Re: Ordering Windows license and install CD from CDW-G

Rune Stromsness wrote:
> jpk_at_berkeley.edu wrote:
>> Our department needs to purchase several Windows licenses that will be
>> installed on Intel Macs that will have Parallels running.
>>
>> We received a quote from Jaqui Stilson at CDW-G with part numbers for the
>> a Windows License and
>> and an installation CD.
>>
>> -----------------------------------------------------------
>> The description for the Windows License reads :
>>
>> Microsoft Windows Vista Business - upgrade license
>> Upgrade license - 1 PC - Select - All Languages
>> MFG#: 66J-00592 1061560 In Stock $56.85
>>
>> The description for the Windows Installation CD :
>>
>> Microsoft Windows XP Professional Language Interface Pack w/ SP2 - media
>> Media - volume - CD - Multilingual
>> MFG#: E85-02830 753675 Call $21.42
>> -----------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>> Since the description says "upgrade license" I just wanted to make sure
>> that this is the correct product. In other words, we don't want to
>> upgrade
>> an existing computer that already has Windows, we want to install a
>> completely new copy of Windows.
>
> My understanding is that the licenses quoted above actually wouldn't get
> you fully legal to run Windows on a machine that didn't come with some
> sort of Windows OEM license to begin with (such as a Mac).

I found an educause archive discussing the same question and that led me
to find buried in Microsoft's licensing terms language that makes be
believe that the original quote from CDW-G would be perfectly fine to
get you to legally run Windows Vista Business the Macintosh.

http://listserv.educause.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind06&L=licensing&P=11730

http://www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/userights/Downloader.aspx?DocumentId=923

It specifically lists that for the "Campus & School, Select - Academic,
and Open - Academic Programs" that the products that are eligible to use
an upgrade license to get to Windows Vista Business are:
* Windows Vista (Business N, Business K, Business KN, Ultimate, Home
Premium, Home Basic, and Starter Edition)
* Windows XP (Professional, Tablet PC, Pro N, Pro Blade PC, Home, Starter)
* Windows 2000 Pro
* Windows NT Workstation 4
* Windows 98
* Apple Macintosh

So, it appears that for a Mac you can use the upgrade license (or not
even need to buy something specific if you're department is
participating in MCCA and has Windows upgrade licenses as part of that
agreement).

But for virtual machines running on VMWare it still appears that there
isn't a good solution.

> I believe the cheapest way to get where you wanted to go would be:
>
> 1)
> Microsoft Windows Vista Business - license
> CDW Part: 1119570 Mfg. Part: 66J-00016
> $270.74
>
> this gets you the non-upgrade license
>
> 2)
> Microsoft Windows Vista Business - software assurance
> CDW Part: 1061561 Mfg. Part: 66J-00818-1
> $14.35
>
> As long as you buy this within 90 days of the purchase of the full
> license (http://www.microsoft.com/education/softwareassurance.mspx#ERG)
> this will cover the license under software assurance and allow you to
> downgrade to Windows XP Pro w/ SP2. (There are no downgrade rights
> available for Windows Vista Home or Home Premium licenses --
> http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/2/3/d23b9533-169d-4996-b198-7b9d3fe15611/downgrade_chart.doc
> ).
>
> 3)
> Microsoft Windows XP Professional Language Interface Pack w/ SP2 - media
> CDW Part: 753675 Mfg. Part: E85-02830
> $21.42
>
> This gets you the media to actually install the system if you need
> volume license Windows XP SP2 media. (If you already have available
> such media, including from an ISO download from MSDN or someone with
> MCCA agreement access to the ISO's then you wouldn't need this, and
> could then not have any physical deliverables and avoid paying sales or
> use tax.)
>
>
> <rant>
> I do find it very annoying that Microsoft has no good or affordable
> license options for those of us who need full licenses to put onto
> machines that are already licensed for an OS for some reason or another
> (as a second OS on a Mac or as a new virtual machine running XP or Vista
> on a big VMWare or Virtual Server box). We can buy a full Windows
> Server 2003 R2 license through select for $81.47. But we can't buy full
> Windows XP or Windows Vista licenses through Select or MCCA, and the
> cost we end up having to pay is $270.74 each -- more than three times
> the cost of a server license. The costs really work out weirdly if you
> have a VMWare host with 2 dual-core processors that might be running 30
> virtual boxes for end users. That costs $8,122 to license to run
> Windows XP or Windows Vista on those 30 VM's. But only costs $541 to
> license to run the "more expensive" Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise on
> those 30 VM's.
> </rant>
>
> Rune
>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Jack King
>> Disabled Students Program
>> 50 Cesar Chavez
[...]

-- 
Rune Stromsness
Systems Supervisor
Senior Systems Administrator
Network & Infrastructure Services
Residential and Student Service Programs IT
University of California, Berkeley
runes_at_berkeley.edu
510-643-8052
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