[Cialug] Microsoft Lawsuit etc and so forth

[Nathan C. Smith]

Thanks for digging into that Josh.  Clears it up a bit.

-Nate 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Josh More [mailto:morej at alliancetechnologies.net] 
> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 3:08 PM
> To: cialug at cialug.org
> Subject: [Cialug] Microsoft Lawsuit etc and so forth
> 
> A group of us were talking over lunch about the Microsoft 
> settlement.  I
> know that some companies are pursuing this and others are ignoring it
> due to complexities.  I thought I'd share some of what I've recently
> learned in the hopes that it would help others.
> 
> 0) It covers Windows, Dos, Office, Word, Excel, Works, and "Home
> Essentials" that are sold FOR USE IN IOWA.  It doesn't matter 
> where you
> bought them, just where you use them.
> 
> 1) Both home users and businesses are affected.  
> 
> 2) If you're a home user, you get nice happy cash from Microsoft.  To
> claim over $100 you need proof of purchase and/or license codes.
> 
> 3) If you're a business user, you don't get cash.  You get product
> vouchers instead.
> 
> 4) If you're a business user, you can have Microsoft scan your eOpen
> account and send you the appropriate vouchers.  This, of course, would
> entail you to trust the company sending you money to 
> accurately scan and
> report the data on you that they are holding.  Hands up, everyone who
> trusts Microsoft.
> 
> Here is where it gets interesting
> 
> 5) OEM products are included, so if you bought a PC and got Windows or
> Office with it, you can claim it.
> 
> 6) The registered user gets to claim the money, so if you re-purchased
> a machine you're out of luck.  However, if you sold or threw away a
> machine... since 1994... you're covered.  (Good luck finding the codes
> though).
> 
> 7) "Microsoft Products" means "non-custom software that can be
> installed on a desktop, laptop, or tablet PC" as well as "a 
> new desktop,
> laptop, or tablet PC" and "printers, scanners, keyboards, 
> monitors, and
> pointing devices".
> 
> 8) "Microsoft Products" does not cover Microsoft training, sorry.
> 
> So, in a nutshell, cash is king, but you can take the MS vouchers and
> buy brand new shiny hardware with them.  That's hardware that costs MS
> money as opposed to their software that really doesn't.  That's cool
> right?
> 
> .
> .
> .
> 
> Also, remember a while ago when Microsoft signed a deal with Novell? 
> That one where Microsoft can offer copies of Novell Linux 
> through their
> existing sales arm?  Think that counts as "non-custom 
> software that can
> be installed on a desktop, laptop, or tablet PC"?  The folks at
> Microsoft didn't have a good answer for me, but if you get a voucher,
> please give it a whirl.  I'd love to know.
> 
> If you want to have the fun of talking of Microsoft lawyer people, you
> too can call 1-877-477-0960.  If you're a business, you will 
> want to hit
> '9' after dialing.
> 
> Enjoy,
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -Josh More, RHCE, CISSP, NCLP, GIAC 
>  morej at alliancetechnologies.net 
>  515-245-7701
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Cialug mailing list
> Cialug at cialug.org
> http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
>