Steve Ballmer is a genius!! At being a fk-up!! There is a ruthless review system at Microsoft where you have to justify your continued employment - unless you are the Biggest Dumb, Stupid Fk! Then you are safe.
This makes no sense unless you built the computer yourself, you don't need to buy the operating system software. Each "OEM" say for example a Dell computer has a Windows license tag on it. This means that for example you can call the company and get a copy of the operating software for say $ 15 if you don't already have it. Another benefit is if all your computers are from the same manufacturer for example "Dell", you just need 1 DVD and enter in the license from the tag on the computer when you are doing a reinstall. Of course if the hard drive is not damaged, you can also just use the secret partition to do the reinstall and don't even need a "DVD". I would also suggest that anyone getting new computer stick with Windows 7 for now to avoid any problems. By the way, Dell has a great sale right now where you can get a new business workstation for $ 300 off retail with either Windows 7 or Windows 8 pro installed for free for under $ 600.
I have to agree, though. Have all my hardware on Win8 / Server 2012. Never looked back. Stable, good features. The UI takes some serious time getting used to (an hour maybe), then you just work with it. This includes my own 4 machines, my servers, my companies workers - all moved up, never looked back. Particularly a fan these days of Dell Latitue 10 Tablets - got 2 (me, my administration - that is paperwork, not computers) and they rock.
You missed the point. When you either buy a pc from DELL or some other OEM commodity box maker and the OS is preinstalled you have the right to use that os on THAT box and THAT box only, period. Reinstalling the same OS in the same box per the license is allowed, no problem there. But, if you replace the motherboard in that box you are toast, (in reality DELL mobo is not replaceable anyway, they want to buy a brand new one, we all know that), you CANNOT use thwe original license from an OEM box and install that license key to another motherboard, Microsoft will block it and pop up a screen for you to purchase ANOTHER license "KEY" to reinvent the now defunct old oem "KEY" that is useless. A single oem "KEY" is just that, it is for a single computer no matter if you built it or purchased it............. you are allowed to replace hard drive etc BUT NOT the motherboard, replacing the motherboard in Microsoft's eyes is considered a different pc. I have not bought a pc from a box-maker in 10 years, build my own. IBM they were before IBM sold to Lenovo (which still makes great laptops, thinkpad.)
Lets try to understand something. The price of os is not the concern. I probably have purchased 15 copies of W2k, XP, Vista, W7 and W8, all pro editions over the last few years. Many coffee coasters if desired, HA!! I also do not buy cheap parts or cheap pc's from a box maker like DELL or Slims Tech-NO basement. Rebuild a new box about every two years to stay with the latest and greatest, not necessary but that is just me. Might even build a "Haswell" box when that chip comes out in June, we shall see. Microsoft dropped the retail versions of windows for a specific reason, that reason is simple, they no longer will allow their os to be migrated to more than a single box. For me it was a safer bet to purchase W7Pro retail dvd BEFORE they are all gone forever just in case I fry a mobo and need to cobble together another box to carry on with what I do. Retail stores never carried OEM versions of the os, you had to order from someone like Newegg etc and wait for it to arrive. Now that they only sell "Builders System " version, Staples etc will carry them if needed fast, times change. But, I wanted a copy of the final retail version, so you see, price means nothing. Done with this thread, see you all in a few months.......... PS: No, $200 is not tops, I paid $290 for retail. Builders system are going to be about $200 it looks like, maybe another $60 for Pro version, not sure because I am OS 'good-to-go" for now. I do believe Miscosoft is even trying to stiff you to get the media center add-on. Bye!!