Microsoft is limiting the number of machines to which users can transfer Windows Vista licenses as part of licensing changes the company has made to its Windows client OS.When Windows Vista is available, consumers will be able to transfer the OS license they purchase to only one machine other than the one for which they originally buy Vista, said Shanen Boettcher, a Windows general manager at Microsoft. He said Microsoft thought the change made sense because “lifetimes for PCs are getting longer.” Most likely, a user will not need to transfer an OS license to more than one computer during the time that OS is the latest one available, Boettcher said.“It’s a fit for what most customers do,” he said. Boettcher added that XP did not have a specific limit for the number of times the license was transferable, but that Microsoft wanted to be “specific” about transfer rights with Vista.One Windows user in New York said that one transfer is “probably enough for most people.” However the user, who asked not to be named, said the change may encourage Windows piracy among PC enthusiasts who update their machines on a more regular basis. “Power users will pirate what they need,” he said. Another change Microsoft made to Windows client licensing since XP is that only two versions of Vista—Windows Vista Ultimate and Windows Vista Business—can be run as a virtual OS in a virtual machine. “Virtualization is a new technology, and it’s primarily used in the business space and by technology enthusiasts,” Boettcher said. “It fits in well with the target audience for these [Windows versions].” Windows XP did not have any restrictions on running in a virtual environment, he added. Microsoft also has tightened up antipiracy features in Vista, and users who do not verify that their version of the OS is authentic with a software license key within 30 days of its activation will lose the use of certain features of the PC until they do so. The company unveiled this characteristic of Vista, called its Software Protection Platform, about two weeks ago.Joel Richman, a Windows user in Boston, said that as long as the process of checking for pirated software “does not stop my workflow in the middle of the day,” he approves of this change to Vista’s license. “As a consumer, I wouldn’t want a pirated version of [Vista] because I want all the support I expect to go with a licensed piece of software,” Richman said.-Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service (New York Bureau)Related Links: Microsoft: Vista-Ready Products to Ship by Holidays Microsoft CEO Ballmer: E.U. OK With Vista Tweaks Microsoft Windows Vista RC2 ReleasedThis article is posted on our Microsoft Informer page. For more news on the Redmond, Wash.-based powerhouse, keep checking in.Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content brandpost Sponsored by SAP When natural disasters strike Japan, Ōita University’s EDiSON is ready to act With the technology and assistance of SAP and Zynas Corporation, Ōita University built an emergency-response collaboration tool named EDiSON that helps the Japanese island of Kyushu detect and mitigate natural disasters. By Michael Kure, SAP Contributor Dec 07, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by BMC BMC on BMC: How the company enables IT observability with BMC Helix and AIOps The goals: transform an ocean of data and ultimately provide a stellar user experience and maximum value. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 3 mins IT Leadership brandpost Sponsored by BMC The data deluge: The need for IT Operations observability and strategies for achieving it BMC Helix brings thousands of data points together to create a holistic view of the health of a service. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 4 mins IT Leadership how-to How to create an effective business continuity plan A business continuity plan outlines procedures and instructions an organization must follow in the face of disaster, whether fire, flood, or cyberattack. Here’s how to create a plan that gives your business the best chance of surviving such an By Mary K. Pratt, Ed Tittel, Kim Lindros Dec 07, 2023 11 mins Small and Medium Business IT Skills Backup and Recovery Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe