R. McCarty said:
People are just ticked that they can't buy a single copy and use it
on every PC they own, like in previous versions.
Microsoft just uses WPA/DRM to limit it's use to a single computer.
After years of a "Free Ride", many folks can't get over the end of
that. I still encounter people who won't buy/use any software that
uses "Activation".
And I think the major point of the activation system was to bring the
point home to people. Ten years ago the house with more than one
computer was a rarity. Now the house with less than two or three is
almost as rare. And people got the idea that their one copy was
available to install on every machine in sight, without realising it
wasn't. Hence WPA to bring them up short, in the belief that *most*
people are honest and will not tell deliberate lies, without any serious
inconvenience to those making legitimate changes
Which is not to say that I entirely agree with the licensing policy.
There ought to be a means for families to get multiple licences at a far
bigger discount than the derisory one offered, and without having to do
it by applying that to a purchase of a new box. This would recognise
the saving on manufacture, distribution and third party markups
(remembering that the retailers were not involved in the previous
freeloading, and got nothing out), and most importantly that the
additional licenses would carry no additional support. This I think
would make better commercial sense, too, and that is a view I have
pressed at top level - but I am not holding my breath.
