I can understand why they would want to do it. I just find it unacceptable to have to repurchase Windows if I change too many parts in my computer and Windows recognizes it as a different computer, or if I decide to upgrade to a new computer and decide that I don't need Windows on the old one anymore.
Fortunately there are enough consumers that also feel that locking Windows to the hardware is unacceptable that it would be a bad business decision for Microsoft to do so.
However, I hardly consider a company making efforts to limit the ability of people to pirate their products draconian.
Windows has it's merits and it's flaws, but considering all that it does, as well as the continuous effort to supply security fixes, driver updates, and even some feature updates, I can't really complain about the nominal price of the OS.
If you think that nominal price is too high you can try Linux or one of the other free alternatives. However, they also have their good points and their limitations.
Do you have any idea how much Vista is going to cost?
Also, do you know when they will stop supporting XP?
Thanks for any info you can provide ...
"nominal price"?
I've seen the full retail box Windows XP Pro priced over $200 Cdn in the same computer shops in Toronto's Chinatown that were selling PCs for under $300 Cdn; when OS software can be 2/3 the price of [admittedly low-spec] hardware that can hardly be called 'nominal'.