Foo - Microsoft can kiss my ass

Their licensing is ridiculous. I never rant about how bad they are because generally I don't run into problems but this blows.

I have 30 new computers blank slate
I want to buy licenses for them for office 2003 (I can't run 2007) and windows xp (I can't/won't run vista)
In order to do this I HAVE to buy vista and 2007 AND SA (software assurance) which essentially doubles the price of the order in order to run a legacy program

Becuase this rule came out of left field my budget is useless and I am stuck with 30,000$ in overages. Now I am just trying to think of what pc's could run linux to try to pull some licenses over. If only Mac could run the software I am mandated to run. The reason this comes as a surprise is previous generation software all allowed downgrade options for free.

****ing microsoft...just jam that red hot poker further up my ass.

Crossover Office runs Office 2003 cleanly on Linux machines. OpenOffice.org is an alternative, but may involve a learning curve for some of your users.

Sorry to hear you're having problems with the largest software maker in the world.:rolleyes:

Can you have them swing by and kiss my ass as well? Thanks.

Crossover Office runs Office 2003 cleanly on Linux machines. OpenOffice.org is an alternative, but may involve a learning curve for some of your users.

Sorry to hear you're having problems with the largest software maker in the world.:rolleyes:

It wouldn't sting at all, if they still allowed downgrade options...in fact it would be simple, software assurance is a promise of future upgrades, now its a combination upgrade downgrade. It makes no legit sense and is only a money grab (I know that the default answer for everything, but their other licensing makes some sense to me)

Office isn't my concern to be honest, its all the 3rd part software which require windows that makes it annoying. (and can't run on vista) If it were just office, I would linuxfy the whole building in a heart beat.

Couldn't you buy them through another distributor to get just what you wanted?

LOLOLOLOLOLOL




*slinks back to my field of macs*

BTW....I work right next door to M$ headquarters. Wanna me to do something? :D *evil grin*

Downgrade options?

Downgrade options?

Back when windows xp came out, 2000 licensing was discontinued. A lot of 3rd part software couldn't run on xp so windows offers with almost all new software downgrade options. So you can legit install 2000 instead of running xp with the understanding you will upgrade to xp asap.

With vista this applies only to SA, Select and OEM versions leaving standard corporate licensees with a hot poker up their ass. (ps if you have an oem version of vista you can downgrade if you don't like it ;))

BTW....I work right next door to M$ headquarters. Wanna me to do something? :D *evil grin*

I am thinking big freaking pipe bomb is in order. haha

BTW....I work right next door to M$ headquarters. Wanna me to do something? :D *evil grin*


I could probably find some Apple stickers.

Couldn't you buy them through another distributor to get just what you wanted?

I would need to find a distributor with xp and office 2003 licenses. I suppose thats possible, but the party line from 4 distributors so far is they are not allowed to sell xp and office 2003 anymore. Vista and 2007 are it.

I would need to find a distributor with xp and office 2003 licenses. I suppose thats possible, but the party line from 4 distributors so far is they are not allowed to sell xp and office 2003 anymore. Vista and 2007 are it.


Well, you've got until November to decide. XP becomes history after that.

I could probably find some Apple stickers.Probably? If Apple computers still come with a sheet of stickers like they did in the six-color days, I'm thinking you can probably find at least a few thousand stickers... ;)

Nope, just the solid white/off gray ones these days.

Oh, I know they aren six colors anymore, but the old computers would come with a sheet of stickers. Two large, two small, and maybe a few more little ones.

I think the gays killed it for the old colours.













(I kid, I kid.)

Well, you've got until November to decide. XP becomes history after that.

IMO it already is. If I can't get licensing for it than that just kills it.

I understand depreciation but up until november you could STILL run 2000 if you had an xp license (I have one boss who hated xp and office 2003 and refused to upgrade) But both his licenses were still covered.

and as for the mac jokes, they don't run any 3rd party programs either. Unfortunately some of my software is mandated by our corporate company and I have no choice as to what to use. Heck I can't even install IE7 (thank god)

It's a double-edged sword I tell ya.

What you should do is break into teh MS building and set the automatic lights to flash on for 5 seconds every hour in the shape of the Linux penguin (Tux).

That should do it. It won't fix your problems Mael (sorry), but at the least it will give the world another laugh at MS's expense.

Get the machines without an os and buy xp? Not sure if the oem part is a problem.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=335900&CatId=672