Win 7 Home Premium Will Have Family Pack
Up to three people in the same household can now share in the Windows 7 love. But they have to keep it all inside the family.
Despite Microsoft's reduced price for Windows 7 Home Premium over the same version of Vista, analysts still feel that it's still a bit too pricey.
NPD Group VP of industry analysis Stephen Baker wrote last week about his displeasure that Microsoft isn't offering a multiple user license package like Apple is for Snow Leopard ($29 for a single user license and $49 for a family pack).
Ed Bott of ZDNet spotted signs in the latest leaked builds of Windows 7 a license agreement that mentions a Family Pack that provisions for three installations in the household.
The relevant section reads: "If you are a 'Qualified Family Pack User', you may install one copy of the software marked as 'Family Pack' on three computers in your household for use by people who reside there."
Microsoft has yet to make any formal announcements on pricing, but the existence of such a section in the licensing is as good as any confirmation that there will be some form of bundle discount for families who wish to install Windows 7 on multiple machines.
It's also worth noting that only Windows 7 Home Premium includes the licensing for the Family Pack. Large businesses that use Professional and Ultimate versions will have to pursue volume licensing agreements with Microsoft.

Correction: It's perceived value is higher. It's actual value is significantly lower than the perceived value. Perceived value comes through brainwashing.
If a student lives with their parents, installs one of the licenses on his laptop; a year after he finds a job, moves to his own flat. Of course the EULA doens't allow this, after all, they no longer reside on the same house. Again, nothing is going to happen; the police isn't going to knock on your door saying: "Look Microsoft told us you have been conecting to the Internet from a diffferent location for more than six months now, so you either: move back to your parents home; bring your parents to live with you, or we will have to confiscate your harddrive"
Oh well.. all in all it'a a positive thing! After all Antivirus packages have had 3 licenses for one or two years now! And for teh first time it actually makes sense. With Vista Microsoft probably actually may not have wanted you to upgrade your old low end Pentium 4 to Vista beacause of it's slugishness. Now that a few years have passed, and probably most people will at least have a high end Pentium 4, a Pentium D or an Athlon, and Windows 7 even runs more or less well on a Netbook, it actually makes sense to upgrade.
Instead of "wishing" people reside in the same house, they could just say: you're entitled to install the OS on 3 different computers, as long as it's not for commercial use. It's still wishful thinking on their behalf, but at least it's not ridiculous.
It's almost like saying Windows 7 Home premium PC's can't get out of the door because they're "Home" Editions. And they might get a cold or something
Which brings me to this: why on earth is the "Home" still clinging on to the name ever since XP ?
Is there a Windows 7 Holiday Edtion ?; a Windows 7 Traveling-by-Train/Car/Boat Edition ?
Why not simply "Windows 7 Premium" ?
When you go to a store and you buy a laptop, you do with it whatever you want, you cna just go back to your job and use it there. How is that "Home" ?
Really, Microsoft still has a few edges to polish.
Wait, how much did you pay for your hardware again?
Tool
At the time a good chunk less than what the competition could offer similar specced workstations for and also less than you could build an identical home built system for. Its also worth more now than said equivalent systems from the likes of Dell.
You're right, I do use it as a tool - probably the best value tool I ever bought.
Wait, how many hardware configurations are available for use under that OS?
Correction: It's perceived value is higher. It's actual value is significantly lower than the perceived value. Perceived value comes through brainwashing.
im pretty sure i have built computers that are cheaper than your cheapest laptop and yet they are workstations with components your "wonderful" mac doesnt even offer...
It would also imply that one user could install it on three of their computers (like a desktop and laptop), no? So, in a way, it would be like buying other software apps that allow you to install it on two computers (provided you don't use both at the same time
Also, how would they keep track of hardware changes across 3 computers? It is already a pain in the arse to have to reactivate Windows when you replace some component (like the HD).
Because everyone knows that Apple computers appreciate over time. You know, like goo wine.
/sarcastic
That was a good comparison. Comparing a home-built desktop system with a high-quality design laptop makes perfect sense! /irony-mode off
It was like saving $20 for 3 or 5 users... some garbage like that. Whoopdeoo!