Buy a new computer with Vista OEM and you get two product keys

[Alias]

To me, the whole licensing thing is getting way out of hand.

Having multiple licenses makes sense for a company that has 10 employees and
needs a license per employee. Perfectly reasonable and understandable.

And tax deductible.

But for homes? It's ridiculous, especially considering the cost of any
semi-reasonable version of the OS.

And not tax deductible.

Alias

 

[Alias]

If a person can afford 3 computers..................................

And? How does that justify paying for three licenses when home users,
unlike business users, can't write it off as an expense and deduct the VAT?

Alias

 

[Eric]

And? How does that justify paying for three licenses when home users,
unlike business users, can't write it off as an expense and deduct the
VAT?

Alias

You can buy a computer for your home and write it off, but you have to
actually use it for business purposes a certain percentage of the time.

If you can afford to buy 3 computers for a home for one user, you can
probably afford to buy 3 OS licenses.
Most homes with 3 computers actually have at least 3 users. A typical home
has at least 2 adults and 1 child.
If one person is using all 3 computers, they should probably only have to
pay for one license.
If you need multiple licenses for multiple users in the same home, it would
be nice if they get a discount.
Some services offer discounts, others don't. If you have 3 cell phones in
one family, it costs much less than 3 individual cell phone bills. If you
buy 3 iPods for one family, you'll probably pay the same price for each.

I just hope that if this license hassle of trying to verify that every
computer has a license that is paid for is actually preventing piracy and
bringing in more money for MS, that they are spending that money developing
better products, even though most companies' profits are most likely not
spent on what we would like them to be. My government gives away billions
of dollars that I would rather have back in my pocket. I'd rather give away
my own money, if I had enough money to give some away.

 

[Alias]

You can buy a computer for your home and write it off, but you have to
actually use it for business purposes a certain percentage of the time.

Then you're using it for business. Home users cannot write it off.

If you can afford to buy 3 computers for a home for one user, you can
probably afford to buy 3 OS licenses.

Most people buy one computer at a time over a period of time.

Most homes with 3 computers actually have at least 3 users. A typical home
has at least 2 adults and 1 child.
If one person is using all 3 computers, they should probably only have to
pay for one license.

Not if you want to be in compliance with MS' scammy EULA.

Alias

 

[Eric]

Then you're using it for business. Home users cannot write it off.

If you are not using it for business, you may not actually even need one.
You might be surprised to hear that a lot of people actually still live
without computers in their home. I know at least a few of them. Businesses
write off everything, which you cannot do at home. Companies even write off
toilet paper expenses, and such things you might be able to live without in
your home but most people would rather not, so what was your point? It's a
good thing that you can't write off OS licenses for home use, or it's a bad
thing that you can't write off the toilet paper you buy for your home?

Most people buy one computer at a time over a period of time.

Most people can afford one OS license at a time over a period of time. As
was already mentioned, if you're buying 3 Vista licenses, you should be
getting 3 new PCs and probably have the money to spare. Also, no one is
forcing you to upgrade. I'm sure you would get a discount on multiple
licenses for one home if you had to pay for it like a service like a cable
bill, but I can understand that they wouldn't since it is a one time
purchase. If they didn't profit from OS license sales, they'd be a
nonprofit organization...

Not if you want to be in compliance with MS' scammy EULA.

Alias

I said they should only have to pay for one license, not that they do only
have to pay for one license. It is possible, though not legal, to set up 3
computers with one license. It is also possible to steal your neighbor's
cable...

 

[DanR]

Then you're using it for business. Home users cannot write it off.


Most people buy one computer at a time over a period of time.


Not if you want to be in compliance with MS' scammy EULA.

Alias

It's not uncommon for one user to own and use a desktop and laptop. (and use
them simultaneously)