[chat] [admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx: Re: Getting legal software for donated PCs]

[Ken Caldwell <kencaldwell@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Forwarded message from Pc's for Kids Inc <admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> -----

Envelope-to: ken@localhost
Delivery-date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 20:51:49 +1000
From: "Pc's for Kids Inc" <admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Ken Caldwell" <kencaldwell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Getting legal software for donated PCs
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 20:40:33 +1000
X-Priority: 3
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 17 Jul 2001 10:39:17.0131 (UTC) FILETIME=[BAA035B0:01C10EAC]

Thank you for your email.

Your comments have been echoed to all associated with our vital community
driven project.

Over the next few weeks we will respond to the comments noted within your
email - The overwhelming support shown by all who voiced their opinion shows
the world is very understanding.

Linux is one option open to the Pc's for Kids project - There are many who
voiced this to be a strong issue - Our assistants are trying to make this
happen as I write and this new wave is a whole new learning curve for us
all. If you have any packages that can suit our listed systems please duly
advise?

Our project has 3 main products we distribute to kids:

1. 486 SX Machines 8MB and 300 HDD (These go to assist Rotary in their
Donations In Kind Project to Pacific Islands)

2. 486 DX Series with the 16mb and a 420 HDD (We send these to very young
children to the age of 10)

3. Low End Pentium 75 / 90 / 100 / 120 / 133 / 166 these have a full package
provided - CD / 16MB / 850 HDD Min / Sound / and 56.6 Modem. (This is our
most requested and addresses 100% of most children needs)

If you have parts or items that can assist - we invite your donation.

(Microsoft) MS is in our schools and kids understand this very well - Our
concern is support needed in many locations should we be forced to alter our
systems OS.

These Q&A will be raised when the time comes - But we must face and stand up
to MS - For the issues that the Press reported and other key factors.

We take the liberty to let you read a report from New Zealand that shows the
heavy-handed nature of this market leader - If we do not stand up and voice
our concerns many more Charities around the world will close their doors.

Let's face it - What we did is not LEGAL - But in the eye of the public we
are a Charity trying to assist our next generation. If the big boys want to
tackle a charity for the sake of Less Fortunate Children then we ALL have
problems.

We write this reply to you and call it "Freeware" please feel free to post
it and let's all let the Big-Boys understand that we do care.

Thanks again,
COLIN
Kind regards,
Colin Bayes (President / Founder) Pc's for Kids Inc.
colin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pcsforkids.org

Computer licensing hurts school scheme

05.06.2001 By ADAM GIFFORD
Microsoft's aggressive licensing tactics are putting at risk a scheme
to put computers in schools, says the head of a computer recycling
company.

Bob Lye, the managing director of Ark Recycling, said the world's
largest software company had already captured a big chunk of the
budget by double dipping on operating system licences.

"Microsoft says when you buy a computer you must have an operating
system licence. Fair enough," Mr Lye said.

"When you replace a Machine, they then say that licence stays with
machine, so you have to buy a new licence for the new machine.

"When they dispose of the old machine, the new owner is told they
can't use the licence and have to buy a new one. This country is being
screwed blind."

It has become a major issue because Microsoft has announced it will
cease selling new licences for the Windows 95 operating system.

Many of the computers Ark puts into schools do not have the memory or
hard disk capacity to run a newer operating system, but are capable of
running all the applications a student needs on Windows 95.

Mr Lye said the corporates who donated or sold old computers to Ark
had often paid for licences several times through forced upgrades
needed to keep pace with Microsoft's application upgrades - a forced
obsolescence policy.

"Word processing is still functionally identical to version two, but
people are being forced to pay for tinsel."

Under a scheme promoted by Computer Access New Zealand (CANZ), Ark
sold schools a refurbished Pentium for $395, he said. It included a
copy of Windows 95, for which the Education Ministry paid Microsoft
$225.

"These are machines for which someone paid for an existing licence,"
Mr Lye said.

Microsoft New Zealand OEM manager Brett Roberts, who is in charge of
licensing issues, said operating systems could be reused if the
recyclers had the original certificate of authenticity.

Mr Lye said that was impractical, as the licence documents were
usually stored away from the computer and often got lost or thrown
out.

Mr Roberts said it was more likely the licences were transferred to
other machines, or sold on the black market. "It's rare people would
deliberately destroy product. There's a thriving trade on [auction
site] Ebay in secondhand licences."

Mr Lye said no such trade existed in New Zealand, and as there was no
upgrade path from Windows 95 to Windows 98 it was highly unlikely the
licence was still in use.

The problem seemed to be confined to New Zealand, he said.

"In the United States the re-cyclers just reinstall Windows 95 Version
B on all Pentiums."

CANZ chairman Lawrence Zwimpfer said overseas recyclers were appalled
their colleagues here were forced to pay Microsoft.

"I suspect the Microsoft team here are more vigorous defenders of
their licences than elsewhere," Mr Zwimpfer said.

CANZ had been negotiating with Microsoft about the Windows 95
obsolescence issue, and agreement had been reached with New Zealand
head Geoff Lawrie for recyclers to continue installing Windows 95 if
they paid for Windows 98 licences.

Mr Zwimpfer said Microsoft's new practice of making the authentication
certificate a sticker to be placed on the machine would make recycling
easier.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Caldwell" <kencaldwell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Colin Bayes" <admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2001 5:19 PM
Subject: Getting legal software for donated PCs


> Someone posted the following link on the Sydney Linux Users Group
> mailing list
> http://www.it.mycareer.com.au/breaking/2001/07/16/FFXHC2W94PC.html
> with the story of how Microsoft will not let you have free licences
> for their software.
>
> Have you considered equipping the computers with free software?
> Free operating systems and applications exist to provide all the
> functionality of MS Windows and applications.
>
> The software is no more difficult to learn than Windows but is
> different.  It may be worthwhile to contact the Computerbank
> project
>
> http://www.computerbank.org.au/
>
> which has aims similar to your own organisation.  There may be
> linux users at the local university who might help.
>
> regards,
>
> Ken Caldwell
> --


----- End forwarded message -----

--