Vista - pricing - EULA

[Richard Urban]

The EULA, as it is written today, goes back to the 1990's, when most
families had only one computer, if they had one at all!

What Microsoft must begin to realize is that many/most families, if they
have computers in their households at all, have multiple computers. The
operating system pricing and the EULA ***MUST*** be adjusted to recognize
this fact.

I was in a big box store the other week and saw an edition of SpySweeper
that was for THREE computer installations. It was less than double the price
for a box that was for a single computer installation.

I think it was a tremendously smart move on Webroot's part to do this. I
bought a box and have not yet even opened it. I plan to install it on my two
adult son's computers, along with my own (that's right - they don't even
have to be in the same physical household) - when my present subscription
runs out in January.

Microsoft, **please** - TAKE A HINT!

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You need to give this feedback directly to Microsoft.

 

[JustFYI ...]

Commercial (!) Linux like xandros allow multiple installations with one
license on as many pcs as you like to. same is true to the sell-version of
Mandriva Linux PowerPack.

Apple offers the OSX as a family-license for up to 3 and 5 computers at a
very cheap price.

Microsoft has ONE product with legit 3 installations and that is the coming
Office 2007 in the "Home and student edition" ( at least in germany one
license for 3 pcs ).

the Operating System, the base-core for all pc is limited to one pc for
sheer profit-greed.

With Vista even worse, you need not only a license for your PC alone, but
for each partition !
So you install two times vista on partiton1 for work and the same vista on
the same pc on partition 2 ( let's say for experimantal or games-things ) _
you must obtain a new vista-license for that!

Don't believe ? Here (from the RTM-EULA !) :

1.

b. License Model. The software is licensed on a per copy per device basis.


2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS. Before you use the software under a license,
you must assign that license to one device (physical hardware system). That
device is the "licensed device." A hardware partition or blade is considered
to be a separate device.

No comment.

 

[William]

Apple has recognized the fact that a great many families have multiple
computers. Their upgrade to Leopard has a 5 license family pack for $179.00
which is a great savings over having to pay $129.00 for each computer. It
looks as though other companies are coming to that realization.

I look for an advertisement campaign from Apple when Leopard comes that
would run something like this; Upgrade 5 Apple computers to Leopard in your
family - $179.00. Upgrade 5 Windows XP computers to Windows Vista Home
Premium - $795.00.

Which is more family friendly?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The XP EULA also requires a license for partitions. That is not new with
Vista although the EULA may be more clearly written.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Isn't that already available for Tiger?

Apple has recognized the fact that a great many families have multiple
computers. Their upgrade to Leopard has a 5 license family pack for
$179.00 which is a great savings over having to pay $129.00 for each
computer. It looks as though other companies are coming to that
realization.

I look for an advertisement campaign from Apple when Leopard comes that
would run something like this; Upgrade 5 Apple computers to Leopard in
your family - $179.00. Upgrade 5 Windows XP computers to Windows Vista
Home Premium - $795.00.

Which is more family friendly?

 

[JustFYI ...]

I can install as many copies of Xp on the same machine in different
partitions, they will all pass the activation both per phone and per
internet.

Vista wont pass activation if it is already installed on the same machine in
another partition

To clear things.

What the Eula says is meaningless to me, as the Microsoft EULA contains
items that will not pass any german law if it would go before a courtyard.

For the same reasons Microsoft is not allowed to bundle the OEM-Windows
Editions with hardware, they have to be sold in germany as full single
products with all rights concerning activation and re-installation for less
than a third price of the FPP.

 

[William]

I believe it already is available for Tiger.

Isn't that already available for Tiger?

 

[Mike]

Apple has recognized the fact that a great many families have multiple
computers. Their upgrade to Leopard has a 5 license family pack for
$179.00 which is a great savings over having to pay $129.00 for each
computer. It looks as though other companies are coming to that
realization.

I look for an advertisement campaign from Apple when Leopard comes that
would run something like this; Upgrade 5 Apple computers to Leopard in
your family - $179.00. Upgrade 5 Windows XP computers to Windows Vista
Home Premium - $795.00.

Given that the vast majority of Windows users get their new OS when they
purchase a new PC, the above is pretty meaningless. Most people wouldn't
dream of installing Windows themselves - they wouldn't know where to start.

Mike

 

[ANONYMOUS]

MS has aleady realised and recognised the fact that most people buy
their computers with OS preloaded so your message is non-sensical. EACH
COMPUTER NEEDS AN OS BEFORE IT CAN BE SWITCHED ON SO ONE LICENSE PER ONE
SYSTEM.

when it comes to Office, you already get two installations on each
RETAIL license and this is due to the fact that most people buy their
Office packages from high streets AND THEY NORMALLY HAVE A DESKTOP AND A
LAPTOP.

hth

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You have a point. But OS/X is not cheap.

Mac users are accustomed to buying a new edition of OS/X every year to
eighteen months and upgrading their systems. At $129 a pop. If you think
about it that adds up, even with a family plan. I have been upgrading OS/X
since 10.1 and it has cost me a little over $500. All this in about the
same time as I have owned XP Pro for which I paid $299. Since SP1 and SP2
were free, I have actually had to shell out more to keep up with OS/X than I
have XP Pro.

Even with comparable family plans it would work out that it costs more to
keep up with OS/X than with Windows.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Why all the caps?

Every Mac comes with OS/X installed. So how is MS any different from Apple?
You have to pay for OS upgrades a lot more often for a Mac than you do a
Windows PC.

We all know that the Office license allows for one desktop and one mobile
device (not necessarily a laptop, though).