Morph OS license questions

[zylesea]

And if he wants to keep the hardware to run OSX, Linux, *BSD or whatever?

Rather academic and unlikely. The hw MorphOS runs on *is* already outdated and cheap. A Powermac goes for really little money and its worth is not really increasing over time. Or to say it that way: most of these computers are more or less worthless marketwise. There is not much to lose. If you happen to ditch your MorphOS installation on a Powermac and desperatle have the desire to run BSD on such a device, sell the reg'd maschine and buy another non reg'd one   - you'll get a good share of the registration fee back.
And honestly - how often do you change your Amiga? Well, I bought somewhen in the nineties an A1200, 2002 as  successor a Pegasos, 2008 as successor a Mac mini G4 - those devices are really written off. Life is too short for hindering principles (bit bold statement though, but there is some truth in it).

[runequester]

Another question:
Is VAT charged for US customers or is it discounted?

[kolla]

Rather academic and unlikely.

Excuse me? That is not unlikely for me and the people I surround myself with, I have yet to sell any computer that I've bought. And there's nothing desperate about running NetBSD on an old G4, stop being an arse.

[pVC]

Of course I would like to be able to install my keyfile for all my computers too, but if you think it realistic, what would be the better licence scheme for both user and developers on current market situation? I think it's fair compromise currently.

If you could use bought keyfile without limits, that would crash the already small sales to bottom because of the illegal copying, that's for sure.

Any kind of network authentication would be doomed too. I trust my equipment lasts longer than any support services would probably be online in the future. I want to be sure I can reinstall my system in any situation in any time, even when the OS development has stopped. Just like with my old Amiga software.

And as said, you can sell your old keyfile with your old computer, if you want to part with it. In the most cases you have been using the system long enough to make it worth it even if you wouldn't get money back with selling. Compare it to other regular or annual expenses and it doesn't make that much. I bet you can get much more fun with it that many other activities you might be putting your money in.

Mainstream systems can afford for piracy, because of big userbase, but there are some licences tied to hw too.

In practise, OS4 is tied to HW too. You cannot buy new HW without the OS included and charged. And it has separate versions for each platform. If you want to upgrade from your old A1 to SAM or Peg2 or something else, you have to buy new copy of the OS. In practise the same thing like with MorphOS. It just isn't seemingly tied that tight to HW, which is possible because they don't have any support for mainstream HW and thus the piracy isn't such a problem.

I still own my Pegasos1, which has paid OS. And I still own my A1200, which has paid OS too (actually several). Even though I'm currently using Mac mini, I don't see any problem having bought software for those older computers in the past.

[kolla]

Well, use whatever excuses you like. At the end of the day, the license issue is the final straw for quite a few of us. And, OS4 is not tied to the hardware.

[Franko]

Well, use whatever excuses you like. At the end of the day, the license issue is the final straw for quite a few of us. And, OS4 is not tied to the hardware.

I'd still like to give it try using the trial period but these licence things really bug me, if for example I can't transfer the licence to a another machine if I decide to buy another computer then there is no way I'd purchase a licence...

[pVC]

And, OS4 is not tied to the hardware.

Literally not, but in practise it is in the cases many have said here against MorphOS's policy.

I'd still like to give it try using the trial period

Just to make sure, it isn't like trial period is with many other programs. You can use it as long as you want. Feel free to use it 10 years without registration, it just slows down after 30 mins on every session and gives you nagging requester. You can continue to use it anyway and you aren't forced to reboot, but reboot will make it fast for another 30 mins again and again.

but these licence things really bug me, if for example I can't transfer the licence to a another machine if I decide to buy another computer then there is no way I'd purchase a licence...

You have been given many options. My advice is to buy good enough machine which you aren't going to give up anytime soon. Or get some dirt cheap test machine before buying proper one for registration.

[Franko]

You have been given many options. My advice is to buy good enough machine which you aren't going to give up anytime soon. Or get some dirt cheap test machine before buying proper one for registration.

That sounds like good advice to me... cheers...

[kolla]

Literally not, but in practise it is in the cases many have said here against MorphOS's policy.

Not at all. With OS4 I can easily replace hardware as I'm pleased without having to send any documentation about anything to anyone.

[Golem!dk]

Not at all. With OS4 I can easily replace hardware as I'm pleased without having to send any documentation about anything to anyone.

But replace it with what? Most OS4 hardware comes bundled with the OS.

[itix]

@kolla

Not at all. With OS4 I can easily replace hardware as I'm pleased without having to send any documentation about anything to anyone.

In practise it you can replace only Pegasos and PowerUp without having to buy new license. You can not buy A1 or SAM, new or used, without OS4.

I dont know if they are going to release 4.2 what can be installed on any machine but so far version 4.1 has been tailored for each platform.

[tone007]

You can not buy A1 or SAM, new or used, without OS4.

I'd sell my A1 without OS4 if somebody wanted the hunk of crap!

[takemehomegrandma]

I'd sell my A1 without OS4 if somebody wanted the hunk of crap!

Thanks, but No Thanks!

I've had my share of AmigaOne's already...

(and OS4 for that matter!)

[itix]

Anyway, why there are limitations with MorphOS license scheme it allows some advantages:

* full demo version can be distributed freely over internet
* demo version can be turned into purchased copy without reinstalling anything
* downloading updates dont require further registration nor the original CD/ISO image

[Duce]

Only thing I do find offputting about this licensing scheme is the fact that once my Mini arrives and I reg Morph, if I enjoy the OS - chances are high to guaranteed I'll end up buying a more powerful PPC Mac in the future as Morph brings out support for them.  It'd be nice to be able to decommission the mini MorphOS license and transfer it to another machine, but if this is possible with the current methods MorphOS uses, I haven't found any info on it.

Hell, I'd even pay a license transfer fee rather than buy a whole new OS copy, considering once the Mini is replaced I'll likely either sell it with Mac OS/Linux on it and never use MorphOS on it again myself.  I don't have an issue with the OS locked to one specific bit of hardware via MAC addresses or other methods, it's just bothersome to have to shell out cash for another copy rather than be able to transfer the key from another machine to a newer/better one if the lower end one that's entirely not being used is outright decommissioned.

[amigadave]

Not aimed at any one person in this thread:

The MorphOS2.x licensing model is not ideal from the users POV, but no one has come up with an alternative model that is better and still provides an equal amount of protection against piracy for the Dev. Team.

AROS users have no problem with licenses, but OS4.x users are not much better off than MorphOS2.x users, as they can't transfer their OS4.x license when they upgrade their SAM440ep/flex to a new SAM460 (or can they), or to a Pegasos2, or to the X1000 if/when they are available to purchase.  Linux users are in the same boat as AROS users, but Windows users often run into problems some time down the road with updates, after they have moved their license from one machine to another.

The current MorphOS2.x license model is not for everyone, but I have no problem with it and find it laughable that so many people try to make a big deal of it.  If you don't like MorphOS2.x, or if you don't want it to prosper because you prefer another alternative, then just say so and use the advantages of your preferred OS to convince others to try it, but don't try to dissuade anyone else from trying MorphOS2.x just because the license model is different than Windows, or not needing any license like AROS, or Linux.

@Duce,

Either don't register your MacMini and use it in the free mode until you find and purchase the more powerful PPC Mac in the future, or buy the license for the MacMini and then when you upgrade to a more powerful PPC Mac, sell the MacMini and the MorphOS2.x license together to pay for the new license.  Like I said, it is not the best solution for us users, but unless you have a better solution for both users and the MorphOS Dev. Team, nothing is likely to change.