Journal Erris's Journal: Microsoft Forces Software Assurance on Business 2
Microsoft has changed their pricing structure to force business users to buy into Software Assurance (SA):
In a dramatic departure from the past, Software Assurance or Enterprise Agreement is required to buy the main business version of Windows Vista and to obtain vital desktop deployment tools.
... Office 2007 imposes similar licensing changes, but there is a difference: Many businesses already buy Office through volume licensing. By contrast, most businesses buy Windows on new PCs. ... The major benefit goes to Microsoft rather than customers or even the channel. The company is willing to supplant customer choice for the benefit of its balance sheet.
Once again, it's their way or the highway. This is the same plan that most companies would rather do without. Forester research shows that less than 11% of SA customers are renewing. Even Laura Didio admits that SA drives up prices and lengthens software cycles. If Vista itself was not driving enough people to free software, these new licensing terms will.
Re: (Score:1)
Maybe you just don't like the message:
a.) Vista blows
b.) M$ is now charging its corporate customers more for a bloated stinking piece of software that gets thumped by its older OS, XP.
First post?