Comments

1. Duane

   
   Posted on: October 14, 2006 at 12:23PM  

   Yeah coupled with the fact that the installation of software can force you to reactivate in XP, if the license is stricktly inforced on Vista this could be a problem for many many users at home and in corporations who would get caught out.

   Vista is a good product, a very good product from what I have seen.  However home users are going to be confused enough with 32bit and 64bit versions, and the increased security features of Vista.  If the new WGA flags customers to often, which it may them Microsoft will have a lot of unhappy customers.

   Microsoft should show more faith in its customers, and focus its efforts on attacking pirates instead of people who actually buy its software.  Sure if a product key has been used 100 times and is posted on the internet then deactivate it.  However if someone upgraded or transfers their retail license from one computer to another, to limit a paying customer to 2 hits is crazy.
2. Duane

   
   Posted on: October 14, 2006 at 7:36PM  

   Depending on what Vista considers a "device" as mentioned in the license, it seems to me that new license could kill Vista as far as the gamer or custom PC builder markets are concerned.

   And it doesn't sound good for PCs without internet access either. (Seems to me like that whole call home thing is an invasion of privacy, and likely problematic if a particular PC has no internet access at all.)

   So that license restriction, combined with the insanely high price tag, in my opinion will likely encourage people to use illegal hacked versions, if they use Vista at all. (I'm no hacker, but it seems to me that the more Microsoft tries to prevent their software from getting hacked, the more likely people will try just so that they can say they did it. The old "forbidden fruit" routine.)

   Of course, in the OEM market it'll probably still sell since John Q. Public won't likely know about this license restriction until it comes back to bite him. Unless of course it gets on CNN and local news stations.
3. Duane

   
   Posted on: October 14, 2006 at 11:37PM  

   Well, if I were to buy Vista, I will not be buying the RFP anymore as it is probably going to be over 100% the price of OEM and post no significant advantage over the OEM package in terms of computer/component upgrades.......

   It is already very ridiculous that MS consider almost every mobo upgrade (except if your mobo failed) as a new computer.

   Of course, most of the comments here are from legitimate users which intends to be probably licensed.  Otherwise, we probably won't even care about the licensing terms.....
4. Duane

   
   Posted on: October 15, 2006 at 7:34AM  

   Microsoft needs to address the questions being asked in the comments in this forum. There are a lot of enthusiasts who change their hardware every few months. New motherboards, new videocards, additional memory. How will these users be affected? Secondly will there be a family edition of Windows Vista so that customers with families can install this onto two or three PCs?
5. Duane

   
   Posted on: October 15, 2006 at 7:37AM  

   Well I'm shocked to know that Microsoft managers (probably nwhite too) know nothing about software and market.

   If they think activation is a problem for crackers, their knowledge is very, very limited.

   Vista will be hacked not much longer after first RTM. The funny thing is that people who would otherwise buy Vista will just use pirate copy because of so funny license terms.

   Come on, this just makes life harder for those who buy it. There is no and will never be a single program that is uncrackable. Never ever.

   By this license terms, you actually force people to go pirate.

   And you should realize that. Negative publicity you got by even publishing this kind of license just a month or two before release will just ruin a lot of sales.

   Home users won't give up on DirectX10 if license rejects them.  They will just use a pirate copy.

   Wake up Microsoft until it's too late for your sales manager.
6. Duane

   
   Posted on: October 15, 2006 at 8:48PM  

   Surely an April fool?!

   This is like asking drivers to invest in a car, with the caveat it can only be taken for a drive twice before needing replacement!

   Actually most discouraging - this does nothing to assure me that this MS OS is going to be capable of enduring reliability/longevity as publishers seem to infer that its software will have a shorter lifespan than the average PC hardware...!!!

   Crazy.

   In echo of other comments thus far, this change (if actualised at product release) would be sufficient to preclude my upgrading and will likely only further spur pirateers to do the world a favour. Built-in obsolecence gone mad...

   Still, if this is to become a commercial reality, it will at least provide a strong commercial context to enable MAC OSx and Linux to make up some ground. Perhaps ole Bill misses a bit of competition and wants to obtain some more?! Certainly this would seemingly be the only likely outcomes. It will surely only be the stupid/careless who end up buying Vista on this basis and no doubt the according commentary arising will appropriately fit such folly.

   Reconsider or accept significant commerical ramifications arising.

   Further, I'd like to join my voice to bsdmonolith that this announcement has made out corporate IT strategy a nonsense. Lots of red faces abounding for thinking that MS provided a good long term bet. Our CIO has already said that if this is how it's going to be, it's going to be bye bye to all in-house .NET development and hello to free LINUX training for all. Such a pity when the technologies seemed to be moving in the right direction that other, lesser import issues are now going to wholly overshadow and write off the achievements.

   Still, plenty have said LINUX/OpenOffice deserved more of a go than they were commercially getting - looks like MS are going to honour this sentiment with a little commercial suicide to engender their making up some ground!!

   Unbelievable...
7. Duane

   
   Posted on: October 15, 2006 at 10:27PM  

   nwhite, THANKS for letting us know our comments are being heard - it really is appreciated.

   I've already said my peace above, but let me add this one more request - whatever you guys decide about this licensing clause, I really hope you'll go to greate lengths to explain the usecases, and the reasons for doing it that way!
8. Duane

   
   Posted on: October 15, 2006 at 10:37PM  

   If you read nwhite's post, he only promised to keep a close eye on this thread and GIVE US MORE INFORMATION on the licensing.

   In other words, not likely that he will be relaying the comments here to high up.  In any case, even if the wizard (or jerks) in the ivory tower hears this, not likely that they will change the terms.  They answer to sales target alone.
9. Nick White

   
   Posted on: October 15, 2006 at 11:44PM  

   Hey Marshall:  you can rest assured that many, many of my colleagues, both senior and otherwise, are monitoring this conversation closely and will help me to provide readers with more information so that you're fully informed when making a purchasing decision.

   Please read the aforementioned comment again, as it says more than you imply.
10. Duane

    
    Posted on: October 16, 2006 at 4:27AM  

    http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_licensing.asp

    ^An article by Paul Thurrott on Vista licensing...