News - There will be no “full retail version” of Windows 8 on sale

[HEXUS]

Rumour says only cheaper OEM and upgrade versions from Microsoft.

Read more.

[cheesemp]

Is it just me or is Microsoft attempting to be Apple more and more these days....

[ShavedApe]

Is it just me or is Microsoft attempting to be Apple more and more these days....

If you cant beat em copy em works for just about everything else why not OS lol

[Platinum]

Oh great so if I were to buy Windows 8 and wanted a fresh install and don't want the hassle of a OEM licence being null and void every upgrade then I would have to install Windows 7 then do the upgrade?

MS have lost the plot.

[scaryjim]

... if I were to buy Windows 8 and wanted a fresh install and don't want the hassle of a OEM licence being null and void every upgrade ...

No evidence of that yet. No evidence that the retail version is going, just rumour. And no information at all on how that will impact on licensing and upgrades. You can upgrade quite a lot under an OEM license already; it's possible that if they ditch retail editions they'll loosen the EULA on OEM editions in terms of how much you can upgrade before having to buy a new copy...

[Warpy1]

well i think its a step in the right direction!

[Platinum]

Does seem like MS are trying to kill off the PC...

[Platinum]

So any idea how to buy a full copy without buying hardware?

[crossy]

well i think its a step in the right direction!

How? Seriously, other than reduction in SKU's to track, exactly what advantage do you see for this (rumoured!) move?

Me, on the other hand, see's the problem for enthusiasts who don't want to go through the nausea of holding onto an "old" Windows7 install disk, just so you can license a fresh Windows8 install. "Oh, but they should be using the cheaper OEM SKU" you cry - fine, except there's some restrictions on how you can use an OEM license that makes it a poor choice for an enthusiast.

Specifically, remember that you're only allowed a certain number of hardware changes. After that, you're adjudged to be "abusing" the license and need to buy another. I've certainly heard of people who've done a pretty major refresh and had activation denied.

Also don't forget the folks that perhaps want to run Windows8 in a VM, or BootCamp (for those Mac folks). I'm not convinced that you can install in a VM other than with a full release - and I'm sure my Windows7Pro license specifically excludes me from reinstalling into a VM.

If the rumour is true, then it's a god-damned boneheaded move, and racks up another couple of "Fail Points" for Windows8 as far as I'm concerned.

[ddg4005]

Oh great so if I were to buy Windows 8 and wanted a fresh install and don't want the hassle of a OEM licence being null and void every upgrade then I would have to install Windows 7 then do the upgrade?

MS have lost the plot.

You can install an OEM version of Windows multiple times on the same PC. I've done it with Windows 7 Professional and I've never even had to call Microsoft to activate it (even after replacing components). If this turns out to be true I don't see it as bad thing since the full retail versions of Windows were always grossly overpriced.

[watercooled]

OEM versions are locked to the motherboard, so it's money down the drain when you upgrade, unless you can convince MS your motherboard failed and you cant get one of exactly the same model. Yes, you can upgrade other components, but never the motherboard. With the retail version, you can change what you want within reason, worst case you phone the freephone automated activation number which takes a couple of minutes. There is NO UPSIDE to this move if it's true, unless they change what you can do with the license.

[brasco]

I think people are misunderstanding this, I think they just aren't going differente between OEM and Retail, everyone bought OEM anyways and this just means there won't be an expensive retail version.

[Platinum]

OEM versions are locked to the motherboard, so it's money down the drain when you upgrade, unless you can convince MS your motherboard failed and you cant get one of exactly the same model. Yes, you can upgrade other components, but never the motherboard. With the retail version, you can change what you want within reason, worst case you phone the freephone automated activation number which takes a couple of minutes. There is NO UPSIDE to this move if it's true, unless they change what you can do with the license.

This not looking good for the enthusiast

[watercooled]

I think people are misunderstanding this, I think they just aren't going differente between OEM and Retail, everyone bought OEM anyways and this just means there won't be an expensive retail version.

Well I don't; as I said, the OEM version is good for ONE motherboard. I made the mistake of buying OEM Vista 64, but I sold the motherboard a while back so that's £100 or so worth of OS I can't use again. The licenses for OEM and retail are different. lets just hope they do away with the old motherboard lock if they're scrapping the retail version.

[brasco]

Orly!? Ooops I've activated my win 7 pro on 3 now!

[valhar2000]

Is it just me or is Microsoft attempting to be Apple more and more these days....

I don't see why they shouldn't: if one company does something clearly better, the other companies should copy that, for the benefit of their customers.