subject: Windows 7 may also be purchased in 'family pack' [print this page] Microsoft may be introducing a Family Pack for Windows 7 Home Premium, with a shared license for three computers in the same household. The license details in the latest build of Windows 7 have the following clause under 'Installation and Use Rights': "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," according to ZDNet's Ed Bott.
The Family Pack for Windows 7 Home Premium would fall in line with similar licensing Microsoft already has for the Home & Student Edition of Microsoft Office 2007. There's no word on Family Pack pricing yet, but Bott's guess is that we'll see a Family Pack with a $189 price tag. Although he doesn't explicitly state this, Bott suggests that a price of $189 would be used since it undercuts by ten dollars Apple's comparable Family Pack that gives you five OS X licenses for $199.
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That may seem reasonable, but I'm doubtful since I don't see why Microsoft would feel the need to compete with Apple on boxed software. When you buy a copy of Windows you can throw the OS on almost any computer with enough horsepower, but OS X requires a Mac. Yes, I know all about the Hackintosh community where you install OS X on a Windows machine, but PCs running OS X is not a big enough market to cause Microsoft concern.
Let's face it, when you buy a boxed copy of OS X, you are installing the OS on a Mac not a Dell. People simply aren't going into a store and weighing the pros and cons of buying OS X or Windows software. Sure, when it comes to buying a new computer there's a big rivalry, and in those instances people are weighing the pros and cons of a Mac versus a Windows machine. But when it comes to a software upgrade or fresh install, the type of computer you have at home has already made your software choice for you (unless you're switching over to a Linux build of course).
Microsoft does not have any explanation on Family Pack, but the software giant seems to have looked to Apple. This company sells in the United States OS X packages for 199 dollars, the operating system for private use on five Macs may be installed. Companies in this type of license, however, specifically excluded by Apple and Microsoft also seems to follow this example.
