Microsoft Releases Rentable Windows, Office

Ha ha ha! XD another way that Microsoft found to take our money! Interesting ! What's next? are we going to be able to use our Windows copy for a period of hours per day?

Keep it up, M$. Keep pushing and people are gonna kick ya to the curb one of these days.

Now that they have Rental Rights out of the way, what about when companies such as Rent-A-Center turn around and sell used computers to customers?

How is the license Agreement going to apply then?

I can just see The Heads spinning at Microsoft as I say this seeing as the License for the Rental Agreement does not extend to selling said equipment as it has only one option and that is to expire.

So... in addition to buying a legally licensed OS and in addition to buying a legally licensed application suite... I need to buy 2 additional rental licenses just to rent my computer (and its OH SO VALUABLE software) out to someone?!? Really?!?

Like at work... what if a janitor sits down at my desk and uses my computer? Do I need another user license? It would just be easier if they asked us for all of our money because they're clearly not happy making nearly $15 billion (net) per year.

They really want to push people to open source options. Open office and Linux anyone?

Ok your all retards who posted above. First of the writer of this article needs sacked, because they are a horn tooting Apple fanboy. Secondly ITS FOR RENTAL COMPANIES TO BUY. If any user buys this then they are dumb, frankly i think this could be useful for laptop rentals and reduce the price for office.

Can't we have a printed warning on a box that says whether a software is licensed for single-machine or single-user-single-machine? If it's for single machine then as long as it's installed only on one machine then anyone can use it (one at a time, of course). But if it's for single-user-single-machine then not only can it be installed only on one machine, but that only a single user can use it throughout the license.

If they want to do a single-user-single-machine, fine, as long as it is clearly specified (print on half the box in bold/red). If the companies doesn't want to coz it's bad for business, they better suck it up (and suffer) or just stick to single-machine scheme.

You can use Open Office with Windows NT derivatives as well.

I'm not one to ever consider a Unix derivative, as I've worked with Unix enough to hate it, but I would definitely use Open Office, as I've worked with Microsoft Office enough to hate it.

I think they did a good enough job with Windows 7 they're probably not going to have problems there.

But Office? Does anyone really need Office, or even like it? Open Office does everything most people want, and the interface is quite familiar and easy to work with. It's a real vulnerability for Microsoft if they aren't careful. You'd think they'd be lowering their prices. I'd pay $75 or so for something I've always used, but I'm not going to pay the prices they ask. I think their greed is going to cost them as people move from their Office, and find it's not so bad after all.

2012 for Microsoft anyone?

Doctor : Would you like your son to be MS compliant for life?

Parent : What programs will he be allowed to use?

Doctor : Please, just sign here and pay $$$$$.

This is actually kind of nice, I could check out a piece of they're software before I decide to buy it. That , and if some places religiously rent , it would cause the prices of permanent software to go down a little.

Foolish me. I always thought that MS products had to be installed on one computer at a time. I guess not.

You people don't get the point. This is just a different SKU to make Internet Cafe-type situation legal. It's just a simple formality, rather than some huge product release. It's like the Blockbuster version of a movie versus a version you would buy at the store. Read the article before you start hating people.

In the very near future Microsoft won't sell you software, they will charge a monthly or yearly rental, if you don't keep up your subscription, you can't run your OS or any other Microsoft software you've got installed, whatever software it is, will be monthly or yearly subscription based, if you haven't kept up that subscription it stops working... Well they'll probably at first just not give you updates, but at some point once they have us by the dangly bits, it'll stop working all together.

And I suppose keyboards and mice will have little fingerprint readers in the individual keys so that if you are not the owner of the machine, you will have to "rent" the computer from a friend or family member? What a crock of s**t, MS. Why can't they just alter their own licensing terms to accommodate for kiosks and the like? Because it's all about the moolah. Can't be sensible; gotta be pricks about it.

correction: kick ya to the curb one of these [YEARS].

There, fixed it for ya.

Seriously, if you think THIS, after all other things, will make the enterprise switch off MS, then I have a bridge to no-where to sell to you.


