| From: | Ed Dana |
| Date: | 18 Sep 2000 at 21:51:58 |
| Subject: | Re: AMIOPEN: OT: Microsoft licensing policy, was: Console Market, was: Sega |
Staf Verhaegen wrote:
>
> Martin Baute wrote:
> >
> > Hello Staf
> >
> > On 18-Sep-00, you wrote:
> >
> > > What's wrong ? This policy has been all the time in the UNIX world. You
> > > buy a software license for a product on a certain hardware ID. If you want
> > > to run the software on another machine you have to ask for another
> > > license. If your OEM doesn't provide a recovery CD just buy from another
> > > vendor.
> >
> > I would like to be able to change my motherboard and CPU without
> > having to pay M$ yet again for the OS. That�s the idea behind the
> > "IBM compatible" if I am not mistaken.
> >
> > Or would you like to pay again for your AmigaOS just because you
> > changed your accelerator board?
>
> I just wanted to make clear this practice is probably not illegal.
No, it's not illegal, but it's not smart, either. That practice works fine for
unix because unix caters to the business world. Home user would be outraged by
such a policy. But, I have to add, they'd probably buy anyway in a market without
any real alternative.
> If I buy a machine with a OEM version of an OS installed I won't complain if I
> cannot use this OS on another machine. If you don't like it, don't buy such a
> machine. (BTW, I'm using linux most of the time so no problem for me). I just
> hope MS still will distribute a stand-alone version which can be installed on
> a self build system, maybe with on-line registration and free license update
> for new hardware.
That'll be yet another reason for me to hate M$. :)
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