cmendla - 7:44 pm on Oct 17, 2006 (gmt 0)

I'm starting to lean toward open source. And NO, I don't pirate software. I have one machine that has a factory install and the genuine advantage comes up once in a while with a 'this is pirated' message.. reboot and it's ok for a month or so. There is probably something quirky in the os or hardware.

A couple of people said what is the big deal with the OS. I agree, **most** people don't move OS's to different computers. However, I am long overdue to replace my desktop. Once they start the same licensing scheme for office, the costs go way up.

BTW, I was the IT director for a university back in 99 or so. MS wanted to go to yearly licensing fees for it's software. That resulted in a lot of colleges looking at unix. MS quickly abandoned the yearly licensing, at least until now.

As far as open source, I work with a lot of small businesses. $300 - $500 per workstation for ms office can add up really fast. I've installed Openoffice on one of my machines. My 11 year old dove right in to it and has it doing what he wants. I need to look at it as a serious alternative for me and my clients.

I don't think the licensing for Vista will cause too much outcry with the general public. However, when they start doing it with Office, buy stock in open source software (just kidding about the stock part....:)

I did have a situation about a year ago where i had to reinstall windows. For some reason, the install would not accept the license key that came with the machine. Rather than mess with it, I had to go out and buy a full version of XP and install from that. (Couldnt' futz around with MS support while clients were waiting for their sites)

This probably isn't all about piracy but a move to yearly licensing fees.... Incrementalism works where rapid shifts won't