[ I am top-posting because of the length of the following Off-Topic
message. ]
It appears that this thread has just about run its course.
Discussions about "PC notebooks," or most other laptops, installations
of Windows 7, whatever version, authentication by Microsoft, etc.,
etc., are irrelevant to the OP's inquiry, and way Off-Topic for this
Group. Unless I can be convinced otherwise, I hereby declare this
thread CLOSED. Please refrain from posting further ON-GROUP comments,
and convey any more thoughts only to me by direct private messages.
Your cooperation will be appreciated.
Fabian Fang
LEM G-Group Manager
On Apr 29, 2010, at 6:13 PM, iJohn wrote:
On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 7:58 PM, Bruce Johnson
<john...@pharmacy.arizona.edu> wrote:
People buying upgrades and folks setting up a handful of DIY boxes
for their
business or something run into these hassles, but frankly, these
people are
small fry, and MS doesn't really give a crap about them.
Actually, I also believe not so much but from a different
perspective. :-)
I have limited experience with PC notebooks. In particular I don't
know how Microsoft does Windows 7 notebook (re)installs.
The last PC laptop I reinstalled XP on (using the media that came with
it) I don't believe even bothered to ask me to authenticate. At the
very least the install media appeared to just "know" that the install
was to an HP notebook, hence the Windows tax had been paid, so there
was no need to bother about asking for a license key. (The key was
there on the sticker on the laptop if needed. But I'm pretty sure I
never had to enter it).
If the vast majority of Windows installs were all the PC world
equivalent of reinstalling the version of OS X that came with a
MacBook then I doubt MS would bother with the hoops. But Windows folk
still have to dance through those hoops so I infer that MS thinks it's
financially worth it to them to keep polishing them.
I'll grant you that individual home user upgraders, DIY boxes, and/or
small businesses are probably not as big of a concern for MS. But if
you're going down authentication avenue you can't do it in pieces.
Aside from special cases such as notebooks with special install media,
it's all installs or nothing, no?
Probably MS's main concern is preventing an entire IT installation
from (re)using a pirated install key. But there's also the so-called
BRICs ... Brasil, Russia, India, China and such. The thought/hope of
turning even a fraction of the Windows piracy in those countries into
actual revenue must be, uh, an "exciting thought" for the MS
accountants.
Microsoft appears to me to be obsessed with two conflicting goals: to
limit Windows installs to one machine per paid license and to not
annoy their customers unless said customers are from MS's perspective
trying to steal from MS.
It's got to be a lot of (costly?) work on their end. And I believe
they wouldn't bother with it unless they thought the company
benefited.
Which is not the same thing as saying the company DOES benefit from
it. I'm only saying I think MS has convinced itself that it's worth
doing.
And I think when Apple does that calculation they must be getting a
different answer.
-irrational john
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