@abarker said:
Essentially, software would literally be tied to the hardware.
Except for the bit where you can log into your MS account from any PC and deauthorise it, like the iTunes model.
This is actually offering more freedom than the old system, because you can transfer your license whenever you want.
I don't see any mention of it being "always on" either. More likely it will just handle the activation and do checkins when you go to install stuff from the store or get upgrades - I think MS well and truly learnt their lesson with the reaction to the always-on DRM in the Xbone.
@abarker said:
Want to install some M$ software on a system that won't be connected to the interwebs? Well fuck you.
Connect it once, activate with your store account, job done.
@abarker said:
Let's say there was some sort of catastrophe and your system was completely destroyed, so you are working on a new build (because you don't like those boring, mass produced, off-the-shelf systems). Ready to buy the OS? Better go borrow someone else's system so you can make the purchase and download the install, because fuck you.
Or you could log in to your MS account with your phone/tablet/friend's computer/school computer/library computer and remove your existing activation and just reactivate the new device with your store account once you've reinstalled with your recovery media. As for where you get said recovery media, that is TRWTF.
@abarker said:
How the hell will this work when buying physical copies? I can think of a way to make it work for software like Office, but how would you make it work for a copy of Windows you buy at the store?
Same as Steam activation for boxed video games, probably. You install the software which complains about being inactive, you log in using your store account and it prompts you to either enter your credit card details or your single-use product key, which permanently attaches that purchase to your MS account.
This whole thing is basically a Steam/iTunes hybrid for Windows. I don't see why people are so unhappy about it.