthusiasts who are most apt to run into problems
with
the Vista EULA are the people who funnel the most money into the
PC
industry--the ones who buy expensive gaming PCs and regularly
upgrade
their systems. These enthusiasts are most likely to gravitate
toward
the most expensive Vista version, Vista Ultimate. In short, one
might
argue that Microsoft's new EULA will harm these people quite a
bit,
especially if their reactivation attempts are thwarted because of
licensing problems.

Koroush Ghazi, the owner of TweakGuides.com, argues that if even 5
percent of PC users are affected by this change, we're talking
about
50 to 65 million consumers. And again, these are the people
spending
money on the most expensive PCs and accessories they can get their
hands on. These people are enthusiastic about technology and would
otherwise be championing Vista. These are the people that
Microsoft
should be embracing, not alienating. And with mainstream PC makers
such as Dell and HP buying boutique gaming-PC companies to find
new
revenue streams among these increasingly important customers, it's
clear that Microsoft should be reaching out to them as well.

If you'd like to read more about this topic, both my original
article
and the excellent response from Koroush Ghazi are available on the
SuperSite for Windows.

Licensing Changes to Windows Vista
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_licensing.asp

 

[Tom Porterfield]

I don't see anything there about hardware at all.

See section 15.a:

The first user of the software may reassign the license to another device
one time. If you reassign the license, that other device becomes the
"licensed device."

So you get one transfer to another computer based on that wording.

 

[Alias~-]

See section 15.a:

The first user of the software may reassign the license to another
device one time. If you reassign the license, that other device becomes
the "licensed device."

So you get one transfer to another computer based on that wording.

Um, the OP said that if you change two hardware components on one
computer, you will have to buy Vista again. THAT was what I was
referring to, not moving Vista to another computer.

Alias

 

[Tom Porterfield]

Um, the OP said that if you change two hardware components on one
computer, you will have to buy Vista again. THAT was what I was
referring to, not moving Vista to another computer.

The OP is referring to a change in motherboard which has typically been
defined as creating a new PC. It is unclear at this time exactly how
Microsoft defines new device. Do they mean a completely new machine, do
they mean enough hardware changes in an existing machine to trigger
activation, do they mean a new motherboard and/or CPU, or something else?
It is that uncertainty that is leading to much of the confusion you see in
this thread and elsewhere that this is being discussed.

It would be nice if MS would clarify exactly what they mean.

 

[Daze N. Knights]

It would be nice if MS would clarify exactly what they mean.

Supposedly, that's exactly what MS was doing *this* time.

 

[darcy]

How often is Apple OS X pirated?? Windows Licenses for XP the OEM copy
stated that it could not be transferred to a new computer. When you
purchase a Retail Copy you are paying an extra $100 for the OS ussually
so why limit where I can use it. If the are requesting that an OS can
only be used on one pc for the life of the operating system then we are
going to see the following scenario. You are required to register it is
now required if you have more than one copy of the OS then you are asked
why is there more than one OS in your name. Is there even any reason to
register with Microsoft??

darcy.

 

[Richard Urban]

Registration has always been voluntary and I believe it will remain so.
Validation is mandatory.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!