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Microsoft Authorized Refurbishers

Posted by michael on from the with-friends-like-these dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft has announced a program to 'establish a vibrant community of computer refurbishers across 133 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa who will be authorized to re-install its Windows operating system in donated pre-used PCs destined for schools, charities, non-profit organizations and under-served communities...Microsoft will provide re-installation of Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows 2000 Professional in over 18 languages. The refurbished PCs will be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and a special End User Licence as evidence of a legally installed operating system.' XBruticusX submits a story on news.com about the program.

28 of 367 comments (clear)

  1. In related news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    In related news,
    Slackware and Debian announced free operating systems for these refurbished computers...

    ...10 years ago.

    1. Re:In related news by magarity · · Score: 4, Informative

      "It is a shame that the refurbished computers can't be loaded with low cost Lindows"

      I'll tell you why they can't as until recently I worked at a nonprofit MAR member. People who run the local community center / church / shelter / adult day care / whatever nonprofit have NO IDEA about computers other than they've heard that Microsoft Windows is what they're supposed to have. At $5 per MAR license or $0 for [insert distro here] Linux, they'd rather pay. There is no amount of patient explaination that will change their minds, I assure you as one who has tried. They also want to pay for MS Office rather than OpenOffice for the same reason. Never heard of it? Don't want it and don't want to know! And all of my persuasions were based on cost and performance on older computers, not a fanatical open source agenda.

    2. Re:In related news by westlake · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Have you considered the possibility that all the staff, volunteers and clients who maintain these programs have years of experience with Windows at home and at work?

      No money in the budget for training and support, fundamentally no need, and, for related reasons, I've seen exactly zero interest in maintaining old, cheap, hardware.

      Here in town, the Civic Guild donated a gorgeous 19" LCD color monitor to the local library. Seniors manning the desk were tiring under the strain of using the new electronic check-out system. The aging CRT that had served well enough before went to the dumpster when no one would take it even as a gift.

    3. Re:In related news by Lothsahn · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Actually, I'm doing just that. I'm setting up a computer lab for an inner city homeless outreach with little or no computer budget. I've managed to scrape together 3 different computers, and for consistancy, I've used Knoppix for Kids on all of them.

      It comes pre-installed with educational software, word processing, web browsing, and if it ever fails, they just reboot the computer.

      On the other hand, I could use an illegal copy of windows, or even if I could get a legal copy of windows for free, it would contain little or NO educational software. Then I'd have to go pay for educational software, which isn't cheap.

      Linux has really been the best thing ever for these kids learning about computers. Many of these kids have never used a computer before at all.

      --
      -=Lothsahn=-
  2. smooth move by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful


    A way to fight back as all the recycled machined getting Linux/*BSD installed on them. That's why they're "giving" Win98 for the lower end machines.

  3. Windows 98? by phearlez · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How odd that they would officially support the installation of an OS that's been EOLed (WinME is the oldest 16 bit still supported, yes?)

    --
    Bad management trumps ideology - Show the world you want better leadership. http://www.timefornewmanagement.com
    1. Re:Windows 98? by phearlez · · Score: 4, Interesting
      My mistake/misstatement - the deployment of Windows98 has ceased in any endorsed manner and consumer support for a product extends 5 years past its initial date of availability - in the case of Win98SE that means the end of June.

      So I was close, and NOW say... odd that they'd support deploying something that's ABOUT to be discontinued in support.

      --
      Bad management trumps ideology - Show the world you want better leadership. http://www.timefornewmanagement.com
    2. Re:Windows 98? by anon*127.0.0.1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      True, but would you want to load WinXP on a P166 with 32 meg of RAM?

      There are old, refurbished computers in countries where there's not that much modern hardware to begin with. Wouldn't suprise me if some of those suckers were 486's. At least give Microsoft credit for realizing what sort of hardware they're dealing with.

      --
      I am NOT a man!
      I am a free number!
  4. Ready pitchforks! by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Funny

    Boy I can't wait to see how everybody takes this as a creative writing exercise to tell us about how this is proof Microsoft is evil.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
    1. Re:Ready pitchforks! by Avihson · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'll bite this bait:

      Why pay to reinstall the same OS that came originally on the system?
      If It came with 98, then it has a legal license for 98, no need to buy a new one. If I donate it to a charity, then I donate my license.

