Windows 7 - Family pack, IP address and future upgrade

Hello

I was just wondering if Microsoft will do "IP address verification" when someone buy a family pack. In other words, is it possible for 3 friends to buy the family pack and to install it in 3 differents houses?

Also, will it be possible for me to upgrade to a single Windows 8 license with a 7 family pack license? Thanks for any insight.

pom

Microsoft hasn't said much about the family pack except to confirm that it exists. You can't buy it until Oct 22 anyway, and by then, there should be more details.

Whatever the details may be, it would be impossible to do any sort of IP address enforcement, since residential IP addresses are almost all dynamic, people could have laptops that travel, families may own multiple homes, etc.

With the purchase of a family pack, you can install and activate on 3 computers. There is no technical requirement that they must be in same home, on same network, etc. So, you could easily share with 3 friends.

As to licensing on Windows 8...we barely have any idea what is going on with Windows 7. No ideas on Win8 yet.

ok, good news then. thanks for the info

I wouldn't expect any IP address verification.

People could indeed have something used at a vacation home, a laptop that travels to the local coffeehouse Wi-Fi, etc. There might be something in the licensing that says something about limitations, but until it's out, no one will know. You can certainly expect each activation tied to each computer though.

Normally there shouldn't be a problem upgrading from a genuine install of Windows 7 (family pack or otherwise) to something like Windows 8, but until they come out with Windows 8 years from now, no one will know. For all anyone knows they'll completely change purchase structure by then and there won't be any upgrades, and they'll just do one version with a flat fee regardless, etc.

Hopefully within another month or so they'll start talking more about the family packs. Don't be surprised if it's something they don't have available immediately on October 22 though. They could easily let early adopters do individual licenses then do family packs a month or two later to grab those who are still sitting on the fence.

I'd say if Microsoft will still be the company they used to be, the family pack Windows 7 will just be about a license key that could activate triple times that the usual one does.

Trust me, it will be that simple, as a habit from the lazy MS.

What is the price of Family Pack for Home Premium? Or Vista Home Premium if Microsoft have not released details yet?

MSFT hasn't released any pricing figures, but based on leaks from a few retailers (though this is subject to change), it'll cost around $150.