Considering Windows XP on your next computer? Are you considering a hardware upgrade? Here are some issues to consider before you make the big purchase.
Did you know that Microsoft only allows ghosting type software migration strategies for it's volume level pricing agreement (VLA) type customer?
Small business guys should be cautious about selecting Windows XP over Windows 2000. All that glamour comes packaged with a viscous activation code strategy resulting in a higher total cost of ownership (TCO).
Microsoft's new copyright and software piracy strategy doesn't seem to be as much about preventing piracy as selling more OS licenses. Did you know that the OEM version of windows you bought is not transferable if you upgrade your hardware?
Here is an issue I stumbled across:
A company purchases a new Toshiba laptop just like their last one with the idea of using Ghost to image their rather elaborate software load (Maximizer, Pervasive, Quotewerks, E-mail, Engineering Programs ..... )
So the IT guy does a ghost from the first to the second PC. He reboots and windows notices that the hardware is slightly different. Normally that would involve a couple of driver changes and away you go. Not with windows XP... Sir you need to activate you operating system because XP noticed different hardware.
In the end the IT guy has to go back to his original OS load and build up all the software from scratch. The end result is a 12 hour job instead of the 3 hours it could have been.
If the application of copyright thinking was uniform across the board this author would not have a problem with the new levels of copyright technology. What upset me in researching the issue was that Symantec's website site led me to an article on Microsoft's website about how they were allowing VLA clients to continue to ghost PC where the small business was told that the whole process was illegal and voided the license agreement.
Somewhere this issue gets back to the bigger discussion of whether Microsoft holds a monopoly on the computer OS market. It is not really an option for the small business owner to deviate from using Microsoft's current operating systems.
The wheeling and dealing in the area of copyright infringement and software piracy leaves this author thinking that tighter government control that ensures fair license policy is applied to all is needed.
Here are the links to Symantec and Microsoft applicable information, see what you can read between the lines
Symantec Knowledge Base - XP Compatibility
Windows XP Product Activation Issue