      If Some Evil Company manipulates the EULA to prohibit this act of charity, then I will just keep legal ownership of the PC and allow the charity to use My PC and My Licence to the OS as they see fit.

    2. Re:Ready pitchforks! by StormyMonday · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I see it a bit differently. Microsoft (and other software vendors) are desperate to maintain the fiction that shrinkwrap/clickthru EULAs actaully mean anything (they viiolate just about every common law principal of business agreements).

      By getting people to agree that they *need* to worry about the transfer of license when a PC is sold, they reinforce the idea that the EULA actually means something.

      It's a lot better on the ol' PR than suing an orphanage somewhere over EULA viiolations.

      --
      Welcome to the Turing Tarpit, where everything is possible but nothing interesting is easy.
  5. yay! by gl4ss · · Score: 4, Insightful

    so you'll essentially pay for the license for a computer that already most probably had a license!

    So I guess this makes sense for them(microsoft).

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    1. Re:yay! by Godeke · · Score: 4, Informative

      Since the license is non transferable (a rule I thinks needs legal review, but that's how it stands) this is an unfortunate necessity. I have worked with Microsoft in the past, and it was difficult to get a relicense approved, even for non profits. Instead they wanted to sell new licenses at a discounted rate, but still at a cost that makes the "donated" hardware a liability rather than an asset.

      --
      Sig under construction since 1998.
    2. Re:yay! by Fnkmaster · · Score: 4, Interesting
      I'm not clear how those sorts of license terms (license bound to not only a particular piece of hardware but also to a particular owner) complies with the first sale doctrine or would be ruled as a permissable sort of EULA in most, if not all, jurisdictions around the world.


      I realize that unfortunately rulings on EULAs here in the US have been mixed, but this kind of restriction is not a reasonable one. I bought the hardware, I paid for it, the software comes with it, you can't tell me when I sell the hardware that I can't sell the software. That's as outrageous as telling me that when I sell my car I can't transfer the "license" to run the engine control software because there was an EULA in addition to the standard sale contract when I bought my car.


      Just because the stuff behind the scenes is done by software and the software itself is protected by copyright law, doesn't mean that a person who bought it can't use it in the standard way it is intended to be used. This kind of use just plain old doesn't require accepting any license - mark my words, the first auto manufacturer that tries this shit will get torn to shreds by an angry mob, and I think it will take something like that to get the commoners to understand how they are being raped by companies like Microsoft.

  6. Old machines. by Godeke · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I think it is great there will be a legal way to bring these machines online: having worked with charities, often the limiting factor was the difficulty of getting Microsoft to relicense the software. Obviously, part of the motivation is to stem the use of free software, which was previously the only surefire way to remain legal. The implementation question that remains is how expensive the refurbishing services will be... too expensive and the practice of simply using an unlicensed copy of Windows or punting and using free products will continue.

    --
    Sig under construction since 1998.
  7. Are they going to offer a certification for this? by Ride-My-Rocket · · Score: 4, Funny

    MCOSR: Microsoft Certified Operating System Refurbishers?

  8. Nice deal for MS! by Greg@RageNet · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So Microsoft can get refurbishers to pay again for an operating system that was licensed and installed on the system in the first place, since 99+% of PC's ship with windows when originally sold? Nice deal.

    -- Greg

    --
    Slashdot, would a spell-checker for posting be too much to ask? It's not rocket science!
  9. Something Similar... by The-Dalai-LLama · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hasn't Linux had a similar program in place for a while now?

    The Dalai Llama
    ...nevermind...

    --
    My sig could be your sig!
  10. Microsoft does this type of thing all the time. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While it is nice that people will be getting functioning (well, to Windows standards at least) computers, it nauseates me to realize that when the people using the computers enter the global economic system they will be 'hooked' on Micro$oft. Ugh. This is just like M$ 'donating' software to schools. It is not altruistic in the least, they just want to develop future customers.

  11. linux and copyright by Datasage · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Considering that in several countries you can vist a shop to purchase a cd with windows longhorn even for less than $5. How many of these countries will actually care that you get a legal copy of windows with the referbished computer?

    I guess its Microsoft's futile attempt to stop linux from taking over the world.

