OEM or RETAIL
- Thread starter jutnm
- Start date
The_Other_One
VIP Member
For software, drives, and a few things, OEM. But a few others, it really depends. Like CPUs. Unless you want to get an aftermarket cooler, you probably would want to get a retail packaged CPU.
I just ordered the AM2 6000+ X2 retail for less then the OEM package at newegg. Of course they then decided to make a price drop right after you order something there. But definitely seemed a little odd to see the retail with stock hsf for less then the cpu in just a plastic holder? I buy Antec Cobra cables for ide drives and have a box of 18" sata cables for any ordered OEM. But that fits into the idea of seeing lower prices for system builders over paying full retail prices on everything.
Michael
Active Member
That's the wonders of the large paperback book on Windows and the retail carton seeing the $399- retail price tag on the Ultimate version talking there.
I only paid $269+tax for my retail Vista Ultimate
In any event, I like being able to talk to a real person at my leisure(if/when something goes wrong with Windows), though, they don't speak very good english at M$.. aside from that, I've always liked automatic updates
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INTELCRAZY
banned
All I ever buy is OEM.... For OS's, HDD's, and optical drives.
I only paid $269+tax for my retail Vista Ultimate
In any event, I like being able to talk to a real person at my leisure(if/when something goes wrong with Windows), though, they don't speak very good english at M$.. aside from that, I've always liked automatic updates
Then consider yourself fortunate since the retail tag for Ultimate especially in any retain would be higher. The list price is $399- when those were first listed while prices have probably been reduced to get people to buy the new version. 98 through XP saw a $200- tag while Vista sees twice as much? That's going to get people to hold off right there. "look at the price!
" 
Any full version of Windows is able to be reinstalled. With an upgrade disk you would need a running copy of an older version installed to upgrade to Vista. There are two types of OEM disks. One is included with a prebuilt system and tied to it while the system builder's version isn't tied to any specific hardwares. Vista can be reinstalled far more frequently now then XP was when that came out 6yrs. ago.
In fact activation is now automatic with the activate now option checked off by default when installing the new version. Microsoft is more interested in you having a valid copy rather then how many times you have to reinstall it. The system builder's copy of any version of Windows is simply getting a disk and small booklet in a plastic case over paying full retail for seeing a large paperback and retail carton added to it.
In fact activation is now automatic with the activate now option checked off by default when installing the new version. Microsoft is more interested in you having a valid copy rather then how many times you have to reinstall it. The system builder's copy of any version of Windows is simply getting a disk and small booklet in a plastic case over paying full retail for seeing a large paperback and retail carton added to it.
Geoff
VIP Member
Both OEM and Retail versions allow for the same number of activations before calling Microsoft.
You'll probably find at this late date that you could reinstall XP more often and still see it activated online without a call to MS. The limitations were seen for awhile after XP first came out with Vista seeing auto activation no matter how many times you reinstall it on the same system it seems. The OEM versions simply come without the thrill of the retail carton and a large paperback. They will work the same way. The OEMs for prebuild systems however are tied to that system with some allowances for upgrading things like mamory, cpu. expansion cards if using onboard.