Is Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack still available?

DJROD said:

You guys are right tho. Some things (Like Windows) i would be worried to buy off ebay not trusting the seller. But if the seller has a 35,000 plus sales...and still 100% feedback. And has pics of the retail version of windows sealed up. I may trust them if the price was right. Not ALL will be bad. But i know what u guys mean...its more like why gamble right.

Yes, why gamble when you can get Technet standard for $199 and have access to tons of stuff including all of the OS's, the servers and Office.

McDougal said:

I am curious about the Microsoft TechNet Standard, but I have a couple of questions. So if I subscribe for $200, for one year I get to download Office, Win7, etc.? So if I paid $200 for a year subscription, I would be able to download myself Office and Win7? Would Office and Win7 still be usable after the year subscription is over? And if I need to reinstall, will I be able to do so?

Yes to all your questions as everything from TechNet is a full retail product.

Just be aware that the EULA for the Technet subscription is pretty literal about what you can, and cannot, actually use those licenses for, specifically evaluation versus personal use.

Software included in TechNet Plus Subscriptions is provided with rights to evaluate. Licensed users may install included content on any number of devices for evaluation purposes only. Only the licensed subscriber may use the included products.

One user may install and use copies of the evaluation software listed in the COMPONENTS.TXT file, even if you obtained a server license. You may use the evaluation software only to evaluate it. You may not use it in a live operating, in a staging environment or with data that has not been sufficiently backed up.

If you're thinking about getting software for personal use, a Technet or MSDN license is technically not meant for that, and you'd be in violation of the EULA for either.T he MS Action Pack has these restrictions as well:

Subject to completion of the application process, acceptance by Microsoft, and payment of the Subscription fee, the Subscription includes a non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free, terminable license to make and use the number of authorized copies of the Microsoft software products ("Products") set forth in the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription Product Licenses table in subsection d below, for internal business use, demonstration, testing, education, and evaluation purposes only ("Product Licenses").

So, if you're looking for a cheap alternative to full retail product, your only real recourse is OEM software (and even that's a legal gray area). However, MSDN, Technet, or MAPS programs are *not* legally licensed for personal use, so considering them for such should be something you should not do.

cluberti,

While I understand what you are saying and I felt that it was very specific, I actually called Microsoft a while back and was told that using it for my everyday home machines indefinitely would not violate the EULA. Here is the thread that I started that day discussing my phone conversation with them.
TechNet "is" ok for use on home computers

They defined production use as running a business using that software. They said that on everyday workstations where you have loaded browsers, games and other pieces of software that in their opinion you were constantly testing out new apps, evaluating games, drivers and the like and in the event that you were ever audited from Microsoft that you would be within your rights in that type of usage. I was quite shocked myself with how cool they were about this scenario.

So, while I deep down feel that using technet software on your everyday machine is a bit weasily and taking advantage of the situation, I also feel that since I called them and described exactly what I intended to do and they said it was just fine....that it's acceptable and not a legal incident.

Of course, with that said, I have 1 OEM copy of Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate which I haven't used, I have 1 retail copy of Windows 7 64-bit from the New Efficiency launch event that I am using and I don't use Microsoft Office. So, while I discuss using Technet quite a bit, I don't actually subscribe for it at home. At work, I have an MSDN agreement and can use whatever I want at work...but I never bring any of that software home.

Yes, I've read that thread, and you did mention "for testing". That would be fine, but things like playing StarCraft 2 might not really be considered 'testing' . To each his or her own, of course - I'm not the internet police nor do I care to be. Also, unless you talked to the legal department, you were either talking to sales or support - I doubt their word on that would be final, but legal's would be.

Do you really believe Microsoft is not aware what is done with their products and how they are used?

cluberti said:

Yes, I've read that thread, and you did mention "for testing". That would be fine, but things like playing StarCraft 2 might not really be considered 'testing' . To each his or her own, of course - I'm not the internet police nor do I care to be. Also, unless you talked to the legal department, you were either talking to sales or support - I doubt their word on that would be final, but legal's would be.

Yeah, went I went back and saw that thread...i was dissapointed with myself for using the word "testing". I certainly did not use that word on the phone. I said, this is the machine that I use everyday for reading my emails, connecting to work via a VPN, checking the web, playing video games, and I might use this machine for 2-3 years on a single install of the OS.

dolittle said:

Here is my thoughts on this. You spend good money ether buying or building a new computer. Why would you not invest in a retail or upgrade 7 operating system to run on this nice computer you have. Skimping on the shoftware seems to be a wast of money.

Well, I think it's mainly because a retail copy of Windows 7 would run $200 and a retail copy of Office another $200-$300. For many people, that's a great deal of money to drop. Especially those who have 2-3 computers and want the latest and newest on all of them.

dolittle said:

Here is my thoughts on this. You spend good money ether buying or building a new computer. Why would you not invest in a retail or upgrade 7 operating system to run on this nice computer you have. Skimping on the shoftware seems to be a wast of money.

Bare Foot Kid said:

McDougal said:

I am curious about the Microsoft TechNet Standard, but I have a couple of questions. So if I subscribe for $200, for one year I get to download Office, Win7, etc.? So if I paid $200 for a year subscription, I would be able to download myself Office and Win7? Would Office and Win7 still be usable after the year subscription is over? And if I need to reinstall, will I be able to do so?

Yes to all your questions as everything from TechNet is a full retail product.

Everything offered at TechNet is full retail.