If it is mine, I should be able to use it on any computer I chose.
It's neither. The OS belongs to Microsoft! You are licensed to use it on that specific computer. The activation key on that little sticker is valid ONLY on that cpu!
Why does that matter? here's why...
I've got a client wiht about 1500 workstations, all running Windows NT Workstation. When they buy new systems, it's 50-100 at a time... In order to cut down on support and configuration time, they configure one system exacly the way they want it, and then using software called "Ghost," they are able to make exact duplicates of everything on the hard drive (applications, etc...) to 24 other systems at the same time, at high rates of speed (less than 20 minutes for all 24 systems!). Every machine that they bought had that "little sticker" for Windows NT Workstation on it, so they figured that they were OK... WRONG!!! Again, that activation key is ONLY valid on that one CPU, and an audit showed them that they were in violation of the license agreement! Even tough every system they bought had a legal, licensed copy of WinNT, it wasn't transferable to another system (by the agreement)! They had to go to MS and buy roughly 1500 (tranferable) corporate licenses of Windows NT Workstation!
Mark
That's a crappy way ro run a railroad.
AB
You make an excellent argument for migrating to Linux.
Now THAT'S marketing! HOO YAH! Take no prisoners.