Vista Licencing (if true)

[SuperSparks]

I'm finding this a bit hard to believe, but if true, then home builders and frequent modders are going to need to think carefully about buying Vista:

http://www.techweb.com/wire/software/193300234

[liam858]

That is pretty bad, and if it is true, and if it applies to all variations (Ultimate inparticular) then you're gonna have to shell out a lot to keep it.....and you wonder why there is piracy.


Liam

[bistro]

We are Microsoft...........We......Must.....Have.....Control.....Resistance is futile.....


If this holds true, then the only way it will become "practical" for home builders/modders is for them to put it on a machine that has today's state-of-the-art hardware on it (future-proofed in other words)....one that will not need upgrades for quite a while.

.....and you wonder why there is piracy.

Good point...I do not advocate piracy, but I can see why this kind of foolish stringency just encourages it.

[ProfessorU]

The article was corrected today.

Update, Fri. Oct 13, 11:00 am: The initial version of this story erroneously mischaracterized the way Microsoft's Vista license applies to user of the OS in a virtual machine, stating that there was a blanket ban in effect. This is incorrect; we regret the error. The updated version of this story removes all references to a VM ban, including a change in the headline, removal of a virtual machine reference in the lead paragraph, and the deletion of the fifth and sixth paragraphs of the original story.

[Train]

This part is what just may bite us.

[Update] Vista Licenses Limit OS Transfers


By Gregg Keizer, TechWeb Technology News

[Update, Fri. Oct 13, 11:00 am: The initial version of this story erroneously mischaracterized the way Microsoft's Vista license applies to user of the OS in a virtual machine, stating that there was a blanket ban in effect. This is incorrect; we regret the error. The updated version of this story removes all references to a VM ban, including a change in the headline, removal of a virtual machine reference in the lead paragraph, and the deletion of the fifth and sixth paragraphs of the original story.]
Microsoft has released licenses for the Windows Vista operating system that dramatically differ from those for Windows XP in that they limit the number of times that retail editions can be transferred to another device.

The new licenses, which were highlighted by the Vista team on its official blog Tuesday, add new restrictions to how and where Windows can be used.

"The first user of the software may reassign the license to another device one time. If you reassign the license, that other device becomes the "licensed device," reads the license for Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, and Business. In other words, once a retail copy of Vista is installed on a PC, it can be moved to another system only once.

[Steve R Jones]

And in the for what its worth catagory - I've been unsuccessful in getting an image of Vista to work.

[104456]

Yes I had seen recent mention of the last paragraph refering to limited access on another forum.I believe it will allow only one hour increments per day of limited browsing or data access before the system shuts down/logs off again.
And the issues with lack of third party software support may be down to design to prevent system instability.

[lgbpop]

Microsoft is within their rights to do whatever they want with their product.

I am within my rights to point out to everyone I know that Vista will not be worth purchasing if the retail license is so limited. I'm enough of a stinker to mail Bill Gates a copy of Ubuntu and tell him that this is now what I recommend to my customers for ease of use ( ), transferability ( ) and price. ( )

What an idiotic decision! Only in a perfect world is there no theft. In this world, people steal free stuff. I think this is the law of diminishing returns in action. MS will hurt themselves in the eyes of many to prevent the actions of a few.

[SuperSparks]

Well I've pretty much given up on Linux as much of an alternative, Linux fanboys are their own worst enemies. Now OS X, on the other hand, if Apple were to release that for PC's, could lead to some real competition for Windows (which IMO would be good for everyone, including MS - competition is always a good thing). And look how reasonable the licence termas are for OS X too.

[bistro]

MS will hurt themselves in the eyes of many to prevent the actions of a few.

Unfortunately, I don't think they really care. They know that their OS is on 95% of the world's computers....they are in like flint and nobody can do anything about it. They also know that no matter what, Vista is going to be in very high demand. People were yelling and screaming about XP's licensing requirements and yet....here it is; selling like hotcakes (or is it "Pop Tarts" now?).

I was considering taking the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician course and exams (for XP).....but I guess I'll just have to wait for the Vista version now. I think the first lesson of THAT course will be "How to Talk People Out of Arguing About The Vista License Requirements and Just Buy It Anyway".

[jmwills]

I wonder what would happen if you ghosted an image before you transferred and then put it back on the original machine?

"This ain't good."

[104456]

A little info for those not part of the present Vista program who may already be aware of these features
Windows Software Protection Platform

Let's call it WGA Plus, shall we? The Plus means this software, which is baked into Windows Vista, is even more aggressive about detecting and blocking what it considers software that is running with unauthorized license keys or has been tampered with. And woe be unto you if you get snagged in the WGA - sorry, SPP dragnet while running Vista. If that happens on a premium version of Windows Vista, you'll first lose access to key features, including the Aero interface, ReadyBoost performance enhancements, and Windows Defender antispyware detection. Eventually, if you don't deal with the problem, the measures get more severe and you're kicked into "reduced functionality mode":

....................
By choosing "Access your computer with reduced functionality," the default Web browser will be started and the user will be presented with an option to purchase a new product key. There is no start menu, no desktop icons, and the desktop background is changed to black. The Web browser will fully function and Internet connectivity will not be blocked. After one hour, the system will log the user out without warning

................
Corporations using Vista with VLKs will have to activate them, using either a Multiple Activation Key that allows a limited number of activations, or a Key Management Service running on a Windows domain (which will require periodic reactivation). The new program is called Volume Activation 2.0, and you can read more details in this white paper).

.........................
And in the sort of irony that invariably goes hand in hand with hubris, a wave of new problem reports have begun appearing on the official Microsoft WGA Validation Problems forum from corporate customers reporting that legitimate VLKs for Windows XP are suddenly being blocked.

[usil]

I just don't see how MS is going to convince people to buy Vista instead of XP. XP is not Windows 98. Most of us are perfectly happy using XP, so why upgrade and limit ourselves with Vista? I think MS are shooting themselves in the foot with this one.

What about OEM versions? I dread to hear what they plan for that version. Will they now not allow you to use the same OEM version if you change the hard disk, RAM or processor?

[bistro]

"reduced functionality mode"......in other words, if you mess around with it, Microsoft will make you into a cyber-eunuch.....

[SuperSparks]

At least this won't be hard coded into the OS, but rather depends on how they set up the activation servers. So if enough people protest, or downright refuse to buy Vista, my bet is that they'll change those terms PDQ. I'm starting to see a fair amount of negative comment around already, and the news has only been out a couple of days