Windows 8 System Builder Version May Come Cheap

A Windows license has traditionally been one of the most expensive components when building your own PC, but that may change with Windows 8.

Windows 8 brings some major differences in licensing from past versions. Most notably, the so-called “Full Packaged Product” is out, and a new “Personal Use License (System Builder)” version is in. This lets users install the software on a computer they've built or as an additional operating system on a virtual machine or separate partition.

Read more at:
Windows 8 System Builder Version May Come Cheap | PCWorld
 
We can hope, but that article is a digestion of another article that is a well founded rumor mixed with some guessing.

Hoping it's true, and really given the amount of advertising already in it with FLOODS to come and MS taking a 30% share of software sales, the thing aught to be practically free! That $40 upgrade price aught to be the end user purchase price period.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7/8
Yes, they are being very aggressive trying to get more money out of users via online services and apps.

Too aggressive, I fear.

Puts a lot of people off.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
We can hope, but that article is a digestion of another article that is a well founded rumor mixed with some guessing.

Hoping it's true, and really given the amount of advertising already in it with FLOODS to come and MS taking a 30% share of software sales, the thing aught to be practically free! That $40 upgrade price aught to be the end user purchase price period.

Thanks for the article lead, Brink. :)

I agree, Fseal. A new OS, especially drastic change of one like 8 ought to be more reasonably priced to coincide with the upgrade price. I'd expect to pay slightly more, but hoping it's low enough to justify the expense. I'd like to continue dual booting, for I don't desire to upgrade my 7 at the moment. It's not that I don't like 8, but it might head into instability and/or other issues. I learned from Vista on that one! Also, my 7 is x86 whereas I'm testing x64 on my 8 at the moment.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
They hint around the fact that it might break the $100 barrier. However, many of us broke that $100 barrier using OEM versions in the past.

I wonder if the System Builder License will work like an OEM and be tied to the computer it's activated on, such that I won't be able to move my OS to another box when I build again. Thats the piece I think I am interested in the most.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
They hint around the fact that it might break the $100 barrier. However, many of us broke that $100 barrier using OEM versions in the past.

I wonder if the System Builder License will work like an OEM and be tied to the computer it's activated on, such that I won't be able to move my OS to another box when I build again. Thats the piece I think I am interested in the most.

Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer),

The above quote from both the Retail Upgrade and System Builder information on that site. This is also very similar language to the Windows 7 retail EULA and is different from the OEM.This is what the OEM says:

we grant you the right to install and run one copy only on the computer with which you acquired the software (the licensed computer)...

So either both products (RU or SB) are tied to the one PC or they both can be reused on a replacement PC. Here is the original article by Ed Bott and the last line says:

I’ll have a more detailed look at what’s in each of the new license agreements tomorrow. Stay tuned…

Microsoft radically overhauls license agreements for Windows 8 | ZDNet

More information is needed.

Jim :p
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 HP 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64BIT
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS - Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A99X EVO
    Memory
    Crucial Balistic DDR-3 1866 CL 9 (8 GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
    Sound Card
    On Chip
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VE258Q 25" LED with DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Two WD Cavier Black 2TB Sata 6gbs
    WD My Book Essential 2TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Seasonic X650 80 Plus GOLD Modular
    Case
    Corsair 400R
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler H2O 620, Two 120mm and four 140mm
    Keyboard
    AVS Gear Blue LED Backlight
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse USB, Logitech Precision Game Pad
    Internet Speed
    15MB
    Antivirus
    NIS, Malwarebytes Premium 2
    Other Info
    APC UPS ES 750, Netgear WNR3500L Gigabit & Wireless N Router with SamKnows Test Program,
    Motorola SB6120 Gigabit Cable Modem.
    Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer,
    Epson V300 Scanner
Yeah, most likely price for the system builder is probably $80 or $90 :/

It SHOULD be $40, that's a decent price considering the issues I brought up. I paid about $120 or something for Windows 7 OEM so even 80-90 is better, though not great.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7/8
That's good! That means all the installs I do for people will cost less! HOORAY!! :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
That's good! That means all the installs I do for people will cost less! HOORAY!! :D

Only if they buy the System Builder OS direct. You are not allowed to buy it and install it on a system for someone else.

Jim :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 HP 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64BIT
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS - Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A99X EVO
    Memory
    Crucial Balistic DDR-3 1866 CL 9 (8 GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
    Sound Card
    On Chip
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VE258Q 25" LED with DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Two WD Cavier Black 2TB Sata 6gbs
    WD My Book Essential 2TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Seasonic X650 80 Plus GOLD Modular
    Case
    Corsair 400R
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler H2O 620, Two 120mm and four 140mm
    Keyboard
    AVS Gear Blue LED Backlight
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse USB, Logitech Precision Game Pad
    Internet Speed
    15MB
    Antivirus
    NIS, Malwarebytes Premium 2
    Other Info
    APC UPS ES 750, Netgear WNR3500L Gigabit & Wireless N Router with SamKnows Test Program,
    Motorola SB6120 Gigabit Cable Modem.
    Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer,
    Epson V300 Scanner
Yes, they are being very aggressive trying to get more money out of users via online services and apps.

Too aggressive, I fear.

Puts a lot of people off.


Yea, I can see how purchasing Apps is putting people off on other platforms and how Microsoft is cramming Apps down our throats. Funny how 99% of the Apps on my Windows phone were free and the ones I purchased weren't at gunpoint by MS.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7, Windows 8 RP
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