a multi key vista

[Manda]

I have 4 pc's and really don't see teh point in buying 4 different os. I have
tried to talk to Tigerdirect and they can't give me a answer..they just keep
putting me on hold..is there anyone out there that can give me a answer. plus
i dont see why microsoft had to get so damn strict with this os...

 

[Slap]

You probably have 4 lights in your house.. I'll bet you buy 4 light bulbs
for them.

Anyway sell three of your computers or else buy them their very own op
system.

Now the insurance companies... I got two cars, can only drive one at a time.
They charge me like I drive both all the time... 24/7??

 

[Malke]

I have 4 pc's and really don't see teh point in buying 4 different os. I have
tried to talk to Tigerdirect and they can't give me a answer..they just keep
putting me on hold..is there anyone out there that can give me a answer. plus
i dont see why microsoft had to get so damn strict with this os...

What is the question? Whether you need 4 separate licenses? The answer
is yes. This has always been the case with Microsoft operating systems.

Alternatives:

http://distrowatch.com/

http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.mandriva.com/
http://www.opensuse.org/ (my favorite)
http://www.freebsd.org/


Malke

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have 4 pc's and really don't see teh point in buying 4 different os. I have
tried to talk to Tigerdirect and they can't give me a answer..they just keep
putting me on hold..is there anyone out there that can give me a answer. plus
i dont see why microsoft had to get so damn strict with this os...

The rule is quite clear. It's one copy (or one license) for each
computer.

There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's been in
effect on every version of Windows starting with Windows 3.1. The only
thing new, starting with Windows XP, is that there's now an
enforcement mechanism.

If yours is a retail version, not an OEM one, you can buy extra
licenses (see
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp). But it's
not generally a good deal. The problem is that Microsoft sells
additional licenses at only a small savings over the list price.
You're almost certainly better off just buying a complete additional
copies from a discount source.

 

[AlexB]

Ubuntu is a proven malware. I presume the rest of them should be similar.

They try to create an impression that they are manna dripping from heaven.
Take an umbrella and buy insurance for your computer before installing.

 

[AlexB]

Yep, basic economics has to be explained to some. I am sure he's got a much
better deal with car insurance that's why he is inquiring: based on
experience.

On a serious note for the OP:

You can perhaps save some cash, especially if you want to go for a high end
Vista if you purchase an annual subscription either for MS TechNet Pro or
MSDN Pro. I have no idea how much TechNet costs but MSDN pro cost $900.00
last year.

For that you will acquire the right to download and / or purchase for the
cost of S&H any OS of your choice with a license to install it on any
reasonable number of computers in your personal household or business.

On top of that you will have the right to equally download and/or purchase
for the cost of S&H other MS gems like SqlExpress (which is actually free I
believe for everyone), servers (that's actually OS), development tools, etc.

For the amount of stuff I download annually Vista Ultimate costs me perhaps
$30 per machine or so. hard to compute actually.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Your best route is to simply purchase additional licenses:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/addlicense/default.mspx

Too bad Microsoft did not continue the Family Licensing program.

 

[LonnyPaul]

As the Microsoft MVP noted, purchasing additional licenses from MS can
save you little money over full o/s. But, there are options that may
make it more palatable.

Let's say you are using Ultimate - which is awesome (as long as you
have the PC power for it). Full retail O/S is $389.99.
Upgrade is $259.99
But since Tiger offers a version intended for the system builder,
called the DSP, you can get it for $199.99.

For Vista Home Basic the price is about half as well. That can save
you some bucks.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

As the Microsoft MVP noted, purchasing additional licenses from MS can
save you little money over full o/s. But, there are options that may
make it more palatable.

Let's say you are using Ultimate - which is awesome (as long as you
have the PC power for it). Full retail O/S is $389.99.
Upgrade is $259.99
But since Tiger offers a version intended for the system builder,
called the DSP, you can get it for $199.99.

Tiger is not the only place you can get an OEM (or DSP) version. They
are widely available from many sellers.

However, anybody buying one of these should be aware that it comes
with the following disadvantages as compared to a retail version:

1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
installed on. It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold,
or given away (except along with the original computer. If the
computer dies, the license to use Windows dies with it.

2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.

3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them
with a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your
OEM; that support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or
you can get support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.

That first disadvantage is the most serious one. It can make it a very
poor deal for many people.