Topic: Microsoft changes Vista EULA.

[Nemesis]

Link to 1st article

I’m very pleased to let you know you this morning (or afternoon, or evening, depending on where you are when you read this) that the Windows division has revised the retail license terms for Windows Vista in a significant way.  Namely, the terms regarding license-to-device assignment of the retail product (including Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate) now read as follows:

    * You may uninstall the software and install it on another device for your use.  You may not do so to share this license between devices.

You can find the newly-revised retail license terms here, as I’m sure you’ll want to read them for yourself.

Link to 2nd article

The new license terms say: “You may uninstall the software and install it on another device for your use. You may not do so to share this license between devices.”

That's a welcome step back from the sneaky change that had been embedded in the previously published license agreement, which restricted users to a one-time reassignment of a retail license. A subsequent attempt to spin this change as a "clarification" of the existing license terms only made the avalanche of negative feedback worse.

I must admit to being surprised.  Microsoft does not usually back pedal so quickly.  Now if only the outrage over activation will build . . .

[Javora]

So am I reading that right?  You can uninstall Vista and reinstall it on another system as many times as you want to provided that the copy is only on one computer at any given time.  If it's true then the hard core computer builders and gamers just won a key victory over Microsoft.

I agree with some of the other posters that there are other licencing issues but it's still a major step forward.  Part of me also has to give thanks to Linux and Apple as I feel that this change would not have come about if they weren't around.

[Nemesis]

So am I reading that right?  You can uninstall Vista and reinstall it on another system as many times as you want to provided that the copy is only on one computer at any given time.  If it's true then the hard core computer builders and gamers just won a key victory over Microsoft.

I agree with some of the other posters that there are other licencing issues but it's still a major step forward.  Part of me also has to give thanks to Linux and Apple as I feel that this change would not have come about if they weren't around.

You still have to put up with activation and Microsoft can still deny you the ability to install or operate a given copy at any time.  They can at any time put your activation Key on a blacklist and render your copy useless.  They can also turn off the activation server when they release a Vista II cutting off your ability to run the OS that you bought.   I'm waiting to see how long until they cut off the XP activation servers.

It isn't a step forward its a step back.  Back away from Microsoft stealing ever more authority over your computer from you.  They need to go much further back to at least the Windows 2000 level before your computer is yours again and not Microsofts.  Even Win2K has arbitrarily refused to copy a DVD for me even though I have every legal right to make that copy.

MY Computer is MY Computer.  I decide what I may do with it.  I've decided to move on to Linux and my continued computing freedom.

[Commander Maxillius]

At least with a Mac, you know you're buying a Mac and if you want anything good you'll have a choice between Apple, Adobe, or Microsoft.  No guesswork and you know what you're buying into.

Plus Apple doesn't have stupid activation servers because you need a Mac to run Mac OS.