    --
    In America we are imprisoned by our fear of them.
  12. We do this already - with Linux by timelady · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ItShare SA, Computer Angels, and Computerbank Australia, are related groups in Australia doing this already - but with Linux. We provide safer systems accordingly, without the need for third party software to be paid for - such as Open Office etc. Having a donated Windows box is all well and good (Now, I don't actually think its that good..;) ), but what about the unsupported nature of Win98, the virus and other security issues, and the need to pay for third party software (unless someone points them towards OO, and other FOSS for Windows...).

    --
    Nothing - well thats something.
  13. Already have a windows license? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Yeah, you're right. Donated PC's *SHOULD* come with the license to the (Microsoft, at least) OS that was installed on it. That's according to their EULA, at least.
    here's where reality kicks in

    Have you ever *SEEN* most "donated" PCs? You'll be lucky if they're even functioning, let alone coming with things like the Windows license, documentation, peripherals, etc. Take what you can get, if MS wants to make it easy for people to put legit versions of Windows on their computers... more power to them. It certainly isn't my favorite OS, but if people are going to install it (illegally) anyway, at least now they'll be able to do it legally.

    Some people are going to talk about how Free Software has been doing this for years; and they're right, it has. However if you're in a situation where you're fortunate to even have donated low-end computers, you're going to go with what your users know. And before you start in with the "thriving community of *nix users" etc...how many of those in the thriving community are willing to travel to some third world country to teach people how to use linux? I don't see the volunteers...

  14. Re:Beware..... by chris_mahan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    That's the lesson from Hollywood.

    A film like star wars will make 350M in US but 800M worldwide, even though they pay a smaller ticket price a the box office.

    Never under-estimate the purchasing power of 4 billion third-worlders with 20 cents each.

    But the lesson behind the lesson is when you make a movie that targets the third-world audience, the US public thinks it's crap (except LOTR of course, but there's wizardry at work there). Likewise by third-world standards, win98 is "good enough", since they have nothing.

    --

    "Piter, too, is dead."

  15. FAQ and Fees by David+Hume · · Score: 4, Informative

    so you'll essentially pay for the license for a computer that already most probably had a license!


    The Microsoft Authorised Refurbishers (MAR) Programme FAQ addresses this issue:

    Q Why is a programme required? Why can't the original owner donate the licence?

    A Typically, the original owner of a computer no longer has the original media and documentation when donating a computer some years after its original purchase. In accordance with Microsoft licensing rules, this original media and documentation would be required for the licence to be donated.


    As for the "adminstrative fee," the FAQ explains:

    Q Is there a charge to become a MAR?

    A No charge is made to join the programme but an administrative fee is charged to cover the management and supply of materials for the programme for each computer MARs wish to refurbish and reinstall a licence on. The fee is US$5.00 per computer.

    Q Are there any other charges to participate in the programme?

    A No - the only charge is the administrative fee of US$5.00 per licence.


    To answer other questions, people may want to check out:

    Microsoft Authorised Refurbishers Programme.

    --
    Only Women Bleed (Sex, Sharia remix)
  16. Spammer's heaven by Querty · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Just what we need, the entire third world running unsupported Microsoft OS'es. I thought Microsoft wanted to stop spam, not encourage it...

    Anyone going online using one of these computers in a year or so will find out the hard way what the term "HaX0red" means.

  17. Windows Update by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Who's going to do windows update on these? These PC's will be one big DDOS launcher and spam host for all the spammers and kiddies out there. There are three upcoming remote vulnerabilites in windows 2000 according to Eeye's upcoming vuln. page.

    http://www.eeye.com/html/Research/Upcoming/index .h tml

    I dont think these will be patched any time soon.

  18. Microsoft's Evil Will Kill Us All by pemulius · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Hello, I hate everything in the world. However, I bequeath my deepest hate towards Microsoft for their charitable deeds, because as with all entities that spawned from Satan's uterus (bet you didn't know Satan was a woman), every good deed comes with vile ulterior motive. I won't be surprised if most of the users declare Jihad on the world, after having exhausted their capacity to restart the computers on an absurdly frequent basis.

    So cheers to Microsoft for its relentless, evil ambitions. And remember, when the world is inevitably taken over by robots, the robots commiting the hate crimes will without a doubt be powered by the Longhorn OS.

  19. Re:What about Knoppix? by eclectro · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As the parent poster pointed out, many if not most people have made up their minds unconditionally that they want windows.

    And in a sense, you can't blame them. You walk into any department store and you see a wall of windows applications.

    Not linux apps.

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"