Boycott Vista

[Guest]

If the Corporate Monsters who run Microsoft are going to fill Vista full of
spyware we should not support this as a whole. The so called EULA is
disturbing. I will not support it. My family will not as well. We are real
people. Not a souless, corporate entity that does not think or feel like
Microsoft. The Eula essentially means if I 'purchase a licsence' I can only
install it twice. So, if my PC dies twice, this means I have to purchase a
new copy of vista? Not happening. I will go to Linux I swear. What the
pinheads at Microsoft are not getting, is that anyone who purchases a Vista
License should only be able to use it on one PC at a time. A unique hardware
key is assigned. If it is installed on a new PC the old ID should be
cancelled in the system. Why not make people login to a site and actually
activate the new key themselves, with their unique login. There is a program
called Alcohol 120% that does this. The install is only good for one PC.
If I choose to reinstall 100 times, as long as it is one PC it should be my
decision. As of this writing I am urging everyone to not buy or support
Windows vista. Let Microsoft know how we feel about their unfriendly,
unwholesome, business practices.

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http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/co...164&dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.general

 

[Steve de Mena]

If the Corporate Monsters who run Microsoft are going to fill Vista full of
spyware we should not support this as a whole. The so called EULA is
disturbing. I will not support it. My family will not as well. We are real
people. Not a souless, corporate entity that does not think or feel like
Microsoft. The Eula essentially means if I 'purchase a licsence' I can only
install it twice. So, if my PC dies twice, this means I have to purchase a
new copy of vista? Not happening. I will go to Linux I swear. What the
pinheads at Microsoft are not getting, is that anyone who purchases a Vista
License should only be able to use it on one PC at a time. A unique hardware
key is assigned. If it is installed on a new PC the old ID should be
cancelled in the system. Why not make people login to a site and actually
activate the new key themselves, with their unique login. There is a program
called Alcohol 120% that does this. The install is only good for one PC.
If I choose to reinstall 100 times, as long as it is one PC it should be my
decision. As of this writing I am urging everyone to not buy or support
Windows vista. Let Microsoft know how we feel about their unfriendly,
unwholesome, business practices.

Microsoft interprets their EULA for Windows XP as
only allowing one transfer also.

Steve

 

[Dave Burns]

No big changes in the EULA since XP Jon.

I suggest you move to Linux today. You'll need the head start, because it
will take you and your family about 4 years to get up to speed on Linux.
Your children can teach you how to compile the kernel and its updates. They
can scout around for all the drivers for you, because you don't have time.
Your wife can teach you the command line interface, so you can get it to do
anything you want. You can teach them how to type all the various commands
for building up the IP stack and enabling the IP firewall config files. All
of you can work together to scout all the various web sites in order to
discover the dozens of security patches that you will need to find each
year - and then you can all work together to learn how to install them.
Then you can PURCHASE technical support contracts from Red Hat or IBM,
because there's so little open discussion on the Internet about how a LAYMAN
can maintain his or her own system, and because so much of what is out there
is written way over your head.

And don't count on any of your friends for support, because none of them has
ever even seen Linux. They don't even know how to pronounce it. And don't
call your ISP for support or setup of your Internet connection or your email
application, because they don't support any of the Linux desktop UIs.

And while you're learning how to install and configure Linux, accumulate all
that free (and highly reliable) software, and install and configure it all,
the next Windows operating system will have been released by Microsoft, and
the rest of the world will have moved on. And, we, the mindless sheep, will
finally be under total mind control by Microsoft, and Bill Gates will use us
all to finally achieve his life's ambition of making us all play solitaire
for the rest of our hopeless lives.

Those are your only options. Good luck.

-- Dave

 

[Alias~-]

No big changes in the EULA since XP Jon.

False. From
http://news.com.com/Week+in+review+Vista+furor/2100-1083_3-6127838.html :

"Under changes to Microsoft's licensing terms, buyers of retail copies
of Vista will be able to transfer their software to a new machine only
once. If they want to move their software a second time, they will have
to buy a new copy of the operating system. In the past, those who bought
a retail copy of Windows needed to uninstall it before moving it to
another machine, but there was no limit to how many times this could be
done."

Snip drivel.

Alias

 

[Dave Burns]

Those of us who use the OS to operate a functional computer system in order
to produce a constant flow of input and output from our computers do not
install our operating systems over and over on a multitude of PCs over a few
(3-5) years' time. We install it once and then use it until we replace the
computer (this is the vast majority or home and business users who represent
Microsoft's target market).

Those of us who test and install multiple times usually use the eval. or the
TechNet licenses, so that we don't worry about this issue. We are generally
well supported by newsgroups like this one, by all kinds of tech sites, by
Microsoft itself, etc.

