Only weeks before the final version of Windows Vista makes its public debut, Microsoft has made a revision to its retail licensing terms taking into major consideration the many complaints from the enthusiast community during the past few weeks. This should come as great news and a big win to everyone:
I'm very pleased to let you know you this morning (or afternoon, or evening, depending on where you are when you read this) that the Windows division has revised the retail license terms for Windows Vista in a significant way. Namely, the terms regarding license-to-device assignment of the retail product (including Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate) now read as follows:
* You may uninstall the software and install it on another device for your use. You may not do so to share this license between devices.
You can find the newly-revised retail license terms here, as I'm sure you'll want to read them for yourself. Our intention behind the original terms was genuinely geared toward combating piracy; however, it's become clear to us that those original terms were perceived as adversely affecting an important group of customers: PC and hardware enthusiasts. You who comprise the enthusiast market are vital to us for several reasons, not least of all because of the support you've provided us throughout the development of Windows Vista. We respect the time and expense you go to in customizing, building and rebuilding your hardware and we heard you that the previous terms were seen as an impediment to that – it's for that reason we've made this change. I hope that this change provides the flexibility you need, and gives you more reason to be excited about the upcoming retail release of our new operating system.