5 computers -- is open license worth it?

[sterlingnorth]

Right now, I have 3 complete computers (two notebooks from Toshiba with
XP Home, one homebuilt box which I started building in 2000 with the
OEM Win2K, but has various component upgrades since...) I'm thinking of
building a new box, but in the meanwhile I recieved a Intel iMac as a
gift. Now, with me thinking of running Boot Camp on the iMac, I'm
thinking now might be the time to upgrade all along the line to XP Pro.
Now, if I want to buy 5 copies of Windows, I believe I can qualify for
open licensing, but is it worth it? They don't mention a price on its
licensing website, and worse yet, I can't really tell if I in fact do
qualify, as this is for personal use at home and when i start school in
a few months. All of its licensing pages make it seem as I must be a
business or a charity or something.

Do I qualify for licensing? Is there any benefit over buying 5 separate
retail packages? (I'll even take it if I can pay in monthly
installments versus one lump sum.)

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Give Microsoft Licensing department a call for a
definitive answer.
1-800-426-9400

Outside the US, the following page has links to local licensing sites
which include local customer service phone number
(http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/index/worldwide.mspx)

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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:


| Right now, I have 3 complete computers (two notebooks from Toshiba with
| XP Home, one homebuilt box which I started building in 2000 with the
| OEM Win2K, but has various component upgrades since...) I'm thinking of
| building a new box, but in the meanwhile I recieved a Intel iMac as a
| gift. Now, with me thinking of running Boot Camp on the iMac, I'm
| thinking now might be the time to upgrade all along the line to XP Pro.
| Now, if I want to buy 5 copies of Windows, I believe I can qualify for
| open licensing, but is it worth it? They don't mention a price on its
| licensing website, and worse yet, I can't really tell if I in fact do
| qualify, as this is for personal use at home and when i start school in
| a few months. All of its licensing pages make it seem as I must be a
| business or a charity or something.
|
| Do I qualify for licensing? Is there any benefit over buying 5 separate
| retail packages? (I'll even take it if I can pay in monthly
| installments versus one lump sum.)
|

 

[Bob I]

It's a little more involved than "buying a 5 pack"
http://www.cdw.com/webcontent/hubs/softwarelicensing/partner_msoverview.asp

 

[Ghostrider]

Right now, I have 3 complete computers (two notebooks from Toshiba with
XP Home, one homebuilt box which I started building in 2000 with the
OEM Win2K, but has various component upgrades since...) I'm thinking of
building a new box, but in the meanwhile I recieved a Intel iMac as a
gift. Now, with me thinking of running Boot Camp on the iMac, I'm
thinking now might be the time to upgrade all along the line to XP Pro.
Now, if I want to buy 5 copies of Windows, I believe I can qualify for
open licensing, but is it worth it? They don't mention a price on its
licensing website, and worse yet, I can't really tell if I in fact do
qualify, as this is for personal use at home and when i start school in
a few months. All of its licensing pages make it seem as I must be a
business or a charity or something.

Do I qualify for licensing? Is there any benefit over buying 5 separate
retail packages? (I'll even take it if I can pay in monthly
installments versus one lump sum.)

Theoretically, there is some value in going the Volume license
route but not for just 5 licenses. And the payment is in full
although using a credit card may mitigate the big lump sum into
smaller installments. The alternatives are to buy full versions
of the OEM version from a legitimate seller or the retail version.
A further alternative, depending on whether or not one qualifies,
is to piggyback on to a legitimate business that is willing to
extend its Volume License key, as a "favored" business associate,
partner, client, etc., if there are any unused licenses.

Re-assess your needs. For a home-builder or DIY'fer, the most
economic way of getting Windows XP is through its bundling with
a qualifying component, such as motherboard, CPU, and so forth.
And as a [future] student, there are also academic versions for
those who qualify.

 

[HeyBub]

Right now, I have 3 complete computers (two notebooks from Toshiba
with XP Home, one homebuilt box which I started building in 2000 with
the OEM Win2K, but has various component upgrades since...) I'm
thinking of building a new box, but in the meanwhile I recieved a
Intel iMac as a gift. Now, with me thinking of running Boot Camp on
the iMac, I'm thinking now might be the time to upgrade all along the
line to XP Pro. Now, if I want to buy 5 copies of Windows, I believe
I can qualify for open licensing, but is it worth it? They don't
mention a price on its licensing website, and worse yet, I can't
really tell if I in fact do qualify, as this is for personal use at
home and when i start school in a few months. All of its licensing
pages make it seem as I must be a business or a charity or something.

Do I qualify for licensing? Is there any benefit over buying 5
separate retail packages? (I'll even take it if I can pay in monthly
installments versus one lump sum.)

You may qualify for the Microsoft Partner Program. If so, 10 licenses (and
about $50,000 worth of other stuff) is available for $299/yr. There are
restrictions: these are not for resale, but can be used for training,
testing, or production work in your shop.

 

[Leythos]

You may qualify for the Microsoft Partner Program. If so, 10 licenses (and
about $50,000 worth of other stuff) is available for $299/yr. There are
restrictions: these are not for resale, but can be used for training,
testing, or production work in your shop.

The "Action Pack" is what you're talking about and it has specific
restrictions. The Action Pack is great for those that can use it.