So if I buy a computer with Win 11 then I can claim €259 back as long as I wrote it and install Linux? Isn't that how things worked before with Windows-tax automatically applied to all retail computers in major chain stores?
That clearly won't work, as one could get free computers ... but what is the situation in getting reimbursements of Windows-tax?
So if I buy a computer with Win 11 then I can claim €259 back
Anybody else remember Windows Refund Day? Some OEMs actually did offer a refund of around $30-50, which was the cost of an OEM license at the time. Although many court cases around the world have since then ruled that you don't have a right to claim a refund for unused OEM licenses.
Yes, I got my Windows license refunded years ago. AFAIK it was not simply getting a refund for something unused, but rather the fact that the hardware and the software were two distinct products that were bundled together without the consumer having a say.
We have the Framework Laptop DIY Edition that ships without an OS or OS license specifically to make sure folks don’t have to do this and can bring the OS that they want.
>what surprise me is that a Windows 11 Pro licence cost 259 Euro. Micro$oft still make a lot of money with windonws =)
Not really. Windows 11 Pro retail is $199 today which might sound steep but in comparison Windows XP Pro retail was $299 in 2001 which adjusted for inflation would be $500 today. Ouch!
Windows 95 retailed at a whopping $205 in '95 or ~$400 in today's money, while a retail Win 11 Home is $139 now.
So Windows has actually gotten massively cheaper, which is weird considering that OS complexity, update frequency has increased and SW dev salaries and expenses have gone up since then.
That and no more customer support to pay for. Plus, the consumer prices are probably subsidized by the massive volumes in OEM licenses and O365 subscriptions.
I have no idea how they get the keys (probably OEM) and whether this is actually kosher (and I don't wanna know) but I did this with Win 10 some years ago as well and it has worked out thus far.
Just pay with e.g. PP and they'll send you the key via e-mail.
Grey market key resellers, apparently using volume licensing. It's a roll of the dice whether they'll stay valid, possibly because the same key is resold repeatedly, or Microsoft blacklists them.
I wonder, do they sell retail licence or re-sell OEM licence at retail price?
Anyway, I'm not sure if anyone really buys Windows at retail prices. Enterprise (subscription) and OEM costs are much lower, and for personal use you can buy OEM keys off eBay or AliExpress for a few bucks.
The opaqueness of Windows licensing for "pro" devices makes us assume that there are heavy discounts, which massively depends on the manufacturer- framework could not be at a size that gives them preferential pricing (even if we assume that licensing is cheaper for other companies).
I can say that it is more ordinary for end users to get discounts rather than OEMs, unless there is a lot of negotiation (including bundling crapware, as we well know) in the tech industry when it comes to bulk licensing.
Interesting bit, that many people miss: The enteprise windows license is not "standalone", you cannot use it with any device. You may use it only with device, that came with valid OEM or retail license.
It is not legal, but the advantage is that you don't have to deal with shady software like that pirate KMS server. Even though it is a breach of contract because it is not how these licences are supposed to be used, it is still recognized as genuine by Microsoft, so you get all the updates, etc...
You may get your license revoked it the seller get caught and as a result, you may need to get a new one. As an individual, you are extremely unlikely to get into more trouble (same thing as with cracked software), but I wouldn't use these licenses as a business.
It is legal, there's ECJ ruling that software can be resold. It cannot be a breach of contract, if that contract article preventing it would be unlawful.
Microsoft of course knows it, they are silent about the issue, preferring fear and doubt, just like you demonstrated.
The ECJ ruling only applies to Full Perpetual licenses of software. If these licenses came with other restrictions (could only be sold bundled with hardware, as part of a subscription, limited to use in academic settings only etc.) then they cannot simply be resold without those restrictions.
A lot of people in fact point to this ruling as a reason why more and more companies switched from perpetual licenses to subscription licenses. Without a full licenses there is nothing to resell and this ECJ ruling doesn't apply
These cheap keys are usually from MSDN subscribers.
MSDN subscribers can generate an unlimited number of keys at no cost, but they are for use by the subscriber only. Selling these keys is an abuse of the program. There is no resale here and you don't really get a license, you get a key.
The "respectable" resellers do keep paperwork where given license comes from. Just because it is legal to sell them, doesn't mean you cannot be audited what exactly are you selling (once you attract the attention of powerful people).
So while some might come from MSDN subscribers, they often come from unused enterprise ones. The MSDN sellers are creating a big risk to themselves.
I don't think it is illegal on the part of the buyer, who would be a victim in this situation.
But just like buying counterfeit goods, it is not clear to me, I mean if you buy your key from AliExpress, isn't it like importing counterfeits from China? That's something one should ask a lawyer. Anyways, these keys can be revoked any moment (and it has happened to me, with an Office key). If I had a business, I would avoid them for that reason alone.
Well now that you have read this forum thread and responded to it that’s proof that you knew that was a possibility at least. You can’t claim “lack of knowledge” if you do it and Microsoft comes for you.
But I am not a lawyer, perhaps on this case that doesn’t matter.
