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Microsoft Will Allow Vista Reinstalls
Claus Valca writes "I just spotted over on the Windows Vista Team Blog the news that the Windows Vista retail licensing terms are being revised. Looks like PC home-brew system builders have been let back into the Vista party!" From the article: "Our intention behind the original terms was genuinely geared toward combating piracy; however, it's become clear to us that those original terms were perceived as adversely affecting an important group of customers: PC and hardware enthusiasts. You who comprise the enthusiast market are vital to us for several reasons, not least of all because of the support you've provided us throughout the development of Windows Vista. We respect the time and expense you go to in customizing, building and rebuilding your hardware and we heard you that the previous terms were seen as an impediment to that — it's for that reason we've made this change."
this is a good thing no two ways about it. Sure, they shouldn't have limited the OS in the first place, but the fact they are so quickly changing this is a step in the right direction. Given what I have just read about the EULA, I won't be touching Vista, but for those that seriosly need their game fix and DirectX v10 is where it is at for them, at least they can buy that new 6 gajillion dollar gfx card (or 4 of them) and go nuts without worrying their Windows install is going to puke on them. I'm no MS fan and even less of a Windows fan, but when something is done right, it is best to applaude the move. So, I applaude you MS for doing the right thing, and before Vista is officially released!
Funny how every comment was almost exactly like "Thanks, thats great!" with only one guy bringing up any kind of discussion.
... actually I do most of my development nowadays in linux under the current contract ). It is a matter of preference, that's all it boils down to. When you work in a world that deals in Microsoft and become accustomed to those tools, some of them are actually damn good tools, and you can pry them from my cold, dead, fingers :P
Whats to discuss? They announced that they are changing the reinstallation restrictions.
If (hypothetically speaking) the sysadmins had been blocking slashdot at your place of work work, and then unblocked it, would you say thanks or go on a tirade of why they should have done it differently in the first place? Which is more productive?
Not trying to start a flame here, but it was strange seeing people who -like- Microsoft!
I feel more productive in Word than Open Office. I am more productive in Visual Studio than gvim/kdevelop (although I am quite capable in gvim
OEM is, and has always been tied to the hardware you buy it with. So technicaly the license doesn't allow you to change PC. But OEM licenses are like 1/3rd the price when bought on your own, and abysmal (like, 10$ or something?) if you get it as part of something like a pre-built Dell. So if you get a 100$ OEM license when getting a new computer, then, while Vista's internal mechanism will (most likely) let you install it all over like if it was a full version (since technicaly, it is a full version), you're not following the license agreement (if said license agreement is binding or not, is NOT part of the scope of this post, so lets not go there).
This has always been that way since at least the days of Win95, and is the terms of virtual all OEM commercial closed source software licenses that bundle software with hardware. The good news (assuming you even CARE about following the license to the letter), is that usualy these licenses (when you buy the one at like 100something bucks while purchasing hardware) only tie you to one piece of hardware. So in my case, I got my OEM windows with my computer in parts, and it is tied to my motherboard. I'm not changing my board anytime soon, so I'm ok.
Now, if you buy a Dell or something, and complain about the terms of the OEM license, you're being a moron. The deal with pre-built PCs basicaly give you Windows for 10-15$, -if that-. So you'll have to pay for it 10 times before you even reach the price of a "sold separately" OEM license. If the terms are not OK, you just go and buy the full version. If thats not OK, you just install Linux. If thats not OK, just bitch at Microsoft some more, since, obviously from this article, it works.
The original restiction was bad, this new change is good. Kudos to Microsoft for doing that. But I have no illusions that they would have made that change without all the "bitching", and I'm glad consumer pressure still workes sometimes. I was considering not upgrading because of that restriction, atleast holding off until after the next major upgrade, now with this change they may still see my money while my current hardware is still in use. Now if they actually thought that lisence term was going to stop any kind of piracy they were deluded. The two possible reasons I can imagine for that original clause would be stupidity (they didn't really think it through) or an attempt to extract more money from consumers (by making them pay again when doing a major upgrade).
- We are the slashdot. Resistance is futile. Prepare to be moderated -
Call me a cynic but I think the whole thing was a PR stunt.
1) Announce draconian unbearable restrictions on your new OS that you don't want to pass. Include other only slightly less harsh restrictions that you do want to pass (DRM).
2) Wait for people to complain loudly about the unbearable restriction.
3) Change unbearable restriction to something more reasonable. Keep other restrictions (DRM)
4) If anyone complains, claim you've compromised.
5) ????
6) Profit!!!!!
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer