How to license more than 8 PCs ?

[hdalive]

I 'm thinking of buying 8 pcs for a cafe , the cost for windows 7 is ridiculously high . Are there any options to buy multiple licenses at low cost ?

[gameranand]

For cafe ???
Use Ubuntu. No antivirus, no worries and its free.

Originally Posted by hdalive

Are there any options to buy multiple licenses at low cost ?

None that I know of.

[Vyom]

Even I think Ubuntu Linux would be a better option for cafes.

After visiting the Microsoft Volume Licensing Home Page couldn't even got a single idea of how much price of 8 licenses would cost. (And as a bonus, I had to goto IE, since Microsoft's website doesn't work in Chrome.)

[siddharthmakwana]

how about using thin clients......???

[baccilus]

Originally Posted by siddharthmakwana

how about using thin clients......???

Either this or Ubuntu of course. With Windows you will be firefighting malware all the time.

[gameranand]

Yeah Ubuntu is best option for Cyber cafe. It also requires lesser resources(means faster computing) and any software of win have a alternative in Ubuntu although in Cafe he only need browser and with Ubuntu have can have any except IE which is worst of all browser.

[Zangetsu]

Guys Ubuntu is best & free.
but do the users will be ok working on Ubuntu if they use XP or Win7.....??
I mean in Cafe users not only just browse the net they also do document editing &
playing games (if cafe has the option)...

@hdalive: how much is your budget for OS?

[khmadhu]

playing games in Linux might be difficult. but for rest of applications almost for all windows software there is an alternate software in linux. just need to google that's it.

@hdalive you can first try installing ubuntu. as that's the best option. depending on the user feedback.. you can try to improve the installed softwares , because linux is heavily customizable.. if not you can go for windows..

moreover these days ubuntu updates are very fast, and you can download all the updates to one PC repository and push them to rest of the PC's, thus saving bandwidth

[Zangetsu]

or he can buy windows XP

[gameranand]

Originally Posted by Zangestu

but do the users will be ok working on Ubuntu if they use XP or Win7.....??

Why the hell not after all all they have to do is double click the browser's icon to surf INTERNET.

Originally Posted by Zangestu

I mean in Cafe users not only just browse the net they also do document editing &
playing games (if cafe has the option)...

For documents there is Libre Office and there are plenty of games for Linux AFAIK. Also There are online games available like Urban Terror and many more. I don't think anyone would have any problem with this OS.

Originally Posted by khmadhu

playing games in Linux might be difficult. but for rest of applications almost for all windows software there is an alternate software in linux. just need to google that's it.

And how many modern games can be played on a Cafe's PC ??? For old games he can use wine or games available for Linux.

[Zangetsu]

^^buddy the Games I see people playing in Cafe are Counter Strike,NFS,GTA San Adreas
or COD

those who dont know ubuntu will obviously ask for XP or Windows 7

[gameranand]

Originally Posted by Zangestu

or he can buy windows XP

Lot of security issues.

Originally Posted by Zangestu

^^buddy the Games I see people playing in Cafe are Counter Strike,NFS,GTA San Adreas
or COD

Like I said CS can be replaced with Urban Terror and others also have replacement and man he is going to run a cafe not a game parlor after all.

[Zangetsu]

^Let the OP decide..

[mithun_mrg]

If u want Windows7 u can get a volume license for 8 PCs from here
Microsoft Volume Licensing Home Page
but i think 8 License for 7Pro will cost around 70K so i also think Ubuntu is a better Option for gaming u can invest those 70K in Consoles

[hdalive]

Ubuntu looks fine for internet cafes .
Internet PC =8
gaming PC =8
Consoles XBOX= 8
PS3 =1


Paying around 70k just to license

I think even if i use windows XP SP3 for games systems,price looks high .

I have heard or seen somewhere 5 PC license ,dont know for sure .

[desai_amogh]

buy preloaded OEM machines from Zenith or HCL .. u get 3 year onsite warrenty too.. and machines wont cost you more than 25k with preloaded win 7 (C2D with 2 gb ram)

[gameranand]

Well I won't suggest that. Assembled PCs are best in every aspect. Also maybe he already have PCs.

[sakumar79]

Any idea about possible usage of one Windows Server license with others being sort of thin clients? I believe Windows CE is the OS for them which are relatively cheaper, but I am not sure of the exact pricing

Arun

[mithun_mrg]

^^Boss 1 single Licence would u believe Windows Server Small Business=50K
BTW thin clients can run on win7/xp host OS no os License is required for guest

also windows CE is avaiable only for OEM it is not available in retail so it will only come with the equipment u purchase

[sakumar79]

^^^ Sorry... Did not know that... If so, as you mentioned, Thin clients without OS and one machine with & or XP should do... And software like Deep freeze should help maintain the system... I believe there are also software specifically for Kiosks... Dont know much about them though (pricing, utility, etc)...

Arun