Windows 7 Family Pack returning in Oct.

[Chiefcrowe]

FYI -

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/220013.asp?source=rss

 

[RebateMonger]

Great news!

I was bummed when MS cancelled the original offer so quickly. I was also bummed that I didn't order forty or fifty of them since the family packs were going for twice their cost on eBay when they disappeared from store shelves.

 

[TrueBlueLS]

Hmm... buy this or subscribe to TechNet...

 

[wirednuts]

technet is worth the money if you run multiple systems...

 

[corkyg]

Have used Technet for three years. Will stick with it. But, I notice that a great many software OEMs are now offering family pack deals. It just makes a lot of sense.

 

[ViRGE]

It's about damn time. MS should have never discontinued the family pack in the first place. And they need to include individual keys; using 1 key may seem simple, but it sounds like it gave some people trouble when they wanted to reactivate systems.

And guys, Technet is for evaluation purposes only. You're not supposed to be using it on production systems, which your family's computers surely fall under.

 

[Tsavo]

It's about damn time. MS should have never discontinued the family pack in the first place. And they need to include individual keys; using 1 key may seem simple, but it sounds like it gave some people trouble when they wanted to reactivate systems.

And guys, Technet is for evaluation purposes only. You're not supposed to be using it on production systems, which your family's computers surely fall under.

I have the family pack. I had to call in the 3rd machine on the first install and every reinstall on any of my 3 PC's since. Takes about 6 minutes and they haven't given me any grief.

 

[RebateMonger]

And they need to include individual keys;

My guess is that MS uses a single Key to keep folks from reselling individual licenses to strangers. The idea is to give a discount to families who need multiple licenses without de-valuing single-license packages. If three Keys were included in each Family Pack box, you could buy a $150 package, keep one, and sell the other two Keys.

With only one Key, you have to trust the person to whom you are giving the Key. If you give the Key to a stranger, they could Activate three PCs and you'd be out of Activations.

 

[ViRGE]

I have the family pack. I had to call in the 3rd machine on the first install and every reinstall on any of my 3 PC's since. Takes about 6 minutes and they haven't given me any grief.

And that's what I mean. Sure MS doesn't give you any grief, but you shouldn't need to make that call at all. It didn't even let you install it on 3 machines in the first place.

 

[Tsavo]

And that's what I mean. Sure MS doesn't give you any grief, but you shouldn't need to make that call at all. It didn't even let you install it on 3 machines in the first place.

Or you can get Technet and spare yourself the grief.

I had to call to activate Office 2010 Pro on my laptop. Not whining about that, since they gave it to me free.

 

[stlcardinals]

Hmm... buy this or subscribe to TechNet...

If you need Windows 7 for more than one user, get the family pack. Technet is licensed for one user only.

 

[rudder]

Hmm... buy this or subscribe to TechNet...

Amen, I upgraded 1 pc, 2 laptops to windows 7, got Windows Home Server, Office 2010 all for under $200.

 

[Paperlantern]

It's about damn time. MS should have never discontinued the family pack in the first place. And they need to include individual keys; using 1 key may seem simple, but it sounds like it gave some people trouble when they wanted to reactivate systems.

And guys, Technet is for evaluation purposes only. You're not supposed to be using it on production systems, which your family's computers surely fall under.

Amen, I upgraded 1 pc, 2 laptops to windows 7, got Windows Home Server, Office 2010 all for under $200.

/facepalm

 

[Brovane]

It's about damn time. MS should have never discontinued the family pack in the first place. And they need to include individual keys; using 1 key may seem simple, but it sounds like it gave some people trouble when they wanted to reactivate systems.

And guys, Technet is for evaluation purposes only. You're not supposed to be using it on production systems, which your family's computers surely fall under.

Actually somebody called MS about using Tech-Net at home and this is the response they go. So your families computer doesn't fall under a production system as long as you are not running a business off this computer.

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/20444-technet-ok-use-home-computers.html

So, after debating this issue with several on this forum and discussing the technet licensing agreement over and over again, I finally picked up the phone and called MS directly to get the official response on this.

They said, the use of TechNet software for a single individual across multiple machines in a home environment for testing purposes was not a violation of the license agreement and would not be considered a problem in the event that you were ever audited by Microsoft. He said as long as you aren't running, supporting, operating a business with the TechNet software, you are within your legal rights to use and evaluate the software however you see fit and for as long as necessary.

So, for anybody that has been concerned about this or considering the purchase of a Technet subscription to get Windows 7 Ultimate (or other software) installed for a cheaper price than standard licensing as long as you aren't sharing with your friends and using the software in a business environment...you are good to go.

