Worry-Free Used PCs
    PCs these days are so cheap, we usually don't bother buying them used. And if 
  we do, we often worry about flaky hardware, food-filled keyboards, whether Microsoft 
  will still support the OS and if we can reinstall it in the inevitable event 
  that the old machine refuses to work. 
Microsoft has an answer. Those that sell used machines in volume can get 
  licenses from Microsoft in bulk, which means these machines will be supported 
  and eligible for updates and fixes, service packs, and security software such 
  as Windows Defender. 
I'm a bit puzzled by the plan. Microsoft will only sell licenses (these are 
  XP licenses) if the machine has a certificate of authenticity. If so, Microsoft 
  will sell a license with a new certificate of authenticity. If it's already 
  authentic, why would I need a new license and certificate? 
The only thing the Microsoft press release didn't detail is the price of the 
  refurb license. If the new licenses are cheap and supported, it might be a decent 
  deal after all.
 
	
Posted by Doug Barney on November 12, 2007