Re: [Fsfe-uk] Microsod licences

[ian]

On Thu, 2003-05-29 at 14:00, PFJ wrote:

> The next stage of the plan is to upgrade another 20 or so P3/450 RM
> machines, but then something struck me. I could not move those horrid M$
> licence stickers. I ask for advice. FAST didn't reply, neither did MS.
> Our ISD section did. 
> 
> While the drives are in the old boxes, the copy of Windows is licenced
> properly. As soon as the drive is put into a new box, it becomes
> unlicenced which means an additional 65 quid for an OEM copy of Windows.

First, we can get you OEM XP Pro licenses cheaper than that from M$'s
biggest distributer in the UK so its fully legal.

Ok, seems strange me volunteering to do this on a FSF list but do
consider this. If you buy proprietary stuff when there is absolutely no
other choice from companies backing free software you do two things. You
send a signal to all companies that there is competitive advantage in
being seen to promote free software and second you help strengthen such
companies so they can afford to do things like contribute to free
software advocacy.

> That is bloody ridiculous! The install is the same, the drive is the
> same - nothing much has changed.

Quite. Its one of the reasons why we do GNU/Linux thin client systems
for schools and charities using refurbished second hand computers. It
just cuts out any license risk. You could of course run Windows locally
on those 450s and deliver productivity apps using OO.org from servers
running Linux thin client. This means that the machines will be fast
enough for most specialist windows apps locally but also able to run up
to date productivity apps from the servers. If you have a few hundred
it's probably be cheaper for us to come and set that up than by the
Windows licenses!

> Talk about a bloody rip off!!!

If you are on Campus agreement, it shows that there are hidden costs.
Most people do not take into account the fact that every computer bought
has an operating system at OEM being bought on top of the upgrade costs.


> TTFN
> 
> Paul
> 
> P.S. Dunno if you lot have seen this...
> 
> http://theregister.co.uk/content/4/30912.html
> 
> Made me happy :-)
-- 
ian <address@hidden>