* Posts by KRC

3 publicly visible posts • joined 13 Dec 2013

Botched Microsoft update knocks Windows 8, 10 PCs offline – regardless of ISP

KRC

Re: Only Britain? Short answer: No.

> Info box at the top of the page, above the results: "A Microsoft account and Internet access."

Which comes from a 3rd party site referring to a technical preview. This is where you should be looking: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/windows-10-specifications

And the only reference to Internet access is this;

"An internet connection is required to perform the upgrade. Windows 10 is a large file – about 3 GB – and Internet access (ISP) fees might apply."

Microsoft's licence riddles give Linux and pals a free ride to virtual domination

KRC

Ahh so now you don't want to use an apples to apples comparison? Coolio : )

Well we can compare volume license level discounts if you like;

Under VMWare VPP that single CPU from earlier would be worth 27 points, VPP discounts are 250-599 pts = 4%, 600-999pts = 6%, 1000-1749 = 9% and 1750+ = 12%.

Under MS that single CPU would be worth 126pts. Select+ pricing discounts are an interesting thing to compare but you won't be far away from 500 pts (A) = 3%, 4000pts (B) = 10%, 10000pts (C) = 17%, 25000pts (D) = 24%.

So I can get to discounts on MS quicker than I can on VMWare, though the first tier for VMWare is better. That's moot really because to get to the discounts for either i have to place a single order at the minimum point level so to actually get the discount I have to spend more with VMWare.

Of course if you want to argue ELA versus EA all bets are off. There are boundaries but the final price is pretty much down to how well you can negotiate at the time and is pretty pointless trying to compare as guidance.

KRC

Umm...

Sources are current retail prices as per VMWare and MS today, using today's exchange rates.

vSphere + Ops Mgr Standard is approx. £1320 for a licence and about £990 for 3 years of support. So around £2300 per CPU all in.

2012 R2 DataCenter is around £4500 and SystemCentre DataCenter is approx £2220, both prices including SA and are per 2 CPU's. That's around £3360 per CPU all in.

What the vSphere price doesn't take into account is the virtual machines you're running on that environment. Anything more than 3 Windows Standard (without SA) instances running and you're better off taking the 2012 R2 DataCenter licenses. If you're anyone who wants to achieve high levels of Windows virtualisation then you'll actually be better off buying R2 DataCenter in addition to your vSphere licenses.

Is MS licensing complex? In places yes. Is this one of them? No.