No longer wonder why people do OS piracy, seriously

[Thedog]

Client 1:
Dell machine with XP, the harddrive crashed. Okey, so we need a new harddrive and the client also want Windows 7, done-and-done a W7 premium upgrade license bought as well as new disk. Put in the new disk and go trough the install, everything great so far... When I am trying to activate I get that this is only for upgrade and they were unable to find an earlier OS... so okey, they want me to put in the new drive, reinstall XP and then start the W7 installation from XP? Fine with me but I doubt the client would want to pay for that extra time.

Client 2:
New computer, a W7 Home premium OEM license. Lets say that the license cost was 1000 (not naming any currency, just to show a price diference). Turns out the client needed RDP (remote desktop) which is only professional and ultimate, a professional OEM costs 1400 (40 % above home premium), okey the client is fine with paying this difference... So let's hope since its 2011 that Microsoft have some simple upgrade path and yeah they have, anytime upgrade or wtf its called... the problem is that here the professional costs 2000...more then buying a whole new OEM

Seriously it is these type of issues that is just bueracracy and leads to piracy as well as people jumping ships to Mac, what the hell were the top-dogs at Microsoft thinking... anyone had simliar experiences?

 

[NETWizz]

Client 1:
Dell machine with XP, the harddrive crashed. Okey, so we need a new harddrive and the client also want Windows 7, done-and-done a W7 premium upgrade license bought as well as new disk. Put in the new disk and go trough the install, everything great so far... When I am trying to activate I get that this is only for upgrade and they were unable to find an earlier OS... so okey, they want me to put in the new drive, reinstall XP and then start the W7 installation from XP? Fine with me but I doubt the client would want to pay for that extra time.

Client 2:
New computer, a W7 Home premium OEM license. Lets say that the license cost was 1000 (not naming any currency, just to show a price diference). Turns out the client needed RDP (remote desktop) which is only professional and ultimate, a professional OEM costs 1400 (40 % above home premium), okey the client is fine with paying this difference... So let's hope since its 2011 that Microsoft have some simple upgrade path and yeah they have, anytime upgrade or wtf its called... the problem is that here the professional costs 2000...more then buying a whole new OEM

Seriously it is these type of issues that is just bueracracy and leads to piracy as well as people jumping ships to Mac, what the hell were the top-dogs at Microsoft thinking... anyone had simliar experiences?

The Ends Don't justify the means in piracy.

Client 1: What about starting the install of Windows 7 from Bart PE


Client 2: Anytime Upgrade is fairly inexpensive. Windows 7 Home DOES have Remote Desktop, but it has only the client. That is you can remote into other systems but not into a Windows 7 Home machine.

 

[Thedog]

The Ends Don't justify the means in piracy.

Client 1: What about starting the install of Windows 7 from Bart PE


Client 2: Anytime Upgrade is fairly inexpensive. Windows 7 Home DOES have Remote Desktop, but it has only the client. That is you can remote into other systems but not into a Windows 7 Home machine.

I think the ends do justify the means but I guess that's a moralic view, no kid in Africa dies if you install some activation crack, especially if you have paid for a license...

Yeah but the client needed RDP host

 

[Knightsman]

Yeah the OS cost seems fine to me. its the Office costs that I think are CRAZY.

to be over $400 for the pro version, and its only good on one PC, is crazy. On a small business of 8 people, they don't want to pay that.

 

[Thedog]

Yeah the OS cost seems fine to me. its the Office costs that I think are CRAZY.

to be over $400 for the pro version, and its only good on one PC, is crazy. On a small business of 8 people, they don't want to pay that.

Cause Microsoft thinks stuff like Live integration is a value-adding feature... 90 % of the people that buy it just want it to act like to old versions (2003 and older). I get a warm feeling in my heart everytime I install OpenOffice and they say "Wow this is much easier then the other one, are you sure it is free?"

 

[NETWizz]

They don't have too.

