UK Govt Authority warns schools against using Microsoft.

[gn2]

A UK Government agency has warned schools of the pitfalls of using Microsoft:
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7063716.stm

[popch]

We've done that particular article before. And it does not warn against using Microsoft but against signing particular kinds of license agreements/plans.


Microsoft required schools to have licences for every PC in a schoo

[Bruce M.]

Quote from article:
But a spokesman for Becta said the problem was that Microsoft required schools to have licences for every PC in a school that might use its software, whether they were actually doing so or running something else.
Unquote

But MS wants licences for the computers that do not use MS products as well. Where does it stop!

[LookTJ]

Microsoft has always had this type of practice for a long time. Apple does the same exact thing.

[popch]

Quote from article:
But a spokesman for Becta said the problem was that Microsoft required schools to have licences for every PC in a school that might use its software, whether they were actually doing so or running something else.
Unquote

But MS wants licences for the computers that do not use MS products as well. Where does it stop!

From the article cited in the OP:

It reminds schools they are legally obliged to have licensed software, but suggests they use instead what is known as "perpetual licensing".

This gives the permanent right to use the software and requires no ongoing payments beyond the purchase price.

The advantage to schools in using a subscription service such as Microsoft's is that smaller, annual payments are involved rather than a larger one-off cost.

But a spokesman for Becta said the problem was that Microsoft required schools to have licences for every PC in a school that might use its software, whether they were actually doing so or running something else.

Having a license for every PC is part of the contract for the subsription service. The UK Govt Authority warns school against using such subscription services.

When buying and paying an individual license for each PC which a product is used on, the assertion is not true that "Microsoft requires licenses to be bought for each PC, even when that product is not used on that PC". The UK Govt Authority does not warn schools against using this form of licensing, as it does not warn schools against using Microsoft products.

[bluedragon436]

I wish the schools in the states would run this get this same deal....Microsoft is running such a rediqulous Monopoly...that is at the cost of Tax payers and I think it is BS...that's right MS is BS...at least that is my opinion

[EdThaSlayer]

Microsoft, it seems the EU really hates them! Mwahahahahahaha!(Its almost halloween :D )