Those of us who don't know what the hell we're doing technically and just
like loading and reloading Windows as a steady habit (and pretend we're
techies), onto all kinds of cheapo, off-brand hardware (and think of
ourselves as enthusiasts) are such an infinitesimally small grumbling group
that Microsoft probably doesn't give a damn what we think.

So flame on . . .

-- Dave

 

[Alan]

The XP retail EULA does not say that. The retail version in effect allows
unlimited transfers provided the OS is only on one machine at a time.
Microsoft have never interpreted it as one transfer as I have replaced my
motherboard and other components many times over the last few years with no
problems over activation.
Microsoft are only now saying that that they meant one transfer for XP since
the concern raised over the facct that "one transfer" is actually written
into the newly published EULA for Vista. They are simply indulging in "spin"
in an attempt to get them out of a hole.
Alan

 

[Alias~-]

Those of us who use the OS to operate a functional computer system in
order to produce a constant flow of input and output from our computers
do not install our operating systems over and over on a multitude of PCs
over a few (3-5) years' time. We install it once and then use it until
we replace the computer (this is the vast majority or home and business
users who represent Microsoft's target market).

Those of us who test and install multiple times usually use the eval. or
the TechNet licenses, so that we don't worry about this issue. We are
generally well supported by newsgroups like this one, by all kinds of
tech sites, by Microsoft itself, etc.

Those of us who don't know what the hell we're doing technically and
just like loading and reloading Windows as a steady habit (and pretend
we're techies), onto all kinds of cheapo, off-brand hardware (and think
of ourselves as enthusiasts) are such an infinitesimally small grumbling
group that Microsoft probably doesn't give a damn what we think.

So flame on . . .

-- Dave

You're changing the subject and being supercilious. The people you say
MS doesn't "target" are the same people who beta test their products.
Upgrading a computer is normal and there's nothing wrong or illegal
about it.

Alias

 

[Steve]

Here's a hypothetical, I have Vista installed on PC 1. I then upgrade my
computer, (M/B, CPU, HDD, and RAM) which makes it PC 2. PC 2 gets stolen. I
then build a replacement PC, which makes it PC 3. I still have a valid Vista
licence, but I'm not allowed to use it, I must buy another licence.



I suppose that seems fair, considering I am the wealthy individual that I
am.



stevek

 

[Dave Burns]

Upgrading a computer does not qualify as a transfer of the license. Please
read the EULA more carefully.

Most of the people in this newsgroup are not sufficiently technically
sophisticated enough to be taken by Microsoft as serious beta testers.
Simply figuring out how to get a beta copy of Windows Vista does not make
one a beta tester. One may be a self-proclaimed enthusiast - meaning you
like to install and re-install and tinker around with Windows. But the
complaints about how many times people need to reinstall Windows over the
course of a few years' time is really about an inability to troubleshoot
problems - so you reload Windows.

Re-installing your operating system on a computer with a new mobo is not a
transfer of the license. The guys who make the most wild-eyed ravings about
Microsoft the totalitarian world dominator don't know how to read and
interpret the EULA (most of them haven't even read the EULA - they just like
imagining horrible things and ranting in public), leave alone understanding
what a beta test program is or how to setup, prepare for, and respond to a
beta test. Those people are tinkerers and curiosity seekers.

Re-read the posts in this newsgroup. Tinkerers and curiosity seekers.

-- Dave

 

[Dave Burns]

What you would do is call the Microsoft clearinghouse and explain your
circumstance to the operator, who would help you activate your license.
Total time < 10 min.

I've had to do it twice, with Win2K and with Office XP. It's quick and
easy. That procedure's essentially the same for Vista.

-- Dave

 

[Alias~-]

Upgrading a computer does not qualify as a transfer of the license.
Please read the EULA more carefully.

Most of the people in this newsgroup are not sufficiently technically
sophisticated enough to be taken by Microsoft as serious beta testers.
Simply figuring out how to get a beta copy of Windows Vista does not
make one a beta tester. One may be a self-proclaimed enthusiast -
meaning you like to install and re-install and tinker around with
Windows. But the complaints about how many times people need to
reinstall Windows over the course of a few years' time is really about
an inability to troubleshoot problems - so you reload Windows.

Re-installing your operating system on a computer with a new mobo is not
a transfer of the license. The guys who make the most wild-eyed ravings
about Microsoft the totalitarian world dominator don't know how to read
and interpret the EULA (most of them haven't even read the EULA - they
just like imagining horrible things and ranting in public), leave alone
understanding what a beta test program is or how to setup, prepare for,
and respond to a beta test. Those people are tinkerers and curiosity
seekers.

Re-read the posts in this newsgroup. Tinkerers and curiosity seekers.

-- Dave

Do you think you're telling me something I don't already know?

