The news
Microsoft has reacted swiftly - and positively - to remove one of the restrictions in Windows Vista's end user licensing agreement (EULA) that has caused worldwide condemnation by PC enthusiasts. A change of wording in the EULA - and, presumably, of the copy-protection technique used by the forthcoming operating system - now means that it will be possible to install the retail version of Vista on more than two PCs in succession.
Consequently, PC hardware enthusiasts will be able to move a single copy of Vista through a series of new or upgraded PCs, not just from one PC to one other.
The announcement was made on the Windows Vista Blog by Product Manager Nick White - his statement is carried in full on page two - and the new wording is to be found in the EULA under part a of section 15, which is headed, REASSIGN TO ANOTHER DEVICE.
This now reads,
a.
Software Other
than Windows Anytime Upgrade. 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.
Beforehand, it read,
a.
Software Other
than Windows Anytime Upgrade. 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.”
On the downside, though, having read Nick White's statement closely and done a word-for-word comparison between the original EULA and the new, it's clear that two of the three original mean-minded limitations in the EULA detailed in our recent HEXUS.opinion are unchanged:
* The restriction that
sees partitions on a single hard disk treated as
separate
devices remains. So, seemingly, you still won't be able to set
up
a single copy of Vista on different partitions or drives on the
same PC. Consequently, you'll have to buy a copy for each
boot partition or boot drive if, say, you wish to have one of version
of Vista carefully optimised for heavy duty tasks such as video or
sound editing and another set up for more general use.
* The Basic and Premium versions remain unable to work on virtual hardware - such as Parallels Workstation or VMware Workstation - even if that application is running on top of the original Vista installation. Ultimate will still be the only one of the three retail versions to allow you to use Vista this way.
* The Basic and Premium versions remain unable to work on virtual hardware - such as Parallels Workstation or VMware Workstation - even if that application is running on top of the original Vista installation. Ultimate will still be the only one of the three retail versions to allow you to use Vista this way.
HEXUS was one of many sites that made a loud noise about the previous EULA - see the HEXUS.opinion, Microsoft Vista EULA spits in the eye of self-builders worldwide.
However, in our view, it won't be what we or other sites have said that will have really raised the eyebrows at Microsoft, it'll be what the PC enthusiasts have said in related forum threads across the world.
So, all the people who made postings to our HEXUS Right2Reply forum - and on other threads elsewhere - need to give themselves a pat on the back and then, as a little thank-you, tip their hats to Microsoft.
But, we reckon the job's not quite over yet. It's also our view that Microsoft should have removed the two other restrictions we've mentioned - and still needs to do so before the operating system goes on sale in the new year, the more so when the three retail versions of Vista are all going to be so unreasonably expensive.
Amazon UK is taking advance orders for Vista, quoting £155 (US$296) for Home Basic; £190 (US$363) for Home Premium; and a quite outrageous £325 (US$620) for Vista Ultimate.
Actually, and stating the bleeding obvious, what Microsoft also needs to do is make significant cuts to the proposed prices of those Vista retail products.
If you agree (or indeed, disagree), then do make a point of letting Microsoft know by posting to this thread in the HEXUS Right2Reply forum and to any relevant threads on other sites you normally visit. And don't forget also to comment to Nick White's Windows Vista Blog, which you can read on page two...
HEXUS.links
HEXUS.community :: discussion thread about this articleHEXUS.opinions :: Microsoft Vista EULA spits in the eye of self-builders worldwide
HEXUS.community :: discussion thread about the spits-in-the-eye article
HEXUS.opinions :: Intel in grave trouble, say unreliable sources
HEXUS.opinions :: Is AMD really f&$@£d?
HEXUS.opinions :: VIA Carbon Free Computing - back it or copy it but don't knock it!
HEXUS :: all Microsoft articles
External.links
Windows Vista Blog - News: Revision to Windows Vista retail licensing termsMicrosoft - EULAs for all software
Parallels - Parallels Workstation home page
VMware - VMware Workstation home page
Amazon UK - advance orders for Vista
