On 30 Aug 99  15:00:16 Stewart Honsberger wrote to Albert Sodyl...

 AS> He is not a friend, he is a local computer dealer in the
 AS> lowermainland. He is licensed to distribute software with your pc, I
 AS> repeat he is licensed.

 SH> "I repeat" - it's illegal. You can't install software on people's
 SH> machines without providing the original medium and (optionally)
 SH> documentation. That's known as piracy.

WRONG! "I repeat - WRONG!" In order to offer budget-priced systems,
dealers can be licensed by Microsoft to "pre-install" an operating
system on a computer's hard drive, without providing any documentation,
manuals, or "original medium" copy of the OS. (A copy of the "license"
_IS_ provided!) On such installations, the purchaser is not entitled to
any support from Microsoft, but must rely on the dealer. I know, from
personal experience, that this is done by 3D Micro, distributors of IPC
and Bondwell computers, and by Toshiba, on entry-level machines. The
operating system software, Windows 95 in the cases I'm familiar with,
allowed the purchaser to make ONE, and only one, set of floppies that
contain the operating system, allowing re-installation of the system in
case of HD failure, or user screwup, from those floppies. Of course, a
knowledgeable user can easily defeat the "one-time" restriction, and
make multiple copies. The systems I encountered came with a coupon which
allowed the purchaser to send for a CD-ROM copy of the OS for $20, if
they didn't want to bother with the DIY floppies, or wanted a copy on CD
as well. BTW, it took over FORTY floppies to make the back-up of the W95
OS. By eliminating the CD, floppies, manual, and Microsoft support, this
arrangment allowed vendors to offer barebones systems at rock bottom
prices. Otherwise, cash-strapped purchasers would likely buy a cheap
system without an OS, and install their own (pirated) copy of the OS.
With the "pre-installed" OS, at least Microsoft got their license fee,
although probably less than they got from the full monty, but they still
win, because they don't have to provide any support. As well, they KNOW
that the buyer will soon get suckered for an "upgrade" anyway!


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