Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Followup On Paying Twice for Windows

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the nice-to-see-corrections-made dept.

4/3PI*R^3 writes: "In a recent /. posting Paying Twice for Windows we read about how Microsoft contracts obligated businesses to pay twice for Windows if they used disk imaging software. Well, it appears there has been some backlash and Microsoft has modified their position (MS-Word doc) on disk imaging software. At least for Select and Enterprise customers. This still does not help the small shops that can't afford these licensing options."

2 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Won't help us at all... by weave · · Score: 5
    At the college I work at, we get the new PCs in by the dozens, order NT workstation and CAL via our select agreement, reformat windows 98 off of it, then apply NT.

    It's cheaper for us to buy via Select than to allow the computer vendor to pre-load NT on the box, but we are still buying two OSes for each box. Windows 98 which is never booted (the tax) and then NT 4.0.

    You know those SPA studies that claim loses from software piracy? They should conduct a study about how much companies waste on software licenses that are never used.

    Along those lines, it's often really hard to keep track of various upgrade paths for different software packages (not limited to Microsoft) so large companies usually just don't bother. Need a new version, just buy it at regular pricing... More waste...

    That's the biggest reason I love Linux stuff and use it whenever I can. One less licensing headache and administrative nightmare to worry about...

    Ah, a world where I am not liable for my user's actions, where I don't have to run around and conduct audits on PC desktops to ensure license compliance...

    Never happen... :(

  2. Yeah, right... by BrK · · Score: 5

    I like the following line from their document:
    Microsoft is always looking at ways to improve the simplicity, flexibility and fairness of its licensing practices in response to evolving customer needs and improvements in technology

    It seems like the document should also contain a line like:

    Microsoft is always look at ways to improve our bottom line while raping you blind for the use of our mediocre products. We admit we got caught this time, but should the opportunity arise in the future we will gladly come at you, sans lubricant, again.

    And they wonder why so many people in-the-know are such rabid supporters of the open-source/GPL/linux concept.

    --
    -This sig intentionally left blank