Windows 7: TechNet "is" ok for use on home computers

Sorry on getting back to this too late, but I presented my case somewhat differently.

I gave them my real name (which is what I used for my Technet Sub also) and got into a discussion with 3 different people, one of whom was a 'manager'. Being of Indian descent it helped at one point, being able to communicate more clearly, but the gist I got was a slightly different one.

I was told that since I was a Beta tester for many applications and an official one that I was in fact in violation - however, the third person I talked to, a 'manager', asked a critical question - if I was being paid by any business for beta testing, Since I am not being compensated in any major way for my time and effort (except, perhaps, in the occasional bone of a free software) I was told that I was not, in fact, in violation of the Sub I had purchased, and furthermore, I could either use the same key for multiple installs in my home network or else use separate keys (which, unfortunately, I have already done).

Nice to know that pparks and I got the same message from (presumably) different sets of folks....

I used that coupon - in fact, the $100 off coupon that I tried to use instead gave me the 25% off - not quite as much off, but in the grand scheme of things, a difference of 11.75 I can live with....

Indeed. However, I maintain 4 computers at the house, am building a new machine for myself, and am building a small component test bench so I can easily test equipment - that will be 5 full computers and the test bench....

Although the test bench won't have an activated license (due to me generally finishing testing well before 30 days is up ) the other 5 do - evne if I had signed up for upgrade copies at hte discounted rate, it'd be hard to match 5 licenses for Win 7 Ultimate....

It's only worth it if you're either really testing the software or else need more than 2 copies of W7....or so it seems. With licenses for Office 2007, Windows Home Server, and numerous other products, you really cannot go wrong with e technet sub.

Indeed - we had a major debate going in another thread about this....

*could* - but there are limitations on that as well. If you're not a developer....

besides, as a college student, I qualify for https://www.dreamspark.com/default.aspx - much better offer

Indeed - it is a great program to help get M$ more and more entrenched in the software market

Actually, if Office 2010 is released in final form within the next year from now, a Technet sub, might be worth it for even one computer, just for W7 Ultimate and Office 2010. Seems to me this is arguably one of the best times in quite a while to sign up for a Technet subscription.

Hi all

I agree with all this so far -- but eventually you actually have to test stuff out in a Production / Live environment even if it's only for 5 minutes.

So would actually be running a "business test" with say 1 customer for a short period actually be a violation.

You can test as much as you want in a "test" or development environment but eventually you actually have to try in a "real" environment to see if the software really works.

I'm sure I'm not the only person on these boards who've tested stuff ad nauseam in a QC and a test environment only to find out that there's some unforseen glitch that occurs in running the "REAL THING" on a production system.

I'm not sure what the official policy is but I really would want to try a small "Real Live" business test first before commiting oodles of dollars to something that might not work.

I'm sure MS wouldn't consider this a violation so long as you weren't running the software in day to day operations as a business. One off or limited business testing DOES need to be done of course and this means moving the test out of I.T into the business functional area for USERS to actually test it as well.

Cheers
jimbo

..... So no, you're not "good to go".

Is 30 days too short a time frame to conduct the real world, even real time, test?

I do not see the problem, much less the conflict.

I have TN sub, paid for by a client, with several installations in my home "office". I will have no qualms whatsoever doing a full install of Win7 + Office 2007 Pro + Visio Pro + Project + whatever from the TN library on one or more actual production machines in that or any other client's office for them to evaluate it. Whether for 1 month or 3 months.

The reality is I cannot test every feature and the features I might consider irrelevant or never use they might consider critical. That is the purpose of an evaluation period.

With Win7 I at least have some confidence the configuration/setup issues will be resolved and accepted and the systems placed into production under the client(s) VL agreement. I could not make that same statement about Vista.

Also, as I have mentioned in another thread's discussion....

"I am sure MS is aware that many Technet Subscribers continue evaluating a number of their selected products long after the originating TN subscription expires. It does not dampen MS's exuberance when selling the 1st year for $350. I would speculate that word of mouth advertising for the products and subsequent upgrade sales balance the scales of cost/benefit/risk analysis to MS."

"Anyway, I am glad MS is a for profit enterprise with a product(s) that they have a vested interest in maintaining. Prices could always be cheaper for home users/enthusiasts with multiple computers and needs ...... maybe a sales/marketing venue like Technet?"

One other point. When a consumer picks up a boxed Win7 HP Upgrade kit from a BB shelf and pays $120 for it, how much of that $120 goes into the MS coffers? If that same user were to buy a TN subscription for $250 with a $100 discount, how much dos MS get?

Exactly. I imagine all those times they ran those $99 TechNet subscription specials in the past was probably during the time they weren't really releasing anything worth grabbing or testing, but then again, if you had W2K or WXP, it would have been worth it to subscribe at that time and pick up Vista Ultimate and Office 2007.