As an enterprise IT guy, I.probably shouldn't say this but... (win8)

[Speed Daemon]

Smaller companies may not have an enterprise / Volume licensing agreement, which would mean they're forced to use the OEM licence. Buying a new computer would force their hand.

The last time I checked (before Windows 8), Microsoft allowed a newer license to be used to install a fully legal and supported older version of Windows. So an XP license could be used to install Windows 2000, and a Vista license could be used to install XP. So on and so forth, as long as the versions were equivalent. Do you (or anyone) know if this still works with Windows 8?

 

[huh]

It does for the win8 pro version.
I believe it does for hp as well, but for any tech support issues you will need to be able to still run win8..
so stupid


I have had win8 on my PC for some time now(started in beta)..wasn't a huge fan at first.. but now I'm used to it.. NBD

 

[pbf98]

I too only got it because of my MSDN subscription, which the dreamspark is listed as one. Right when my membership for dreamspark ended I got a MSDN account through my work, and it comes in handy.

If it wasn't for 8 being "free" to me, I don't think I would have tried it out at all.

 

[SUroot]

The last time I checked (before Windows 8), Microsoft allowed a newer license to be used to install a fully legal and supported older version of Windows. So an XP license could be used to install Windows 2000, and a Vista license could be used to install XP. So on and so forth, as long as the versions were equivalent. Do you (or anyone) know if this still works with Windows 8?

With Dell, you can buy a downgrade license at a "small" concession for consumer machines. Since I use an MVLS though, I can't say what is available to small businesses

 

[Speed Daemon]

With Dell, you can buy a downgrade license at a "small" concession for consumer machines. Since I use an MVLS though, I can't say what is available to small businesses

The first time I learned about it was when my business was getting a Select Agreement. Before that we bought built-to-order (BTO) machines from Compaq (I miss Compaq) through CDW, where they just installed Windows 95 because we said so.

The last time was for a small business that ran proprietary DOS software that had problems with Windows XP. I gave their technician a copy of a "privileged" Windows 2000 install disc to use on the machines that shipped with XP preinstalled, after Microsoft gave their disinterested "okey dokey" to downgrading from XP Pro to 2K Pro and from Win2k SBS to Win2k (plain) Server for 25 Windows Terminal Server licenses.

Knowing how Microsoft operates, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they eliminated the downgrade privilege for Windows 8 if it proves to be unpopular.