I got have-life 2 on steam when it first came out years ago. Do I remeber my account info, NO. do I still have the same email address used on the account, NO. Shit out of luck, YES!!!

MarieLolzord

It seems wrong that the world's largest software company is just now really jumping into digital distribution

And

I still wouldn't go the download route for Windows

You seem to have solved you own confusion.

As pointed out, MS has done digital distrobution for a while now. As you prove, the general public is barely able to except the idea of digital distrobution.

Necroscope

@luciusad2004: damn those first two lines are redundant : ( I hate when i do that.

luciusad2004

"Also, when it comes to your whole OS, it just seems smarter to have a hard copy"

You do realize that if you're downloading an OS there's a 99.9% chance that you're going to have to make a hard copy to install it? Unless you're simply using the image for Virtual Machine testing, I don't know how in the heck you plan on installing an OS you bought online and downloaded without a disc.

That would be quite the sales scheme.

flyakite

Wouldn't you have to burn it to a CD anyway to install it? Seriously, you need it on a disk to install it anyways. Unless this is meant as an "upgrade" type of thing were you buy it and install it from within a current windows installation. I'm thinking you can most likely burn it to a disk to hold on to it.

luciusad2004

@outie: Ooooh. A see dee burner. Is that some sort of new fandangled witchcraft?

ripfire

Actually, Microsoft has had digital distribution for quite a while now. When Windows Vista came out, I purchased a license of Vista Business from their online store (the Digital Locker/Windows Marketplace) and downloaded it. The downloaded copy of Vista could be burned to an installer DVD and used like any store bought software.

That was almost two years ago. Microsoft doing digital distribution is nothing new. This iteration of the store, however, is.

Preyfar

Maybe he doesn't have a CD/DVD burner.

outie

@Rabid Penguin:
Yes you can... a Dell laptop that I bought for my inlaws last Christmas came without media, but in a flier it had a DVD "printed" that said... you can do such and such... and burn yourself a DVD copy of the OS.
You can only burn yourself one copy... but you can also order a copy by mail for $5 shipping.

(sort of OK... a little cheap ass if you ask me... but still you could burn yourself the copy of Vista...)

aec007

@bkchosun: Wow, you guys are quick on the comments...

bkchosun

I may be missing something here, but couldn't you just burn the downloaded file to a cd or dvd?

bkchosun

I'm pretty sure they are wrapped around some DRM protection thing....right?

xsecretfiles2

Ironically enough.....China has been downloading Windows for at least the last 8 years.

jayhawk11

I wish if you gave them your Windows product key code they let you download that OS for free. I hate manufacturer's restore disk.

baltwade

Also, I've been able to download all their software for years... MSDN ;c)

Rabid Penguin

cool. might have to get windows 7 there if i can.

ZetaCrossfire

You know, when you download software you could always burn it do a DVD. That option does exist... or can you not do that in Vista?

Rabid Penguin

@nutbastard: which is probably why this exists in the first place.

download an image all you want.

you already have the key.

mikeg916

@MarieLolzord: actually no
you can contact customer service and if you can prove it by having a receipt (like the credit card you paid for it with) they will rest everything for you.

i just did this early this year

mikeg916

@Joker10: I know with Steam there is a backup option to copy any of your games from hard disk to cd/dvd. I don't own any Microsoft games, but I don't see why you couldn't do it with theirs either.

Rabid Penguin

I understand that you can download things to physical media like Office, but what if i decide to purchase a game. Will I be able to copy that to disk and play it at a buddies, or am doomed to play it off my HDD forever?

Joker10

@nutbastard:

yeah, its a point worth making twice.

Ibelieveinsandwitches

You know what they need... THIS: [tinyurl.com]

froboy

@nutbastard: agreed... you don't buy the software itself, just the license to use it... thus, you should be able to get the installer from wherever you want.

Kuroyume

@Preyfar: exactly.
You've been able to download software from microsoft via other channels for a very long time, and honestly, that's how i get almost all of my MS software for my business.
i download the iso image and then purchase the keys i need from a VAR in the numbers that i need.

