We are trying to understand which version of Windows 8.1 Pro License is needed in order to install it:
- Hardware is Apple Mac
- Base Operating System is OS X 10.8 or 10.9 (Mavericks)
- VM is run under VMWare Fusion or Parallels
It would not be installed native or under BootCamp, but run under OS X with VMWare or Parallels booting Windows 8.1 Pro in a VM. Windows 8.1 Pro would be used to support Windows only programs on the Mac,
as well as some development type activity. Only one copy would be running per license.
In the past, with Windows 7, we had been buying the Full license (not OEM/System Builder), and in one chat with the Microsoft store people, they recommended the same thing, i.e.:
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Windows-8.1-Pro/productID.288401500
The site above does say for Windows 7 upgrades, but Sales said OS X was a qualifying OS. I did ask about the System Builder/OEM version of the license, but they indicated that because the Mac doesn't come with Windows, that could not be used. However, a peer also called Sales, and was told that System Builder form was OK, and another pointed to the Microsoft web site:
which at the bottom, says:
A. Yes, you can install Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro on a MAC computer using the Personal Use License.
So that's at odds with what Sales indicated.
The OEM System Builder license is somewhat cheaper, but we don't want obviously to do something that the license doesn't permit. Has anyone worked their way through all of this?
