Windows calling

Some things you just don’t expect when you take on editorship of a leading Apple Mac magazine… like Microsoft popping round to show you the latest build of Windows Vista.

Boot Camp has a lot to answer for…

For the record I think Vista is a perfectly acceptable operating system that will make the legions of XP users who’ve never used a Mac very happy. Mac users, on the other hand, will find it offers little, if nothing, they haven’t seen before.

But – and like Michelle Mcmanus’ rear-end it’s a big, big but – for something called Windows Geniune Advantage. For readers unfamiliar with my regular ranting this is the system where Vista phones Microsoft and asks for its permission to install…

I pushed Microsoft for some more details on this? The basic premise is “one copy of Vista for one machine”. Every time you buy a new Mac; you buy a new copy of Vista. If your Mac dies and you get a replacement; you buy a new copy of Vista; Got a second Mac? Get another copy of Vista. In fact: just keep buying it again and again…

It gets better…

If you upgrade your computer; Vista considers it a new computer. I’ve heard on the grapevine that this will be after three component upgrades. So, consider this scenario:

• Oh no! My hard drive’s looking a bit full… perhaps I’ll get a new one.
• Wow! That new game looks amazing. I think I’ll get a new graphics card to run it
• Hey! Somebody just invented 9:1 three-dimensional sound that beams directly to the inner ear… time for a new sound card.

Message: “your copy of Vista is not genuine – please buy a new one”

Surely that’s not legal. You’ve paid for it; you have a right to keep using it regardless of whether you’ve bought some new computer kit; or even a whole new computer for that matter.

I sense another European court case looming.

Sometimes I thank the stars I'm a Mac user who has OS X to work with. My PC friends are praying for Linux to become popular and bail them out of this mess… sadly I think they're going to be forced into paying Microsoft over and over again

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Comments received

Cynic said on Tuesday, 24 October 2006

Surely that’s not legal.

I guess it depends on the T&C, after all, we aren't buying the software, but buying a licence for it's use. 'Three upgrades & your out' :)

Cynic said on Tuesday, 24 October 2006

So no edit on here so I can take out the typo apostrophe in my comment :(

Mark Hattersley said on Tuesday, 24 October 2006

We don't want to require registration for comments so can't clear original writers for editing. I'll bring it up with the designers though.

gregorsamsa said on Wednesday, 25 October 2006

Without detracting from the points you make about Vista's licencing limitations, etc. & how this may make it unviable for some users, I've found (on US Mac forums) some Mac owners are posting good things about Vista's general qualities. If these people are impressed...makes me wonder how well it might go down in PC land.