Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News

      Microsofts Troubling Lessons for Schools

      By
      Jason Brooks
      -
      May 8, 2002
      Share
      Facebook
      Twitter
      Linkedin

        A couple of weeks ago, I came across a troubling page on Microsofts Web site, titled “A Guide for Accepting Donated Computers for Your School.” Heres the passage that caused my consternation:

        “It is a legal requirement that pre-installed operating systems remain with a machine for the life of the machine. If a company or individual donates a machine to your school, it must be donated with the operating system that was installed on the PC.”

        The page went on to counsel schools to refuse donated computers unless theyre accompanied by proper OS documentation.

        Legal requirement? Microsoft requires its OEMs to license copies of Windows to their customers as part of one integrated hardware/software product. Separating an OEM-loaded copy of Windows from the machine on which it shipped constitutes a breach of that license if a user loads it onto another machine.

        However, these legal requirements do not, as the text suggests, preclude schools—or anyone else—from installing a new, properly licensed copy of Windows on a donated computer with a murky software heritage.

        Even better, one could install Linux on such a donated machine, which is free of Windows licensing requirements. And what better resource to provide for budding programmers than an OS for which the source code is freely available for perusal?

        I got in touch with my friendly neighborhood Microsoft PR contact last week for some clarification, and he agreed that the language on the page was misleading. He assured me that itd be changed shortly.

        On Monday, the ominous “legal requirement” references on the page had been replaced with more accurate information (see www.microsoft.com/Education/?ID=DonatedComputers). But its recommendation that schools refuse undocumented PCs had not changed.

        This is likely because theres only one way to bring an illegitimately licensed PC back into Microsofts good graces, and thats by purchasing a brand-new copy of Windows.

        As stated on its Web site (at www.microsoft.com/licensing/downloads/os_licensing_requirements.doc), Microsofts volume licensing agreements (for schools and businesses alike) “only offer upgrade licenses, so the customer cannot acquire a naked PC and install a full operating system license under any Microsoft volume licensing program.”

        Microsofts Web site doesnt specify any academic discount for a single full-version copy of Windows XP, but the non-academic price is $300—a steep tariff for an organization soliciting donated computers.

        By crafting its licensing policies to channel nearly all Windows purchases through computer makers, Microsoft can keep the actual price that users pay for Windows obscured behind OEM licensing agreements and can control the circumstances under which Windows competes with its rivals.

        Any PC that begins its life without Windows is a PC that could host an alternative OS, so its in Microsofts interests to make sure that as few machines as possible ship without Windows.

        This focus on hardware and software as one integrated product flies in the face of logic, and runs counter to some of Microsofts founding principles—at least as Bill Gates took pains to explain them during the recent antitrust remedies proceedings with non-settling states.

        In his written testimony,Gates asserted that one of Microsofts major contributions to the tech industry was splitting software from hardware by bucking the status quo in which hardware-focused vendors such as Sun, Apple and IBM sold their machines along with the operating systems, and hadnt much incentive to promote interoperability among each others products. By largely staying clear of hardware, Microsoft helped pave the way for a diverse population of cheap and interchangeable PC equipment.

        I agree with Gates on this point—without Microsoft, many of the exciting developments that took root in that environment of cheap, interoperable hardware would likely not have been possible.

        So, in the spirit of software thats flexible and free of hardware-specific entanglements, Id suggest that schools install Linuxon their machines. Not only does it offer an excellent alternative to Windows, but Linux doesnt discriminate, either—no matter how checkered a machines licensing lineage may be.

        Are you using Linux in an educational environment? Id love to hear how well its performing for you. Drop me a line at jason_brooks@ziffdavis.com.

        Jason Brooks
        As Editor in Chief of eWEEK Labs, Jason Brooks manages the Labs team and is responsible for eWEEK's print edition. Brooks joined eWEEK in 1999, and has covered wireless networking, office productivity suites, mobile devices, Windows, virtualization, and desktops and notebooks. Jason's coverage is currently focused on Linux and Unix operating systems, open-source software and licensing, cloud computing and Software as a Service. Follow Jason on Twitter at jasonbrooks, or reach him by email at jbrooks@eweek.com.
        Get the Free Newsletter!
        Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
        This email address is invalid.
        Get the Free Newsletter!
        Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
        This email address is invalid.

        MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

        Latest News

        Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

        James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
        I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
        Read more
        Applications

        Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

        James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
        I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
        Read more
        IT Management

        Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

        James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
        I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
        Read more
        Applications

        Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

        James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
        I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
        Read more
        Cloud

        IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

        James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
        I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
        Read more
        Logo

        eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

        Facebook
        Linkedin
        RSS
        Twitter
        Youtube

        Advertisers

        Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

        Advertise with Us

        Menu

        • About eWeek
        • Subscribe to our Newsletter
        • Latest News

        Our Brands

        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms
        • About
        • Contact
        • Advertise
        • Sitemap
        • California – Do Not Sell My Information

        Property of TechnologyAdvice.
        © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

        Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

        ×