Just wanted to share...since my understanding has always been different on this program.

If somebody else feels the need to call for clarification, the number I dialed was 1-800-344-2121.

 

[RebateMonger]

Actually somebody called MS about using Tech-Net at home and this is the response they go. So your families computer doesn't fall under a production system as long as you are not running a business off this computer.

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/20444-technet-ok-use-home-computers.html

Out of MS' three major subscription software plans (Action Pack, MSDN, and Technet), the Technet subscription has always had the most vague license terms. And the reality is that, for years, home users have been buying Technet subscriptions and running all their PCs with the Keys. It's also obvious that Microsoft isn't about to audit or sue a home user for compliance.

Microsoft has long made it clear that the final "word" in licensing is the EULA. You can talk to MS employees and you can read MS websites and Forums, but MS will tell you that, like the IRS, the actual wording of the EULA (or Tax Law in the case of the IRS) is what counts. And since the EULA isn't a "law", but, rather, a "contract", the "true" interpretation is best gleaned from previous civil court rulings.

 

[Brovane]

Out of MS' three major subscription software plans (Action Pack, MSDN, and Technet), the Technet subscription has always had the most vague license terms. And the reality is that, for years, home users have been buying Technet subscriptions and running all their PCs with the Keys. It's also obvious that Microsoft isn't about to audit or sue a home user for compliance.

Microsoft has long made it clear that the final "word" in licensing is the EULA. You can talk to MS employees and you can read MS websites and Forums, but MS will tell you that, like the IRS, the actual wording of the EULA (or Tax Law in the case of the IRS) is what counts. And since the EULA isn't a "law", but, rather, a "contract", the "true" interpretation is best gleaned from previous civil court rulings.

Has there ever been a Microsoft Tech-Net subscriber that has been found at fault for using the Tech-net software at home for non-business purposes? Can anyone point to a court ruling where a family computer has been defined as a production system?

At the end of the day, basically MS Tech-net is a subscription model for MS software which in some ways is what MS wants. You pay a yearly fee to use any MS software that you want. It is a great deal and MS makes money on it.

 

[RebateMonger]

Has there ever been a Microsoft Tech-Net subscriber that has been found at fault for using the Tech-net software at home for non-business purposes? Can anyone point to a court ruling where a family computer has been defined as a production system?

MS has made public its lawsuits of Action Pack subscribers who were purchasing multiple Action Packs and selling the licenses on eBay and elsewhere.

I imagine MS has also sued MSDN subscribers who've been selling Keys on places like Craig's list. MS' Public Activation support forums have many examples of folks being sold MSDN Keys that have been blacklisted when MS realizes they are being used by multiple people across the country.

But I haven't yet heard of any MS lawsuits involving TechNet subscriptions. That doesn't mean they don't exist. I just haven't heard of any.

And, as suggested in the earlier link and my post, I doubt that MS has any reasonable way to do an audit of a subscriber's home. If a problem was suspected, MS could cancel the subscription and, in theory, blacklist the Keys. I can't imagine MS going any further than that.

MS' solution in the case of the Action Pack was to require prerequisite technical exams before obtaining a subscription. I haven't heard of any other purchase prerequisites for MSDN or Technet.

 

[Brovane]

MS has made public its lawsuits of Action Pack subscribers who were purchasing multiple Action Packs and selling the licenses on eBay and elsewhere.

I imagine MS has also sued MSDN subscribers who've been selling Keys on places like Craig's list. MS' Public Activation support forums have many examples of folks being sold MSDN Keys that have been blacklisted when MS realizes they are being used by multiple people across the country.

But I haven't yet heard of any MS lawsuits involving TechNet subscriptions. That doesn't mean they don't exist. I just haven't heard of any.

And, as suggested in the earlier link and my post, I doubt that MS has any reasonable way to do an audit of a subscriber's home. If a problem was suspected, MS could cancel the subscription and, in theory, blacklist the Keys. I can't imagine MS going any further than that.

MS' solution in the case of the Action Pack was to require prerequisite technical exams before obtaining a subscription. I haven't heard of any other purchase prerequisites for MSDN or Technet.

Of course if someone took MS Tech-net software and tried to re-sale it that would be a clear violation of the EULA argeement I would fully expect MS to come after that person. However for someone using the software on multiple computers inside the same residence I have not been able to find a single example of MS coming after them. Even if that person allows multiple users to use that software within the same residence I cannot find any examples.