[humorous rant] I've just been advising someone on Vista..
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:58 am
I've just spent the better part of the last 2 hours giving advice to someone from the States whom I have frequent (non-related) conversations with, about Vista and it's Business/Enterprise licensing. To set the scene, this guy is very competent with machines, he is far from being a "noob" (though I still take great pleasure in calling him one) and is probably one of the most clued-up guys I know. But anyway..
They have received their MSDN copies of Vista Ultimate and he has been asked to deploy it on 200machines.
Long story short - it can't feasibly be done. The Network managed licenses are only available in "Business" and "Enterprise" versions of Vista (from what I can find on the 'net.)
At this point, the chap starts ranting at Microsoft in a typical geek like fashion. "If we were using Mac's or Linux we'd not have any of these problems blah blah" "Microshaft are ripoff merchants etc."
To which I retorted it's not exactly their fault that his company have decided to use the "Ultimate" edition, which is essentially similar to XP Home.. i.e. for non-enterprise use.. Licenses are managed locally etc. etc. MSDN release candidates are only for giving a headsup to developers/admins and for bughunting etc. etc.
Then comes the cream of the pudding..
"Dude, I'm blaming Microsoft because that is my employer! I support the Microsoft helpdesk! Whenever you dial 1-800-Microsoft; that's my office!"
I was in tears for a moment or two.
(because a) He's asking me about the license and deployment issues - I have *nothing* to do with Vista or Microsoft and b) He works for Microsoft [supporting the support desk of all places] and doesn't have a better idea of how Microsoft intend to operate their licensing)
They have received their MSDN copies of Vista Ultimate and he has been asked to deploy it on 200machines.
Long story short - it can't feasibly be done. The Network managed licenses are only available in "Business" and "Enterprise" versions of Vista (from what I can find on the 'net.)
At this point, the chap starts ranting at Microsoft in a typical geek like fashion. "If we were using Mac's or Linux we'd not have any of these problems blah blah" "Microshaft are ripoff merchants etc."
To which I retorted it's not exactly their fault that his company have decided to use the "Ultimate" edition, which is essentially similar to XP Home.. i.e. for non-enterprise use.. Licenses are managed locally etc. etc. MSDN release candidates are only for giving a headsup to developers/admins and for bughunting etc. etc.
Then comes the cream of the pudding..
"Dude, I'm blaming Microsoft because that is my employer! I support the Microsoft helpdesk! Whenever you dial 1-800-Microsoft; that's my office!"
(because a) He's asking me about the license and deployment issues - I have *nothing* to do with Vista or Microsoft and b) He works for Microsoft [supporting the support desk of all places] and doesn't have a better idea of how Microsoft intend to operate their licensing)