Windows 8 – Operating at the user’s mandate

In a publicity stunt with an underlying reason to increase the sales of Windows 8, Microsoft will allow the users to downgrade their operating system to previous versions according to their new licensing agreement.

Downgrade rights as they are being named will allow the consumers to replace a novel version of Windows with an older variant without bearing the cost of two copies.

These rights are applicable only in Windows 8 Pro. In the list of previous variants, Windows 7 Professional and Vista were granted downgrade rights.

Microsoft XP was not awarded the rights; pundits believe that Microsoft is trying to distance itself from XP. The Microsoft support feature for XP is set to expire in April, 2014.

Large businesses are loaded with enterprise licensing agreements, including the option of Software Assurance, which is offered by regular payments to downgrade from any version of Windows to any previous edition.

The customers and small business owners do not avail this luxury. The downgrade rights appeared after Vista’s release in 2007 when the users were frustrated with the new version and revolted back to Windows XP.

The downgrade rights are available only from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) copies which are factory installed by the manufacturers.

The retail version of Windows 8 Pro deleted the section on downgrade options. Microsoft has adhered to its previous downgrade rights in terms of providing the media for the older variant of the operating system.

The licensing agreement read, “Neither the manufacturer or installer, nor Microsoft, is obligated to supply earlier versions to you. You must obtain the earlier version separately.”

If Microsoft decides not to make any drastic changes, OEM’s will have the alternative to offer new Windows 8 Pro PC’s downgraded to the previous edition.

Microsoft has also allowed the manufacturers to sell Windows 7 operated PC’s until late October, 2014, two years after Windows 8 hits the market.

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