We get Microsoft Software Assurance... It is $50 a year per PC; I think.

It includes all sorts of stuff such as MS office 2010, which all our machines run.

We are switching to Google Docs though.

 

[strollin]

Client 1:
Dell machine with XP, the harddrive crashed. Okey, so we need a new harddrive and the client also want Windows 7, done-and-done a W7 premium upgrade license bought as well as new disk. Put in the new disk and go trough the install, everything great so far... When I am trying to activate I get that this is only for upgrade and they were unable to find an earlier OS... so okey, they want me to put in the new drive, reinstall XP and then start the W7 installation from XP? Fine with me but I doubt the client would want to pay for that extra time. ...

At least for this situation there is a work around. Google "win 7 clean install with upgrade media" and you will find several solutions. BTW, legally, you have to have XP or Vista to be able to upgrade. Win 2000, ME, 98 and the like aren't eligible.

 

[Thedog]

At least for this situation there is a work around. Google "win 7 clean install with upgrade media" and you will find several solutions. BTW, legally, you have to have XP or Vista to be able to upgrade. Win 2000, ME, 98 and the like aren't eligible.

What do you mean with that you have to have XP or Vista? The client had XP license on the computer case, XP disc, plus a broken harddrive with XP installed...

Wouldn't that be legal enough to be eligible for an upgrade?

 

[Kitten Kong]

What do you mean with that you have to have XP or Vista? The client had XP license on the computer case, XP disc, plus a broken harddrive with XP installed...

Wouldn't that be legal enough to be eligible for an upgrade?

Not really no, as the upgrade is for the OS which is already installed on the drive.

Having known that the drive was bad, you should ideally of not purchased a upgrade disc.

 

[Thedog]

Not really no, as the upgrade is for the OS which is already installed on the drive.

Having known that the drive was bad, you should ideally of not purchased a upgrade disc.

Thank you, that just proved my point bureaucracy at it's finest. Now let's hope the downfall of Microsoft can happen in my lifetime and I get to see a customer-oriented company becoming the main OS-supplier... look at Mac, one license fits all at a low price, how can they do it and Microsoft not...

 

[phaZed]

Thank you, that just proved my point bureaucracy at it's finest. Now let's hope the downfall of Microsoft can happen in my lifetime and I get to see a customer-oriented company becoming the main OS-supplier... look at Mac, one license fits all at a low price, how can they do it and Microsoft not...

Because Apple charges you out the a$$ for the hardware, which is cheap stuff... Then they nickle and dime you for everything you do while you own it; think App Store and overpriced music from iTunes.

If you think that Apple is customer oriented... think again.

 

[strollin]

What do you mean with that you have to have XP or Vista? The client had XP license on the computer case, XP disc, plus a broken harddrive with XP installed...

Wouldn't that be legal enough to be eligible for an upgrade?

Yes, you can upgrade in that situation which is why there exists the ability to do a clean install using upgrade media. However, the existing XP software is now invalidated because it's license has been upgraded. If the client had a Win 2000 or Win 98 system (working or not), then it wouldn't be eligible for upgrade.

 

[Xander]

Sounds like the frustrations could have been avoided simply by understanding how the licenses apply. Sound less like "bureaucracy" than "If I'd known the rules better, I wouldn't be venting about the situation."

 

[comprx]

In the case of your first issue an OEM license or better yet a refurbished License seems like the better route over an upgrade license. Also often an OEM license is cheaper than an upgrade license bought at a store. (I get mine for anywhere from $90-120 depending on the day) I think the upgrade costs 199 retail? (might be wrong on that)

As for your second issue, I cannot speak for the costs of anytime upgrade. The last time I went from HP(home premium) to Pro for a customer it was on a new machine, so I again went with an OEM key. (pro costs a bit more that my 90-120 HP keys but still rather inexpensive)

I do agree that office is simply crazy in pricing.