Microsoft on Tuesday was granted a patent for a way of limiting access to certain features of an operating system, depending on whether a user has paid for those features.
The patent, titled 'Restricted software and hardware usage on a computer', covers a means by which Microsoft can offer software that has features either enabled or not enabled depending on which edition a user has purchased. It's a concept already in use at the company.
Microsoft has already said it will offer all versions of Windows 7 on a single disc, with a particular product key unlocking the features that come with that edition. Users will be able to upgrade to a higher- end version of Windows 7 just by purchasing a new product key, Microsoft has said.
It is not clear that the patented technology is used for this. One piece of the application deals with the scenario in which "a consumer initially purchases a computer with restricted functionality at a price that is less than the price that would be charged for a computer with full functionality".
"Subsequently, the user can, at an additional cost, acquire a digital key that allows the restrictions to be removed, upgrading the computer to full functionality," Microsoft said.
Although Microsoft has long touted the general-purpose nature of Windows, it notes in its patent applications the need to offer different versions with different features.
"One problem inherent in open architecture systems is they are generally licensed with complete use rights and/or functionality that may be beyond the need or desire of the system purchaser," Microsoft said. "Consequentially, the purchase price of these systems being indifferent to usage scenarios means users with limited needs pay the same rate for these systems as those with universal needs."
With Windows, there have long been home and professional versions. During its long life span, Windows XP also added the Starter, Media Center and Tablet PC editions.
With Vista, Microsoft added the Home Premium, Enterprise, and Ultimate versions. In that case, users could also move from one version to another, although it required the use of a separate disk.
Talkback
The four stages of "Battered Women's Syndrome" are:
Stage 1 - Denial - occurs when the battered woman denies to others, and to herself, that there is a problem.
Stage 2 - Guilt - during this stage, most battered women will take on the blame or responsibility of any beatings they may receive.
Stage 3 - Enlightenment - occurs when a battered woman starts to understand that no one deserves to be beaten.
Stage 4 - Responsibility - at this stage battered women choose to take the necessary steps to leave their abusers and begin to start new lives.
See any similarities for Windows users?
Stage 1 - Denial - "Oh it's nothing. This software patent abuse doesn't really affect me. MS are just protecting their commercial interests. They're people are so intelligent, and Bill gives all that money to charity"
Stage 2 - Guilt - "Hold on, that little pop-up box says I need to 'upgrade' but I don't know why. What have I done wrong? Oh no, I'm a criminal! My non-payment is affecting MS's ability to innovate. Its all my fault!!"
Stage 3 - Enlightenment - "Free software? Open Source? And you can do all that for free?"
Stage 4 - Responsibility - "Actually, MS can go to hell. I'm not putting up with their abusive behaviour anymore. I want to be free."
Good one dogstar. I used to be the same way. 1991 I couldn't wait to get the latest copy of windows and update. In my eyes they were the greatest! Then win95 came along and I was ecstatic until it got to where it wouldn't boot, or hung up on shutdown, and things went downhill from there. Win98 didn't fix 95, it just created more problems, and 98SE did address a few, but also brought more. Then in 2001 I took the plunge into the Linux world and discovered that there was an OS that actually worked and I was in control of how it looked, and what programs I could use. Plus any problems were corrected quickly. it was more secure, more stable, faster, and the fact that it was free didn't hurt either. Now I can't understand why people put with MS's useless fragment of excrement.
My Vista anytime upgrade disk contains all versions, and the ones that actually install depend on the product key. Nothing new then?