Hi,
from my point of view MS of course needs to protect his Programms.
But they have no right to send whatever personal or technical information in what form ever to their Corporate-Central.
And I do not think they do.
I justified several times the XP-Installation of friends of mine via phone with no problems at all.
They just asked some stupid questions like: "On how many PC did you install that CD?"
I had a legal License sticker and the Original CD from MS that had the same Owner as the PC I installed it on.
So from my personal point of view i was doing only legal acts.
On my Job i sometimes have to design specific technical changes, modifications or Improvments to complex machinery.
So I often expierience the fact that you have to keep it simple to get the best results.
Why not this way:
You have an Original CD and a writen Licence (or a fancy holo-sticker) from MS, you have the right to install this System on a Computer.
You hold that licence, you have the right to have one PC running under this System.
Point.
No Hooks.
Finish.
And please, no more OEM or System Builder Editions.
Again, keep it simple.
same Product = same Price
I can imagine verifications via Internet without sending any personal Information via Internet.
Every Network card has an Unique mac adress.
Why not such an Adress for every CD the sell?
Ah, one more thing.
I am not allowed to sell my licence?
Where are we living?
Of course I should be allowed to sell my licence, why not?
Could someone tell me one point why it should not be allowed?
To Redmond:
I do not have any legal right pending on that suggestion

Greetings
Markus