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#11
It says right in those links this.
witch means that it's the full version, and it doesn't ever expire, but they'd like you to uninstall, or renew when your subscripion to technet ends.. So basically, I have 3 PC's and 2 laptops that need upgrades. 3 of the machines have NO OS other than Win 7, so no way to do upgrades. only one I could use the old XP disk and upgrade with, plus I need Office 7 and other things, this makes a great deal. Plus the coupon code going around, Tech net account is only $249, thats a steal. much better than buying Home Premium, or Ultimate for all my machines, and I can use them as LOOOOONG as I'd like.. and I may or may not renew later next year, depends on if I need to.Full-version evaluation software without time limits
FYI as the license reads, your keys expire if you let your subscription lapse, you are supposed to cease using those licenses then. Currently MS does not blacklist the keys that were generated to former technet subscribers. (mainly to ease the pain if a sub. doesnt get renewed right away) It would be really easy for them to blacklist the keys after a 6month grace period.
I've read the License Terms (here: TechNet Plus Subscriptions License Terms) several times and cannot see where the keys expire if the subscription lapses and that licensees are then supposed to cease using the software. Indeed, the front page highlights no time limits:
Could you point to where in the License Terms it says keys expire and use ends with the subscription? Maybe I'm missing something. Thanks.Evaluate.
Full-version software with no time limits.
Evaluate full-version commercial software products like Windows 7 Release Candidate without time or feature limits, including these titles:
Windows 7 Release Candidate
Windows Server 2008
SQL Server 2008
Microsoft Office System
Tom
thats what I thought as well.. They are not time limited, so what they are saying is they are full versions of the items, and they will work forever, but they are not to be used in a business, and not to be sold, or shared and such. They are personal copies of the software, for people to demo, and try out. But they don't stop working when your account ends.
plus, I'll probably renew anyways
The word "evaluate" means to try out. Which implies that its not for permanent use.
But its not a once only payment, you have to renew the subscriptions every year - if you don't then legally once your subscription expires the software has to be removed.
When speaking to the Technet help desk once - they said you can have the same licence on 1 or 100 computers for evaluation purposes.
There are different levels of subscriptions for Technet & MSDN.
When I filled out my original application form, I had to enter (from memory - thats a while back now) all my company details, then someone in MS has to have a look and approve or disapprove the application - its not automatic - as MS did phone me to clarify one minor inconsistancy.
The License Terms do state:
"...You may use the evaluation software only to evaluate it. You may not use it in a live operating, in a staging environment...."
That seems pretty clear to me. While your home may not be a business, it can certainly be considered a "live operating" environment.
Beyond a lawyer's interpretation (which I am not) how you interpret the license is really be based on how your personal ethics define how long the evaluation period should last. If you are purchasing an evaluation license to use long-term in a production environment, you are, in my opinion, breaking the agreement.