Rumor Mill: Windows 7 Family Pack
The Redmond-based software giant Microsoft will roll out Windows 7 Family Pack, which will allow you to use the operating system on up to three machines, just as it did in the past with Vista Family Pack. Back then, Microsoft allowed customers that purchased Windows Vista Ultimate to purchase Windows Vista Home Premium, upgrade editions, at discount.
For the time being this is just a rumor, no official confirmation has come from Microsoft, but it is great news if this rumor turns out to be true. How did we come by such a rumor then if Microsoft is completely mum on the subject? Well, the software developer may not have issued any details on Windows 7 Family Pack, but it did update the End User License Agreement (EULA) for the operating system, and the wording of the EULA points to a Windows 7 Family Pack.
The most recent pre-RTM versions of Windows 7, come with the following text in the EULA, as reported by Kristan Kenney:
“2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. One Copy per Computer. Except as allowed in Section 2 (b) below, you may install one copy of the software on one computer. That computer is the “licensed computer.”
b. Family Pack. If you are a “Qualified Family Pack User”, you may install one copy of the software marked as “Family Pack” on three computers in your household for use by people who reside there. Those computers are the “licensed computers” and are subject to these license terms. If you do not know whether you are a Qualified Family Pack User, visit go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkid=141399 or contact the Microsoft affiliate serving your country.
c. Licensed Computer. You may use the software on up to two processors on the licensed computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, you may not use the software on any other computer.
d. Number of Users. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, only one user may use the software at a time.
e. Alternative Versions. The software may include more than one version, such as 32-bit and 64-bit. You may install and use only one version at one time.”
Please note that the EULA comes from Windows 7 Home Premium – the Windows 7 Family Pack program may turn out to be different from Vista Family Pack. As mentioned above, when you purchased Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft gave you two upgrade editions of Vista Home Premium. Since the EULA is taken from Windows 7 Home Premium, the Windows 7 Family Package program may not be linked with the high-end version of the operating system.
This is of course speculation and rumors. We’ll know more when Microsoft decides to go public with this info.
For the time being this is just a rumor, no official confirmation has come from Microsoft, but it is great news if this rumor turns out to be true. How did we come by such a rumor then if Microsoft is completely mum on the subject? Well, the software developer may not have issued any details on Windows 7 Family Pack, but it did update the End User License Agreement (EULA) for the operating system, and the wording of the EULA points to a Windows 7 Family Pack.
The most recent pre-RTM versions of Windows 7, come with the following text in the EULA, as reported by Kristan Kenney:
“2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. One Copy per Computer. Except as allowed in Section 2 (b) below, you may install one copy of the software on one computer. That computer is the “licensed computer.”
b. Family Pack. If you are a “Qualified Family Pack User”, you may install one copy of the software marked as “Family Pack” on three computers in your household for use by people who reside there. Those computers are the “licensed computers” and are subject to these license terms. If you do not know whether you are a Qualified Family Pack User, visit go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkid=141399 or contact the Microsoft affiliate serving your country.
c. Licensed Computer. You may use the software on up to two processors on the licensed computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, you may not use the software on any other computer.
d. Number of Users. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, only one user may use the software at a time.
e. Alternative Versions. The software may include more than one version, such as 32-bit and 64-bit. You may install and use only one version at one time.”
Please note that the EULA comes from Windows 7 Home Premium – the Windows 7 Family Pack program may turn out to be different from Vista Family Pack. As mentioned above, when you purchased Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft gave you two upgrade editions of Vista Home Premium. Since the EULA is taken from Windows 7 Home Premium, the Windows 7 Family Package program may not be linked with the high-end version of the operating system.
This is of course speculation and rumors. We’ll know more when Microsoft decides to go public with this info.
