cabernet

What's the difference between the retail and OEM version of windows vista? One is way cheaper than the other and if they're not all that different I'd get the cheaper one, and the version for system builders mean it can only be used one time right?

kof2000

for oem you need to buy computer parts with it. they're the same except for packaging.

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QX9650@4.2 swiftech |9600@3.0 9700 nt
780i | 790fx
8gb ddr1200 | 8gb ddr1200
2x150gb 3x1tb |2x250gb
3x8800gtx |3x2900xt 1gb
2x20xdvdrw |2x20xdvdrw
15in1 card reader |15in1 card reader
ng15/g9 |ng15/g9
1200w psu |1200w psu
2x28" LCD |2x28" LCD

PC eye

There are two types of OEM releases. One is the cd or dvd now for Vista that is included with a prebuilt system like a Dell or HP where it is strictly a system recovery type version for restoring Windows and not performing an independent install but on that machine alone. The other type is simply an upgrade or full version without the large paperback book and retail packaging.

If you don't need the large book to learn how to run Windows then you can save quite a bit over the retail tags on the different editions! For the Ultimate verion the retail price is $399- while the OEM version like seen at newegg and other online vendors caries between $199.99 and $209- depending where you go. Thats about $200 saved there! The other versions vary with the Basic being the lowest retail of about $120 $95- OEM approximate. Newegg has the stripped down version of Vista seen for $94.99 OEM at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116195

With a full version not tied to a prebuild you can build a new case and use that same disk. For use on more then one at a time you need to buy a small business license from Microsoft. That's how that works.

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