New
#11
An upgrade license is a retail license- like a regular retail license it can be transferred freely from one computer to another (as long as its used on only one at any given time) provided each such computer has a qualifying underlying OS. So unlike an OEM license, an upgrade license doesnt die with the mobo it was first installed on.
At the risk of being told I am a nag, the $150 home premium pack is a real steal- you get three retail upgrade licenses.
Here it is at TigerDirect $149.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5224197&Sku=M17-0080Upgrade
$149.99
Extra $10 OFF - Enter Code:
QJT11359 at Checkout
Yes, OEM licenses of XP qualify as valid, underlying OS for win7 upgrade licenses.I understand your explanation regarding the upgrade license. But is that also true if the OS you upgraded (let's say XP) was an OEM license (which would be the case in most non-geeky households).
Yes, I can see the contradiction here- folks who purchased a full XP license are being placed at par with those with OEM licenses and we know that there can be a double or triple price difference between the two. But I suppose such is the logic of new OS marketing.
And again, if you think in broader terms, the ethical decision is being left to the end user- upgrade licenses can be legally used only if you have an underlying, qualifying OS but as we all know, upgrade disks can perform a clean install of win7 on a blank, unformatted hard drive. So who's to check and how, whether the underlying existed?
Point is once a new OS is released, the only thing that matters are its sales, everything else becomes subordinate to it.
Thanks Bill. That is interesting. Not very logical, but as you say, they are out to push the numbers. Ethics take the back row - as with many things in life.