Alias

 

[xfile]

(3-5) years' time. We install it once and then use it until we replace

the computer (this is the vast majority or home and business users who
represent Microsoft's target market

Kindly show your source of information including system breakdown
probabilities for replacing major components during the 5 years of product
life-time?

 

[Alias~-]

What you would do is call the Microsoft clearinghouse and explain your
circumstance to the operator, who would help you activate your license.

Maybe. The EULA says he can't.

Total time < 10 min.

On hold or speaking?

I've had to do it twice, with Win2K and with Office XP. It's quick and
easy. That procedure's essentially the same for Vista.

-- Dave

I didn't know that Win2K had an activation feature. Since when?

Alias

 

[Alias~-]

Kindly show your source of information including system breakdown
probabilities for replacing major components during the 5 years of product
life-time?

He can't. He's superciliously making it up as he goes along.

Alias

 

[robw]

I tell you, moving to Linux may not be the worst thing in the long term.

If you compare Linux's 'compiz'/'beryl' window manager to the Windows Vista
'Aero' window manager you'll really realize how far behind Linux windows
really is.

Beryl for Linux is the new version of Compiz.... I just tried Compiz
yesterday (old/under-development): It had something like hold down alt + use
the scrollwheel to make any window any level of transparent (see through
anything, not just the 'glass' titlebar). Also, as you drag the windows
around, the windows 'wobble, but they don't fall down' (like weebles, or
more like 'Jello'). The latter thing is a really cool effect. Multiple
desktops (the desktop rotates like a cube as you hold down something and
drag your mouse around!!!) are something to experience too. Very smooth and
very impressive. Vista is lightyears behind Linux.

-Rob

 

[Jerry P]

Someone needs to explain in simple words for "Jon" about EULA. Also if you
"Jon" need to install the OS more then a couple times over a few years of
service, learn how to fix the problem.
Jerry

 

[xfile]

I concur for a full boycott and encourage all lawsuits and calling your
local legislators until the company:

(1) Use WGA only when user is visiting their sites either for download
and/or for update,

(2) Revert license back to at least the same level as those given by XP.

Exclude the misfortune of system breakdowns, virus damages, damages from
misbehavior of someone (or your cat), these are just a few things are
arising:

(1) Due core CPU soon, or already, will be the main stream CPU,

(2) VGA: PCI Express will, if not already, replace ASP,

(3) HDD: SATA will soon, if not already, replace IDE

Plus Vista is a resource hunger OS, so if you put all these things together,
a power user are likely to upgrade any of the major components in the next
few years with probabilities much higher than those of XP.

So with the type of license given, one must to think and determine what will
be fixed and will not for the next 5 years or he/she will pay another copy.

Does it make any sense? Please leave out the piracy issue from here. It's
an excuse and irrelevant. Just to think if the above make any sense for
anyone to determine if he/she can't change any major components during the
product life time.

Finally,

I have the right to vote although I don't vote every time.
I have the right to bear firearm, but I don't.

I have many rights that I don't always exercise, but that does not mean I
shouldn't have the rights.

Using the same standards, I have the right to use the copy of license for
one machine, and delete it if I made a major component change, or due to
system fail and then use in another new machine.

It may not happen at all, but it should be the user's right.

Again, we will not be fighting for such if the company does not discontinue
earlier version so that we could have alternatives.

If the company does not stop support its OS competitors for other
applications and major utilities so that users switch over won't feel
extremely inconvenience due to such matter.

But with all those adding up, it is abusing its near monopoly power to force
users to accept its power and to invade the privacy.


--- Things to think ---
(1) Why the founder couldn't wait until this critical launch along with
Office 2007 and others and had to leave the company? OS is his baby and
first born.

(2) Why the company stop support to Apple and Linux for major applications?

(3) Why does it have to change the license?

 

[Steve]

I haven't got time to look it up now, but I'm pretty sure that a new, HDD,
M/B and Video Card, constitutes a new PC.



As for Linux, keep your eyes on Novel Suse Linux over the next few years. I
think a lot of people may get a surprise.



stevek

 

[Guest]

Steve you obviously have not read the EULA for XP. There's a funny myth going
around that says you have a right to transfer a single copy of Windows XP (or
any previous Windows version) to as many computers as you like, as often as
you like, and for any reason you like. This myth exists because the Windows
XP EULA is vaguely worded. It states, "You may move [Windows XP] to a
different Workstation Computer. After the transfer, you must completely
remove [Windows XP] from the former Workstation Computer." this EULA
implicitly allows any user to continually move a single copy of Windows XP
from machine to machine as often as they'd like.

 

[Guest]

Dave dave dave..YOU have not read the EUAL for Xp friend. As Long as I have
removed it from the previous PC according to the wording, I am free to
install it on a NEW PC. You are obviously ignorant of this fact. I feel
sorry for people who mouth off in here, and CLEARLY are clueless.....