News Microsoft makes Windows 8.1 free for non-profits

It seems Microsoft is afraid that other OSes may take over non-profits. This would be unthinkable a few years ago.

 

I'm struggling to think of a charity that doesn't fall into one of the caveats

 

Hmm, it would be nice to see an example of somebody who could benefit from this

 

"up to seed" I guess should be "up to speed", sorry

 

Charities like tear fund, banardos, charities that help the homeless, churches with a charity arm, foodbanks, charities that help people find work, charities that train pensioners to use modern computers will all benefit from this. I think.

This line is the most perplexing though, suggest it can't be used to fundraise... strange:
"the use of the software for sponsorship of events, tables, exhibitions or performances or for fund-raising events"

 

It's saying it can't be used for fundraising for political, labour (union) or other such purposes. As long as you're a registered, non-profit charity then you're fine.

 

This is a fantastic move by Microsoft and they should be commended for it.

 

it's something they have always done, just isn't advertised much, win 8.1 and office 365 are just the latest editions, I was advising a charity about getting their software like this early last year

 

They're still a shitty company and this is just a desperate move to reclaim diminishing market share.

You just can't polish turd.

 

Yeah, whereas Google selling the Nexus tablet at cost is a shrewd marketing move.

Seriously: Bill Gates is one of the biggest philanthropists in the world. Microsoft, for being a huge profit-driven company like any other, is also generous at times. Apple? Not so generous, and they could afford to be. Google only seems to give stuff away.

As long as needy people profit, it's all good.