P
Picard
Guest
Is a volume license activation key issued only for a specific number of computers or for an unlimited number of computers within a specific business?
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bruce_the_loon
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A volume key for XP/2003 is effectively unlimited. A MAK key for Vista/7/2008/2008R2 has an activation limit which MS can increase for you on request. If you run a KMS key in a local licensing server, there are no limits.
Volume licensing for XP/2003 is based on the "trust" system. You buy eg 100 licences and Microsoft trust that you use it only 100 machines. It's also expected of you to keep a register of the number of uses per key. Needless to say, there is some room for misuse. So, just like previously posted, its legally limited but effectively unlimited until it gets blacklisted.
Pada
Executive Member
For a small business it would be about 33% of the retail cost - or at least that is how much my office is paying for it. You'll pretty much have to contact Microsoft about this and they'll send you a personalized quote AFAIK <- this is what a colleague of mine did a few weeks ago.
So if you know that you're not going to upgrade in 3 years' time, then you'd be better off without it.
There are advantages about the Software License Agreement from Microsoft, like the employers can get Office Pro for like $10 to use at home.
So if you know that you're not going to upgrade in 3 years' time, then you'd be better off without it.
There are advantages about the Software License Agreement from Microsoft, like the employers can get Office Pro for like $10 to use at home.
So if Office costs R3k I can get it for R1k?
Pada
Executive Member
Yes & no.
If Office 2010 costs you R3k once off, then with the SLA, it would cost you R1k/year.
The advantage of the SLA is that you can very quickly and easily obtain more licenses, and that you can always upgrade to the latest versions and you get additional support if I'm not mistaken.