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

[Bill Gunshannon]

On 7/28/20 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/
>>
>>
>> Some discussion has already started about the terms which include mention of running only one copy at a time.  I don't know how that can work out with a VMScluster.
>>
> 
> 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?

Maybe because Linux is free, and in reality, non-commercial regardless
of what people use it for.  I don't know where you can get Windows,
legally, without some form of registration other than paying cash
for it.

> 
> 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.

I expect none.  It's really not that big a deal.  It asks for no
information that people don;t pass out willy-nilly anyway and it
only took seconds top do it.

> 
> 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's already available. It's just not the Hobbyist Program.
But I don't see where you can't do just as much with it as
you can with the Hobbyist one.  Guess it depends on what your
goals are.  Everything has a price.  Personally I really don't
see the price of the Hobbyist Program as high enough to  matter.
Come to think of it, HPE was asaking for a lot more information
than VSI is!!

bill