[IWE] 'A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection'

[Peter Whysall]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sven Coenye [mailto:scoenye@compaqnet.be] 
> Sent: 17 February 2007 13:14
> To: iwe@warhead.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [IWE] 'A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content 
> Protection'
> 
> 
> > So the head of IT has set a date to look at rolling Vista 
> out to the  
> > desktops. January 2008. I strongly suspect a date was 
> chosen to forestall  
> > questions and early jumpers. It also lets us tell others 
> who have no need  
> > to upgrade that they need only wait. But new, general 
> purpose PCs in the  
> > meantime will be XP. Not Vista. We know how to do XP.
> When have an external M$ licensing compliance manager. He has 
> let us know that MS has set the vanishing date for XP OEM 
> licenses at 15 March.
> 
> As downgrading an OEM Vista license is not allowed, if the 
> above is true, that means you'll have to pay big bucks to 
> keep Vista out. (We're still on W2K and have no desire 
> whatsoever to see Vista at all, but I think we're fscked on this one.)

Not 100% true, but you're still fucked, Sven:

"Rights to OEM versions of systems software are granted in the OEM License
Terms. The OEM License Terms for most OEM versions of systems software do
not grant downgrade rights. The exception is the OEM License Terms for the
Windows(r) XP Professional operating system and the Windows Vista(tm)
Business and Windows Vista Ultimate operating systems, which grant downgrade
rights. See the full text of the OEM License Terms for the specific
downgrade rights."

So if you've bought a box with OEM Vista Business or Vista Ultimate, you may
downgrade to XP Pro.

Also, Dell are committed to shipping XP until next February. Dunno about
other OEMs.

Regards

Peter.


 
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