See, complain loud enough and Microsoft will listen
Microsoft's announcement that Windows Vista SP1 will disable/disarm/remove the kill switch from the OS comes as good news to those who have been bitten by the WGA bug.
On installing SP1, systems marked as non-genuine by Microsoft will no longer have to suffer the trauma of being flung unceremoniously into reduced functionality mode, instead systems marked as suspect will instead have the desktop background set to black and a series of nag screens will appear indefinitely (which raises the interesting thought of whether anyone will be willing to endure a never-ending series of nag screens just to run Vista ... hmmm).
What's also interesting are the "get legal" prices that those running a non-genuine copy of Windows Vista are offered:
- Windows Vista Home Basic, $89
- Windows Vista Home Premium, $119
- Windows Vista Business, $145
- Windows Vista Ultimate, $199
If you're familiar with putting your hand in your pocket in order to buy Vista OEM system builder licenses you'll notice that these are close to what your paying (unless you're a big system builder and have access to discounts). I'm assuming that these "get legal" prices mean that the end users gets an OEM copy and not a retail one. Not a bad deal.
Another point worth noting is that this change of heart at Microsoft proves that he company is listening. Despite issuing one press statement after another claiming to stand behind WGA and the reduced functionality mode, the company is now back-pedalling.
Thoughts?