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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


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