Genuine Microsoft Windows for refurbished PCs program begins
By Jonathan Schlaffer
In an attempt to extend its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program, Microsoft is now going to tap the refurbished PC market with a new program to further curb piracy of its operating system and extend the WGA presence.
According to some reports, the refurbished PC market is already large and growing faster than the new PC market. Why anyone would want a two to three year old PC is beyond me but there it is.
In some cases, Refurbishers reinstall the software that came with the computer but if the Certificate of Authenticity is missing, they can’t and must sell the refurbished PC without an OS (or offer Linux instead).
Microsoft is starting the Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) program which will allow those selling refurbished computers to purchase two types of Windows licenses, XP Home and Pro and will include a deployment tool for bulk installations.
Any institution participating in the MAR program will still be allowed to sell computers without an operating system installed.
Of course, on the outside it looks like Microsoft is trying to do some good but it’s really not, like when the government shows up, this is just another way for the company to force WGA on even more people but I’m neutral in the matter.
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November 11th, 2007
I am not sure whether Jonathan suffers from a lack of imagination or a lack of understanding. There are many people who cannot afford to buy a new computer every two or three years and that’s why they are happy with refurbished ones. A three year old computer can run XP as well as a new one and many are able to run Vista. Like many commentators on the PC scene, he seems to be out of touch with the real world. We are not all enjoying fat salaries.
November 13th, 2007
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