The VISTA license has been changed:

http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista_Home%20Basic_English_2cd69850-7680-4987-8b1e-59a3d405c074.pdf

15. REASSIGN TO ANOTHER DEVICE.
a. Software Other than Windows Anytime Upgrade. You may uninstall the software and
install it on another device for your use. You may not do so to share this license between
devices.

(This was actually discussed at the MSDN Vista event I attended)


>>>By the same token, I suspect many 'techs' couldn't care less and wouldn't worry about such provisions.
>>
>>My understanding is that there is an OEM version and a non-OEM(can't think of the name off the top of my head) version.
>
>This has been the case for a long time re: OEM editions of MS software. Whether they have changed license terminology recently I do not know, but OEM software is licensed to be used on the original system it is installed on (period). That is why it costs around 50% of full license version. If there is a provision that says that OEM can be used on a successor system or something like that, that is an improvement in the terms AFAIK.
>
>If Microsoft is expected to maintain software as entitlement style programs (keep patching/stocking/supporting/maintaining on the books forever) as has been suggested, then they need to change their licensing to more of a rental or tax agreement where the customer pays continuously for use.