All hail OEM! wait a sec.. who the hell is OEM?

[JohnDoH!]

(O)rientally (E)rected (M)achines! Sweatshops banzi! But seriously what is OEM? To put it simply, its parts without a box/manual, right? It cant be installed on other computers, right? As far as I know the term OEM has been associated with pretty much any computer component, OEM this, OEM that; for an intermediate computer builder OEM is a (budget friendly) dream come true, but what is OEM?

If I purchase an OEM hard-drive and install window xp on it, can it be unscrewed, pop'd out and installed onto another computer? What makes a computer different from the other? Say I installed a few OEM products to the computer I'm using now, but I decide its time to build a new computer so I have to figure out what I can salvage. Is there anything I can install onto my next computer that's OEM?

a Cpu? a Fan? a PowerUnit? a Case? an Operating System? a Software? a Printer? a Motherboard? a Ram? an Optical drive? a FloppyDisk Drive? a Mouse? a Keyboard? a Speaker? The pretty sticker that came with my CPU! Can I atleast slap that onto my new computer?

Say I have to or want to reformat my computer (because im lazy memorizing and deleting things on my computer that I dont need), will that make all the oem's installed on my computer unusuable? Is there a reason why one shouldnt purchase OEM's? If I upgrade my OS from xp to vista will that do anything? Oh the questions, OH MY! OH MY! Wheres the sticky thread for OEM!

 

[Verve]

that just makes my head spin... friendly suggestion, try paragraphs next time, its much easier to read, i.e. understand what you're asking.

 

[jimmymac]

OEM is original equipment manufacturer.

OEM products are available in pc parts from mayn retailers and it basically means that your not getting most of the extra bits.

for instance a HDD would come probably without the box, data cables etc

CPU without the HSF

Mobo without the I/o port and cables.

They are still the same products though and can be used in the same way that any can.

 

[pdc76]

if you are a manufacturer, and are building, say, 200 computers for an office in midtown manhatten, there's no reason why you need 200 manuals for a cd drive. you can save alittle by buying oem if you don't need a box or a manual, or even a driver disk (we all know where to get the drivers).