>>Bazinga!
>>
>>http://www.neowin.net/news/us-department-of-defense-to-start-using-windows-8-buys-617-million-worth-of-microsoft-licenses
>
>And you complain about tech guys skewing the numbers??
>
>The 617 millions are not Windows 8 licenses but Microsoft licenses (as the link says but then the title gets written as "
>US Department of Defense to start using Windows 8, buys $617 million worth of Microsoft licenses" to make it look as they are all Win 8 licenses, pathetic). For all we know it might be that the Lion's share is SharePoint/Office
>
>[Update] Well the link and the title are the same, I thought I read the link differently...

I think your first take is right. From http://www.defense.gov//news/newsarticle.aspx?id=118887 :

"Under the agreement, the Army, Air Force and DISA can begin using the newest versions of Microsoft products, including Microsoft Office 2013, SharePoint 2013 and Windows 8, officials said, adding that Office 2013 provides enhanced security and content management tools."

My guess is it includes lots of other products like server OSs and various MS "server" products. So Win8 licenses are probably only a small fraction of that contract total. The total contract amount is spread out over 3 years, as well.