Opening this to Joe Public is just the latest evolution of this.

mikeg916

I say media should be given out almost freely. It's the license that you have to purchase.

ripfire

@xsecretfiles2: yes, it's called a product key and activation.

mikeg916

The idea that you would pay hundreds of dollars for software and then *not* back it up on physical media is kinda ridiculous.

Apoc112

@luciusad2004:

it's a point worth making twice ; )

nutbastard

@luciusad2004: What about a network install?

JiAvW

Look, the way i feel about it is, if you f'ing paid for it, feel free to torrent it forever, guilt free.

nutbastard

Still much cheaper on NewEgg, and you get the new disc smell.

tamoriel

I was seriously worried about how I was going to weather the massive queues for the Vista 2 launch . . . . I mean Windows 7 launch. Well done microsoft for coming up with such a clever solution . . .

tarzan69

@MarieLolzord: Well, who's the dumb ass that forgot his account info!

Barry99705

what a dumb article. windows installations are made much easier and much cleaner by ripping the install cd to the hard drive and tweaking with nLite anyway, then you can burn it, or store it on any number of drives that will never degrade. looks like 5 seconds of thought was put into this haterade.

oranges

way to again have no idea what you're talking about giz!! MS has had an online store for years it's called Windows Marketplace, where you could by MS hardware and software as well as 3rd party hardware and software.

www.windowsmarketplace.com

danielsmi

If an OS sells in Office Depot for $299.00 then I bet after all costs, MS gets $179.00.

If the store is successful, and they sell the downloaded medis for retail price, MS's profit will be huge.

eyephone

You really would think that they could lower the prices for the mass downloaded media. I understand that they have to have the server capability and bandwidth to handle the downloads, but c'mon not even a little discount?

There is no packaging, no physical disk, no store profit or overhead, and no transportation costs.... there should be a discount.

eyephone

@nutbastard: I understand the sentiment of this opinion, but it doesn't jive with copyright law. People often overlook the fact that copyright protection gives the copyright owner both the exclusive right to reproduce a work and the exclusive right to distribute a work. Downloading software is "distributing" software.

Paying for a license to "use" software is basically paying for the right to reproduce the software on your computer as necessary to operate the software. The license doesn't include a right to distribute/download the software at will.

Of course - guilt is a personal thing. I point out the legal standard for people's info in case that helps them form their own opinion.

Patented_Skillz

Microsoft's Policy of Digital Redownload is actually better than most other software vendors redownload policy. Does itunes let you redownload? No. Symantec allows you to redownload for 1 year and then you're out of luck. Additionally, on the enterprise side MS has been in the digital distribution game for a while. I can log into my EOpen account and download any licensed product I have, SQL Server 2008, Vista (32 or 64), XP, Office (03, 07, 08 for Mac) Visio, etc.

AletheaReptile

@mikeg916: Plays4Sure?

whootowl

Wow Matt can I have your job?

YOU SUCK AT IT. YOU ARE SO BIAS TOWARDS PHYSICAL MEDIA YOU MISSED THE WHOLE POINT OF DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION.
download,backup to exteral drive or burn to dvd. So many possibilities.

And yes! that was an intentional CAPS LOCK just for you MR.

GenNove

@aec007: If you don't trust the long-term reliability of DVD+-R media, you could always simply copy the contents of the Vista DVD to your hard disk and re-burn it any time you like. At that point, you could even use something like vLite to customize the install for things like additional drivers, slipstream service packs and hotfixes, component removal, UI tweaks, etc.

Or, you could copy the contents of the Vista DVD to a 4GB (or more) USB stick and boot from it directly - no funky hacks required! If you must install Vista, it really is the best way to go.

racermd

@racermd:
Your joking, right? Boot Vista from USB?

Wait, today's not April Fools is it?

kazemizuhi

@baltwade:
Agreed.

Mark X

@aec007:

That's Dell's software at work, not Vista.

Mark X