Re: [seul-edu] MS targeting schools for software audits...

[Donald J Christensen <djc@cisco.com>]

MS is targeting _all_ computers because they can.  They are carrying this
really big stick and threatening these districts with massive fines if
any of their computers have either unlicensed or undocumented MS apps or
OSes on them.  How many schools have all the docs for every piece of SW
on every computer, when many of those computers were donated?

But, being the magnanimous dictator they are, MS is nice enough to
offer the districts a way out of the huge fines -- just agree to be
tied to MS for the forseeable future, to the tune of $42 or so per
machine per year.  Kinda removes the major incentive to move machines
to Linux if you still have to pay MS for them.

And for those who have tried to paint these license deals in a
not-quite-so-evil light, what happens at the end of the five year
(or however long) contract to the licenses?  I haven't read any
of these contracts, but I have seen mention on numerous occasions
that you lose the right to use any of the software if you do not
renew the contract.

-Don

paul Sutton wrote:
> 
> How do Apple feel about MS demanding a licence (and probable) fee for their
> software.   I think I understand what is going on, if the machine is capable
> of running windows,  then in theory you can run an unlicenced copy of
> Windoze, so to protect their own money grabbing interests you need a licence
> for all computers,  regardless of O/S just in case someone decides to delete
> Linux or something   but regarding the Apple thing not sure,  perhaps you
> should ask Apple Inc what they think about it, (visions of biglawsuit
> appearing along with more meetings with Gates VS Doj),
> 
> Not wanting to give them ideas does this include computer parts which have
> the potential to be built into MS capable machines,
> 
> Paul

-- 
Don Christensen       Senior Software Development Engineer
djc@cisco.com         Cisco Systems, Santa Cruz, CA
  "It was a new day yesterday, but it's an old day now."