Important Changes to Microsoft Licensing

[GrumbleDook]

You can view the page at http://www.edugeek.net/content.php?r=218-Important-Changes-to-Microsoft-Licensing

[HodgeHi]

I've just a quick question.

 

How does the Core CAL Suite work? Do you still have to buy individual CALS or does this CAL Suite cover all your users/devices through the EES Agreement?

 

I've been trying to work this out but still not sure what it means. If I've got this right the EES is based on FTE staff instead of computers which seems to be good but does this mean you then have to purchase CALs per user instead of per machine?

[Dos_Box]

It is planned that we are to do a joint Microsoft\EduGeek webcast the Monday after BETT (17th Jan), where we shall be asking you for various questions closer to the time, or even during the webcast itself. This is timed to coincide with the Micrisift licensing announcement and address any queries you might have.

[rayfleming]

The CoreCal suite on EES works on the same basis as Office, Windows upgrade etc - as long as you have covered all of your FTEs, all of your school computers are covered, regardless of how many there are (and therefore all of your users are covered). Except computers dedicated to specific students (you have to license those additionally, through the Student Option or other ways)

[zag]

I think they just want more money on a regular basis really.

 

Subscription licensing is a really bad idea in my opinion, always has been, always will be.

 

Can you imagine if we all paid a subscription for Vista instead of XP that we still love and use today. That would be 10 years of payments for software that wasn't needed.

[grdrager]

Here's a link to the program guide:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/D/7/7/D7702BE5-3FC2-4E3E-9465-35E66EF1AE8C/EES_program_guide.docx

[rayfleming]

Just a brief note - the Programme Guide above is for the US scheme - the version in Europe is slightly different, and we're just updating the UK version of that, which will be available shortly. I'll put the link to the UK version as soon as it's online.

 

Ray

[mavhc]

Will there really be enough improvements in windows/office to want to pay to upgrade? Aren't they basically finished? All the development is in free web apps

[bladedanny]

I think the main thing that drew us to subscription is it's a much smaller sum of money at the outset. eg. either spend £11,000 in one go (most of our IT budget) or £2,000 yearly. Yes we will probably end up paying more if we stay on the same version too long but it's the only way we can afford it. I can't wait for EES.

[mb2k01]

@rayflemming

I understand that pricing isn't being officially published until next year, but wonder if it would be possible for you/MS to provide at least a rough comparison - e.g. School 'x' which pays £15,000 per year on Schools Agreement with 90 staff could see potential savings of up to £x per year under EES?

Edited December 12, 2010 by mb2k01

[GrumbleDook]

@mb2k01

The problems with that is that should a school almost exactly like the scenario you suggest find that the figures don't quite match then all hell breaks loose as MS tweak the costs to make them comparable across markets.

 

I don't even think those who have seen some of the examples (under NDA) could give you example figures right now either ... I'm afraid it is going to have to be a case of being patient.

[john]

@rayflemming

I understand that pricing isn't being officially published until next year, but wonder if it would be possible for you/MS to provide at least a rough comparison - e.g. School 'x' which pays £15,000 per year on Schools Agreement with 90 staff could see potential savings of up to £x per year under EES?

 

How about you do what we have been hoping for, as its based on a similar principal to how the Campus Agreement has worked for a long while, I asked my licensing partner to tell me what the most expensive price they had on the list for what I buy on my SA was, that gave me a rough idea which was showing a few thousand pounds of savings. So fine its not an official price or guide but given that its based on similar ideas to Campus it was a thought I had.

[m25man]

What's the current cost of a Campus std desktop?

A schools agreement 3.5 is around £28...

I understand that M$ are offering extensions to School Agreement subscribers to bridge them through to EES, so they obviously think that this will be a big saver for some schools!

 

Too early to speculate I expect but some initial calculations make it look like it could save our managed secondary around £7k pa...

About time too..

 

I guess we will know after BETT.