Vista for $24.00

[Nanometer]

So my school is offering me Windows Vista for a really cheap price. Is it actually the real thing? Is it retail/oem? Does it expire? And what does software assurance mean?

[FUGGER]

Should be legit student discount.

I guess they assure the media is valid, the next line is odd, they keep media at lending library.

[Nanometer]

So basically, they sell me a personal key and I have return the media? I thought each key was registered to a specific CD.

[FUGGER]

looks that way, a good deal for a license.

[Nanometer]

So I guess when I leave the school, is when I can't get another copy of the CD. I'm thinking I lose the subscription when I leave the school.

[zanzabar]

u can copy the cd, u get to keep al of your student keys, i have a bunch froma few yers of computer science they give me keys every year and they have no experation

and it says that u are buying a cs, that note means that they have extra copies to barrow, and keys arnt matched to disk ID except for site licensed keys

[Sparky]

So I guess when I leave the school, is when I can't get another copy of the CD. I'm thinking I lose the subscription when I leave the school.

A CD is a CD. The key is what matters, the CDs are all the same. Just burn a copy of the CD from the lending library so you have it. Well... DVD actually. Odd they don't give you the DVD, when I got XP from my school I got the CD :shrug: Actually two of them, XP Pro and Pro x64, and the two keys. Never used the x64 license though, but it came bundled together for $20.

[m^2]

Also, read the license. I have MS software for free, but I have to agree with the following:

* You may use the software for non-commercial purposes including instructional use, research and/or design, development and testing of projects for class assignment and tests or personal projects. You may not use the Program software for any for-profit software development.
* When you are no longer a registered student in a department that is a member of the MSDN Academic Alliance, you may no longer receive updates for your personal use computer. However, you may continue to use previously installed software on your computer, provided you continue to follow program guidelines.
* If you violate the terms of the License Agreement and EULA, the MSDNAA Program Administrator will demand confirmation of removal of the program software on your personal use computer.

No updates after I graduate...

[Nanometer]

I see, so it's time sensitive. Well for 24 dollars, how could it not be. That's so cheap.

[Kobalt]

I doubt Vista will actually know when you've graduated. It's probably just some lawyer bs.

[m^2]

XP doesn't know and I doubt it's different with Vista. However, if you update, you're no longer legal. The only difference between such system and downloaded from the net is that you're sure you don't get any crapware preinstalled.

[Th3MadScientist]

If your an Information Systems/Computer Science major you get everything Microsoft for free through MSDNAA.

[bldegle2]

totally unfounded worry,

there is no way M$ can track your OS, so if you gots a good dealio via the student discount route, you are good to go....hmm, how do I know this? LOL....I have been and am presently using a copy of WinXP Pro Corp 32bit SP2 w/student key (w/option to register or not, I always pick NOT) and I have been for years....no, I am not a student (hardly, I am well over college age), self employed and prolly have loaded this copy of winders at least 50 times or more over the years due to my constant tweaking (just can't leave well enough alone), it is recongnized as legit and updates just like any other properly installed and keyed OS copy.....automatic updates work just fine....

now, with Vista it might be a bit different, the noose got tightened quite a bit when M$ issued this OS.....however, i would assume that if you have a student key, it will work after you graduate just fine, if they ask when you activate all you have to do is state you are still taking classes (night/internet classes count), they are not going to ask for Institute letterhead unless you really fudged up badly when you spoke with the representative, it is just impossible with the millions of copies sold to track this, a nightmare for M$.....

laterzzz...............