"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."

Words cannot describe my anger towards Microsoft after reading this. Solution: Use Linux.

Does this mean that if you buy a computer for your entire household, only you can use it? F*ck M$.

WOW. Did everyone just misread the article, or did we wake up on the wrong side of the bed? As someone else said, the licenses they are talking about are NOT sold to individuals, or companies that use permanent PC's in their office. The license above is merely for people that "RENT" the PC such as a rent-a-center or Cyber Cafe where you pay to use the computer for a period of time. The above situation would NOT apply to someone or a company who is selling their old equipment. The license does NOT apply to those who go and buy a PC. It has nothing to do with how many people use bought PC's at home or at the office. Not only that, but they also made it cheaper than what companies were buying via VL. Microsoft addresses an issue and not only fixes it, but saves people money, and people bitch.

You mean like World Of Warcraft?
How's that working out for Blizzard?

I thought this was already resolved in California? You own the software and can do whatever the hell you want with it as long as only 1 copy is in use? EULA be damned.

This comment is way down the list, so it may pass unnoticed.

But MS license is linked to the HARDWARE. It says you can run it inside the computer with the sticker on it, and that's it. OEM also is linked to the motherboard (every other piece of hardware can be changed, and also the motherboard for warranty purposes).

So since the hardware is the one that is linked to, and it's supposed to run there, then, it doesn't matter WHO uses it. Or if I rent the hardware, then the software inside shouldn't count since the software that runs on that hardware is licensed and I'm not running more copies in other hardware.

That should be it, unless there are some legal caveats that I don't realize since I'm not a lawyer.

Seriously Microsoft, each computer has to have its own version of Windows already, cut the crap, either let it alone and have each computer continue to be required to have the OS and not care when people use it to earn money, or let each windows license be tied to a person rather than a computer, which is a model where rental makes more sense.

This is just the beginning, folks. It's the first (visible) step toward leasing all software. It's inevitable. Software companies need steady streams of revenue not (relatively) large lump sums whenever a new version is released. It's only a matter of time until software is treated as a utility. You'll make payments every month just like your electric bill. I hope all you skeptics out there are taking note of this.

Juanc is right, microsoft is breaking their own eula by offering this, but the way they've worded it, nobody will take notice.

This is a retail version of SPLA, which they've had for a while. They're not taking any more money from us people, just the hotels (and integrators who served the hotels). Software licensing is an art from all vendors. At work, I get questions all the time and the end result is that customers usually want to feel legit with their business purchases. Home users, however, are a risk-taking crowd.

The question is, will HP/Dell/Intel/AMD/Nvidia charge me extra if I use their hardware at an internetcafe/hotel?

Or does your car company charge you extra if you use it for rental (the insurance does for obvious reasons, but that's about risk).

The same thing entertainment industry is trying to force us with. No more 2nd hand sales, no showing to a big group of media you bought, it's for your eyes and ears only.

This is the wrong path. We shouldn't go down the one license per person deals. The software is sold for 1 CPU. As long as 1 CPU is using it, it's allowed.

Only good thing with always renting software and thus always paying a fixed price a month means we don't have to get useless upgrades to windows like Vista anymore and they can spend more time making 7. If only the drive remained to make new software too.

You understand the money Hotels have to pay, makes them increase their rates, right? Or anyone else that pays the extra money to Microsoft. It's not to make them feel good, as you suggest. It's to make extra money. The costs of business are naturally passed on to the customer, especially if all businesses are hit with the same fixed cost, as in this case.

So, yes, you will pay for it. Microsoft preys on fools that don't realize it will come out of their pockets, however indirectly.

Problem: MS Office
Solution: Open Office

..and this folks is the truth about windows 7 falling off the shelves. where is that article about 7 being the biggest seller ever in the shortest amount of time. It seems I hear this and know to stand ground where I am..already paying out the wazoo. When a country's gov't steps up to a company that hoarded already, the vengeance continues, in said company, with outright lies...

Just how many different pricing schemes does Microsoft have? Has anyone every bothered to count them?