Submitted by A Microsoft representative confirmed that users may buy an OEM copy of Windows Vista at a substantial discount, provided they adhere to the terms of the license – which, incidentally, may mean providing support for family members. In addition, users should still be subject to the same familiar re-activation restrictions as users of a retail Vista license and Windows XP, a spokeswoman said. Users can alter the PC’s hardware substantially, but they will be forced to reactivate – not repurchase the OEM software – if they do, she said. Elsewhere, AppScout wonders, is Vista relevant?
This didn’t realy answer any questions.
It does, sort of. They’re saying ‘users’ or ‘system builders with an annual production of ‘1 system” can legally use OEM licenses.
Without reading the System Builder license myself, the main thing they seem to be saying is you can’t go to Microsoft for support. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve called MS once in the 12 years I’ve been working with Windows, so that’s not a huge deal to me.
Originally they said that with OEM versions, changing the motherboard required a new Vista license (which sucked), in the beta NG’s they hinted that changes were coming, but such changes were never deliniated.
It’s still vague. It sounds like Brown and the EULA contradict each other. The EULA says complete system, but acording to the article Brown says that is not the case.
Well, that aside, I’m pleased with this. I’m much happier dropping $119 on the OEM than I am $239 for a boxed copy since all I want to do is use it for software compatibility testing.
As I build my own systems I really like the option of OEM licenses. Building your own system is more often than not more expensive than buying a package from Dell or HP and if I can cut out some of the price of the OS, I’m happy.
Mind you, these days I mainly run Linux but it’s nice to know the option is there.
As for the relevance article, he really isn’t saying much. Basically, yes and no so no news there.
One interesting point he does make is the fear of MS pulling the plug on XP. Seems to me fear has become the main marketing tool for corporation and government alike.
Microsoft is a software company. The problem with being a software company is that software is a product that never gets old and needs to be replaced.
Vista is better than XP, but many of the things that are better about Vista aren’t apparent to the user, such as all the new frameworks for application development.
People are going to upgrade to vista, not because they fear Microsoft stopping update of XP. But because of all the new programs that will rely on the frameworks built in to vista.
I don’t agree with that at all. You statement is an absolute and frankly how on earth could you know what everyone else on the planet is thinking?
I have already fielded numerous questions by end users on the life time of XP now that Vista is out. People actually are worried that security and system updates for XP will end if not today then sometime real soon.
I have yet to be asked about the application frameworks though. Maybe that’s because most people don’t even know WTF an application framework is!
As for which software would use these new frameworks, the only area I can see that cannot be implemented on XP is DX10 and if John Cormack says it’s not at all interesting right now, you can bet your PC on it remaining that way for quite some time.
A difficult choice…. Let’s see:
– Vista Ultimate full version = 575 €
– Vista Ultimate OEM version = 199 €
Alternatives:
– *BSD = 0 €
– Linux (Any flavor) = 0 €
– Mac OS X 10.4 (For Mac or Mac compatible plateform) = 129 €
Then, it’s probably the right time to ask yourself:
What will I do with Vista – that I can’t do on alternative OSes – that will make me spend so much money ?
Don’t know for you since user requirements tend to be very diffrent, but IMO Vista has just nothing to justify its price.
Edit: Vista OEM Price.
Edited 2007-01-29 18:46
– Vista Ultimate full version = 575 €
– Vista Ultimate OEM version = 575/2 = 287,5 €
Windows Vista Ultimate OEM is USD 199 (EUR 199 in Europe).
Windows Vista Ultimate OEM is USD 199 (EUR 199 in Europe).
Edited, thank you.
What will I do with Vista – that I can’t do on alternative OSes – that will make me spend so much money ?
For my job?
Everything.
For my job?
Everything.
For YOUR job, ok but for instance I work for a huge Car manufacturer (the 2nd biggest in europe)in europe (France) and half of the installed base are non-windows machines and users are very happy with Sun, SGI and HP workstation running their native OSes. Now the windows machines are only used for desktop use (you know word, excel…) and by the end of 2008 (sure you know it takes time to migrate 10000+ PCs)we will have migrated to a custom/specialized OpenSUSE OS. Feedback from users who test this “new OS” show that 85% of them don’t want to go back to windows… The 15% remaining only lacks some apps that are not available on Linux…
Now you didn’t not answer the question !!!
What feature (or technology) brought to you by Vista (or XP whatever) will make you spend so much money ?
Please don’t answer apps since apps are not part of the features of any OSes…
If you consider the price/feature ratio brought to you by Vista then it’s clear that any alternatives is less expansive… You need some “Windows only” apps in a corporate environment ? You take Terminal Server edition and you install clients on any Linux/*NIX machines. That way you’ll save so much money. My company will save millions a year in licenses while increasing productivity, security and reliability.
Microsoft Empire is at its apogee, decadence will follow and finally they’ll disappear just like any other empire on this planet before them. (feel free to replace microsoft by any “empiric” entity in the previous sentence).
Now that is what I call well put!
I must say though that I very much doubt that MS will disappear anytime in the next 100 or so years. A company that big and profitable usually ends up restructuring if the proverbial hits the fan.
What will I do with Vista – that I can’t do on alternative OSes – that will make me spend so much money ?
If people don’t feel Vista is worth paying for they will stick to their current Window edition, not migrate to a alternative OS.
In Brazil it is very common to see Microsoft “partners” trying to sell OEM copies as a try to sell windows licenses, which has a very expensive price (specially boxed versions) when compared to the mean of national salaries.
They use the trick of sell OEM licenses coupled to CPU coolers, cheap mouses and keyboards and even cheap network cards. These “partners” don’t care if these licenses will be considered legal or not. They only want to sell some licenses in a land where almost all windows copies are pirated.
OEM licenses should be banned. The acquisition of any operating system should be optional and the price should be unique, independent of hardware acquisition. It is abusive the clause who prohibits reselling of an OEM license.
The acquisition of any operating system should be optional
You got that right!
Windows is relevant as long as people do not know that Windows is no longer relevant.
The key words here are IF THEY ADHERE TO THE LICENSE.. Now from what i remember of the previous windows license that i read. You could only use the OEM version **IF** it was a brand new computer. So, don’t expect to be legal with microsoft if you are buying it for an older computer. And you better save your receipts for the computer parts and your OEM windows copy so you can prove that they were bought together. And if you upgrade a major piece of the computer, or get a new computer, you pretty much have to get a new copy of vista. because oem copies are not transferrable from from an old computer to a new computer.
The major 3 reasons that i won’t be buying vista, is one, the licensing is just too limiting, you cant transfer your copy of windows, because through legal mumbo jumbo they try to tie it to a specific device. you paid for it, why should they be able to do this? oh wait, they can because it’s their os. Two, the price is just too expensive. and three, I am against DRM, and do not like the fact that vista requires you to buy a new videocard and monitor so that they can further lock people out of their computers. They just pass the cost of implementing this DRM system onto the consumer. GEE thanks Microsoft i really needed to buy a whole new monitor and videocard at the same time.
I’m just glad that i am not stuck with windows. thanks to all the great linux distros out there, especially ubuntu.
I’m surprised they didn’t explain the change of motherboard issue which many have queried.
Sure changing a video card and some RAM is straightforward enough, but if my motherboard dies does this mean my PC really becomes a ‘new’ one, hence requires me to repurchase Vista OEM?
So in effect, this article does not answer really anything.