[Info-vax] The VSI Hobbyist program is Live!

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 7/28/2020 4:39 PM, David Goodwin wrote:
> On Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 4:36:56 AM UTC+12, John H. Reinhardt
> wrote:
>> I know it's been mentioned in another thread but I thought it
>> deserved a separate one of it's own.
>> 
>> Camiel announced on the DEC Computer Users Facebook page
>> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/DEC.users/> and the OpenVMS
>> Facebook page <https://www.facebook.com/groups/308062552560462/>
>> that the VSI OpenVMS Community License Program is open for
>> business.
>> 
>> The VSI News entry is here:
>> https://vmssoftware.com/about/news/2020-07-28-community-license/?fbclid=IwAR2BDg5QflHaGTtfMbTcgqe2BK0B-MBy7pPtnCuCiYHC6GUE84uMva9hnJw
>>
 >> The VSI application page is here: 
https://vmssoftware.com/services/community-license/
>> The Community License Agreement is here:
>> https://vmssoftware.com/services/community-license/agreement/

> Why is registration necessary? Given I can download and install linux
> (and even Windows!) without filling out any forms why does VSI insist
> on it?

VMS is a commercial closed source project. Nothing surprising in
that they want to know who downloads a copy.

That is quite common: Oracle, IBM etc..

And yes - a Windows evaluation copy also requires information.

Check yourself on:
   https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-10-enterprise

> How many people are going to think about giving it a try only to be
> put off by a registration form and having to mess around with license
> PAKs? Seems like an unnecessary barrier to me.

Considering how much time they will have to spend installing and
configuring the system, then I can't see a registration form as
a big issue.

> If getting it in as many hands as possible to grow the number of
> OpenVMS users is the goal an ISO with the licenses pre-loaded would
> provide a much quicker and easier experience.

That is what the student kit provides.

Arne