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