Re: General Questions

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"CJ Hames" <CJ Hames@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:6D918DEE-21D9-496C-8E98-463B507AACC9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Please forgive my ignorance. I've been using an iMac for a while and forgot
how much I hated having to go through these MSFT quirks and problems, but
here goes:

1) If I purchase one copy of Vista home Basic, on how many computers may I
run it on? I have an iMac that I wish to install it on as well as two other
Windows-based PC's located at home (one each for my son & daughter).

2) If I buy the on-line downloadable version, MSFT's website says that
"you'll have three days to install hardware or software products and to set
up an Internet connection before activation will take place."
I must be reading this incorrectly. (I went to California schools). Is
this saying that if I purchase the downloadable version I have to wait three
days for my software to be activated? This can't be right. Surely I can pay
for this archaic piece of goods, download it and begin using it immediately,
yes?

Why must MSFT make things so stinking complicated? Yikes, I just wanna buy
software for crying out loud, not receive training from ITT Tech.


You have three computers so you buy three copies of Vista. MS does not provide a family plan price like Apple, although they had a introductory-period offer of one last year. It expired last summer.

You have a 30-day grace period in which to activate. The three days stuff comes from the default setting called "activate the first time I get on the internet" which as noted by John can be unticked. It turns out that it does not automatically activate the first time you get on the internet but it will in two or three days if not unticked. MS does built in a delay in case the installation has to be repeated in the first day or two. They just don't say so.

Personally, I would buy Vista Home Premium rather than Basic. VHP is a much better OS and supports the Media Center.

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