"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."


HOW THE $(%&#($% does this work for people who upgrade their system every 6months to 1 year. .... or even every 2 years.

Vista is so expencive as it is, thats a ripoff.... I thought they were trying to stop piracy? This will Guarantee it.


Source CNet News.com

Continued.... Here

Home Basic

Can't copy ISO to your hard drive
Can't install to a network server
You may share files, printers, etc with a maximum of 5 network devices
You MAY NOT use Remote Desktop, only Remote Assistance
You MAY NOT use in Virtual PC | Virtual Server |VMWare

Home Premium

Still can't copy ISO to your hard drive
Still can't install to a network server
Sharing for 10 network devices
Still no Remote Desktop
Still no virtual hardware
5 simultaneous Media Center Extender sessions (up from 3 in MCE 2005)

Ultimate

Can copy ISO to your hard drive
Can install to a network server (I'm assuming for Terminal Server scenarios)
Sharing for 10 network devices
Can use Remote Desktop
Can use in a virtualized environment, BUT
Can't use DRM-protected content if Vista Ultimate is the "guest" OS
Can't use BitLocker if Vista Ultimate is the "guest" OS
5 Media Center Extender sessions

Some parts of the EULA are vague and it's hard to figure out what they mean. And Microsoft employees seem to be providing conflicting interpretations.

With regard to device license the Vista EULA states: "The first user of the software may reassign the license to another device one time". It's not very clear what would count as another device. Presumably a mobo change but possibly just swapping out the HD. In the XP Pro EULA it states: "You may move the Product to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer, you must completely remove the Product from the former Workstation Computer." Some MS employees are claiming that the XP EULA meant one time so the new Vista EULA is a clarification but I doubt that's the interpretation that would stand up legally. What's practical to enforce is another matter. If your mobo dies and needs replaced are they going to deny you validation? How do they tell failed mobo replacements from users who just say their mobos failed?

You can download the Vista EULA as well as others here: http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/.

I read an article at Extreme Tech on this subject. In the end it will be Microsoft that determines what constitutes reassigning the license to another device.

This could make Linux a much more attractive alternative and that would be great. Look what AMD did to Intel. Core 2 Duo were not priced that low because Intel loves us.

OMFG... there is no way I will buy Vista if I have to buy a new copy for every upgrade.. I have gone threw 3 different PC's in the last 9months... If Linux can let me play games and use the the same programs that I do right now.. I will move with pleasure.. or I will just stick with XP pro tell it is truely dead!.

Yep. Certainly seems like the way to encourage the efforts of those who would be most likely able to do so - the tech savy and enthusiast - to direct those efforts to pirate the software. Of course, they'll probably withold any updates and start shooting out lawsuits and maybe malware, but then that's nothing new.

But then, hey, it's not like you actually bought something when you paid, say, £200+ for a copy of that OS. You simply got a license - you don't own anything for that money.

I am running RC2 right now. Besides the interface, there is not much meat on the bone here. The major hurdle is hardware upgrade cost if you intend to use the "Aero" interface. XP is fine for at least another 2 years or more. As far as licensing, you should be able to activate by calling Microsoft in the event of hardware replacement. I know I have with XP occasionally and have never had a problem with activation. Problems like this are why I look at alternatives such as Linux and OSX.

You are allowed to under the license of XP, to reactivate your license as long as its not an OEM, and not installed on other machines.

What is is saying is that you have up to 1 other change of hardware before you must buy a new OS. 1..2...5 who cares? That shouldnt be the case.

It shouldnt matter. The enthuisiast will always be looking to upgrade his or her computer. I'm getting lazy, though. I work on computers all day and I dont want to touch them when I get home. I am contemplating buying an oem box as my next pc, excuse my blasphemy.

And still some people think that Microsoft is not evil but a good company that help the world



**** you microsoft!

Asside from copy protection.... i like most of what microsoft does. I would HATE to have had Mac be the crown leader in the tech world..




PUKE

Haha.. I guess Big Bill Gates needs another 10billion to be added to his bank acount. I bet he is saving up to buy a small country. I wonder what would he name it?

Well, a good thing is they do see you as their cash cows (like tobacco company wants to keep the smokers alive because the smokers are their cash cows) so they will implement various features or flaws to force you to upgrade the OS every release.

8O

I wonder how long does it take the dark side to break the copy protection scheme for such a popular stuff

I know from many things he has done, as well as what he and others around him have said, he has trouble giving such large ammounts of money away. This seems stupid, but when you consider the greeedy noses of the government,... it makes sence. He isnt a spending whore either, and doesnt give "much" (roflmao) to his kids. Overall, I dont consider him as that greedy... but he also doesnt want the government to keep 90% of what he donates.

Haha.. I guess Big Bill Gates needs another 10billion...

Well, Steve "Linux is communism" Ballmer is running the show now. What all the license stuff demonstrates is that the whole Microsoft license model is a real pain and out of touch with the needs of a lot of users. You don't run into any of the device transfer and virtualization license nonsense with open source. IBM, Novell, HP, Sun, Oracle are all running with a different business model but I'm not sure Microsoft is capable of changing. They're a dinosaur. It may take a while but the big asteroid from outer space is on its way...

That is true. We can not blame Big Bill Gates anymore. I havent seen to much of Steve's policy in action, but if this is a start.... then we look forward to licensing hell.

Buy Vista 1 user 2 device license. Want to add a 3rd device, such as a hard drive, then you need to upgrade to WinVista 3 device license for only $199.