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Geek Culture / Cheaper Microsoft OS software

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Slow Programmer
19
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Joined: 5th Apr 2006
Location: USA, Tennessee
Posted: 21st Oct 2012 16:35
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I am currently building a new PC and while looking at Windows 7 on Amazon I found a sponsored link to the company I will list below. Having visited several sites in years past that sell cheap software I was skeptical with the legal state of this company (most of the time it is pirated software). They listed being a Microsoft Certified Partner so I checked their company at Microsoft's site and they are legitimate. The rating at the Microsoft site was good. I am ordering two copies of Windows 7 from them today (Online downloads and keys are emailed). I am not sure if Windows 7 will be around on the site after Windows 8 releases, but I doubt it. Anyway, Windows 7 Pro is $94.99 (usd) and Windows Premium is $59.99. These are OEM versions. I will let people know how it goes after I install the software which will not be before next Wed as I am still waiting on parts to arrive. If anyone has used them let me know how it went

https://completesoftwarecenter.com/windows7.php

There are two kinds of computer users. Those that use Macs and those that wish they did.
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bitJericho
22
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Joined: 9th Oct 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 21st Oct 2012 16:58 Edited at: 21st Oct 2012 17:00
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Right now on Newegg, Windows 8 Pro is 109.99 for OEM, and Windows 8 Standared is 69.99... Actually it looks like that price requires a coupon. AFAIK the upgrade will be 40 bucks.

Still, that's a pretty good price for windows 7!

Visit my blog http://www.canales.me.
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BatVink
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22
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Joined: 4th Apr 2003
Location: Gods own County, UK
Posted: 21st Oct 2012 17:14
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Quote: "These are OEM versions"


That's the catch, you can only buy Microsoft OEM licenses with the hardware to which it is bound. If you didn't buy it with hardware, then it is not a legitimate license.

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the_winch
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Joined: 1st Feb 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posted: 21st Oct 2012 17:48
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The OEM licenses are for people that build and sell computers. So it's perfectly legitimate to buy them without hardware. It gets bound to the hardware once installed.

On the other hand there is no way it's a legitimate license if it doesn't come with the little sticker with the license number that gets stuck to the PC.

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/antipiracy/Pages/COA_hologram.aspx

That's one of the main things consumers are supposed to look for to ensure the system they are buying has a valid license.

By way of demonstration, he emitted a batlike squeak that was indeed bothersome.
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BatVink
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Location: Gods own County, UK
Posted: 21st Oct 2012 18:56 Edited at: 21st Oct 2012 18:56
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Quote: "The OEM licenses are for people that build and sell computers. So it's perfectly legitimate to buy them without hardware. It gets bound to the hardware once installed."


I agree...for registered builders to buy from Microsoft. You have to be registered as a hardware builder and vendor to qualify. IF somebody is selling OEM licenses without the hardware, then it suggests they are registered, but they are misusing their OEM licenses by selling them to non-registered individuals (consumers / end users.

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MrValentine
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Playing: FFVII
Posted: 21st Oct 2012 23:20
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It it perfectly legitimate to be buying OEM licences from a reseller, provided that reseller is not a retail outlet... I believe that is the case, I buy my licences [both RETAIL and OEM licences] from a well known hardware reseller... they are so big, that they have contracts with NVidia for marketing...

Depends though, where are you based and where is that reseller based, and are the licences based on your location... etc etc...

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the_winch
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Location: Oxford, UK
Posted: 22nd Oct 2012 00:04
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Yep, the company I work for has been building test equipment with embedded pcs since the win2k days and has always just brought OEM licenses from a reseller no questions asked. In the ten years or so they have been doing that they have probably only build 100 systems.

I believe all that has happened recently is that anybody can now resell OEM copies to system builders and system builders is pretty loosely defined.
In the past you where not able to resell unless bundled with hardware.

That's why you can now buy OEM copies from pretty much any reputable retailer that sells parts, Amazon, scan, newegg, and so on.

By way of demonstration, he emitted a batlike squeak that was indeed bothersome.
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Dark Java Dude 64
Community Leader
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Joined: 21st Sep 2010
Location: Neither here nor there nor anywhere
Posted: 22nd Oct 2012 10:59
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Whey, just realized, happy 3rd birthday Win 7!

"That's what"
-She
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bitJericho
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Joined: 9th Oct 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 22nd Oct 2012 12:14 Edited at: 22nd Oct 2012 12:15
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Really the difference between oem and retail is OEM gets no MS support. Usually if you have a problem, you call up dell or toshiba, but if you're a system builder, you are to provide the support to any customers you sell an OEM copy of windows to. If it's for yourself, well there you go, no support

That said, MS is seems helpful when it comes to anything needing support anyway. I had an issue with games for windows live, and since I'm running windows 8 they weren't able to really "support" me, but they sent me the fix instructions for windows 7 all the same. Sure they could have helped me with Windows 8, but being beta and all, I figured the help they offered went above and beyond.

Visit my blog http://www.canales.me.
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Slow Programmer
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Location: USA, Tennessee
Posted: 26th Oct 2012 05:11
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I purchased one copy of Windows 7 Pro. It downloaded fine and registered with Microsoft without any issues. No COA tag, but from what I have been able to gather from Microsoft's boards you don't get a COA tag if you purchase a new license online from Microsoft either.

There are two kinds of computer users. Those that use Macs and those that wish they did.
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