I'll scream bloody murder because it isn't like MS has a 12-18 month product cycle like you do with a video card. I'll be paying $100 for the EXACT same product that they released 5 years ago! Basically they're just saying that because you decide to upgrade your computer or buy another computer that has no OS that your legally purchased license is now useless. I can see the point if you purchase another system, but because you change out your system board they want you to buy another copy?? That's just BS.

When MS first came out with this activation BS, they would not budge on the "one computer" thing. I was installing XP home on a PC for someone where they had installed an uninstalled XP because of some compatablity issues and had to call about 4-5 times before I finally got ahold of someone who would actually relent. I had to give them a VERY detailed list of the hardware in the 1st PC and explain to them that there was no driver support for a couple of pieces of hardware before they gave me a new key.

BTW, there are activation crackers available out there. MS occasionally changes stuff around in a patch or service pack which might temporarily disable automatic updates if the update detects that you've used the cracker (there are even ways around that!) but usually it doesn't take but maybe a week or so for someone to come out with a new crack. I have noticed that OEM keys tend to "forget" what system they're installed on after about 60 days. I have used the key for my desktop on about 2-3 other computers around the house without any incident.

Bottom line, product activation only really prevents casual piracy and is a PITA for small businesses who don't have enough PCs to warrant a volume license or folks who like to upgrade their PCs from time to time. We can only hope that MS will come out with a better solution with Vista.