Vista Retail or OEM

[Salazaar]

I'm considering upgrading to Vista at some point and I'm wondering about the price difference between the OEM and retail versions. I'm aware that there are restrictions about changing your hardware setup but has anyone actually had any experience with this side of things? Is it worth paying the extra to avoid problems?

[HSK]

Well, its the same, it just doesnt have the retail packaging. resllers buy them in bulk, minus the packaging. and it makes it possible for other companies to re-package and re-sell (like some hardware). im pretty sure that's the difference.

but im pretty sure the disc inside is the same as retail. hope that helps.

[Salazaar]

Sure, I understand what the difference between an OEM and a retail product is but I'd like to know if anyone has any experience of the more restrictive (with respect to your hardware) licence of the OEM version. And whether it's worth putting up with those restrictions for the saving made?

[HSK]

sorry, i didn't see u were refering to the difference in price and in regards to restrictions. i still think they would be the same product either way? doesnt the retail have restrictons with changn hardware aswell? like a major change (motherboard etc).

[directhex]

retail has explicit transferability, oem does not. what that means in practical terms is oem can legally only ever be installed on one motherboard (other components don't matter), but retail you can move between as many systems as you like

also, retail comes with tech support, oem does not, and oem requires you to stick your cd key to your case, retail does not

[HSK]

ahh i never knew that!

[Salazaar]

Sounds like I'd be better off with the retail version, I reckon I'm liable to change the mobo at least once over the lifetime of the OS.

[directhex]

oh, and upgrade editions of windows follow the upgraded os's rules (xp oem plus upgrade = oem rules, retail xp plus upgrade = retail rules)

[shaithis]

I have Ultimate OEM x64 on this pc and its had 3 mobo changes since the first install.

When you ring them you just play dumb and say you sent your pc off for repair and its come back saying it need activating.

Worked a charm for me so far *touches wood*

Its silly licencing anyway, trying to gain more profit based on people wanting to upgrade is a dispicable practice IMO

[306maxi]

oem can legally only ever be installed on one motherboard (other components don't matter), but retail you can move between as many systems as you like

Anyone who says this doesn't know anything.....

As shaithis says just call up and give them some sorry story and you'll be fine. As long as you don't install the OS on two PC's or something then you'll be fine. I've done it before and countless other people have done it without a problem. Microsoft may say it's limited to one motherboard but in practice it just isn't the case and as long as you only keep it on one PC then you'll be alright.

Anyway as long as you're not going to build 4 PC's for yourself in the next few years before windows 7 comes out it's cheaper to buy 3x OEM @ ~100 for Vista Ultimate rather than Retail @ ~325 Vista Ultimate.

[directhex]

Anyone who says this doesn't know anything.....

As shaithis says just call up and give them some sorry story and you'll be fine. As long as you don't install the OS on two PC's or something then you'll be fine. I've done it before and countless other people have done it without a problem. Microsoft may say it's limited to one motherboard but in practice it just isn't the case and as long as you only keep it on one PC then you'll be alright.

you'd be lying, and cheating microsoft out of the license terms and the money. you may as well just steal a warez copy - it's just a different license term you break by pirating it compared to re-using the oem license

would you walk into a shop, pick up a bottle of champage, and insist you should only pay the price for own-brand cava because it's kinda the same thing sorta, and it's better than not paying at all?

[306maxi]

you'd be lying, and cheating microsoft out of the license terms and the money. you may as well just steal a warez copy - it's just a different license term you break by pirating it compared to re-using the oem license

would you walk into a shop, pick up a bottle of champage, and insist you should only pay the price for own-brand cava because it's kinda the same thing sorta, and it's better than not paying at all?

WTFsticles?

In practice this works fine.

What you're talking about is more like buying Vista Basic and then complaining because you don't get Vista Ultimate.

If you buy an copy of Ultimate and only install it on one PC then you're not cheating anyone out of anything.

I don't do pirate OS's. Don't insinuate that I'm a software pirate you fool.

[306maxi]

To top it off

PC Perspective - Windows Vista Installation Process - Upgrade and Clean

After talking with a very much out-sourced representative, who simply asked me if I was "using this software on any other system any more" and I said 'no', they supplied me with the corresponding 54-digit confirmation ID.

So it seems like Microsoft doesn't mine you reinstalling Vista as long as you only use it on only one PC according to the wording their telephone people use.

Myth ..... BUSTED

[directhex]

WTFsticles?

In practice this works fine.

What you're talking about is more like buying Vista Basic and then complaining because you don't get Vista Ultimate.

If you buy an copy of Ultimate and only install it on one PC then you're not cheating anyone out of anything.

I don't do pirate OS's. Don't insinuate that I'm a software pirate you fool.

you are though.

microsoft have two products. product A can be installed as many times as you like, on as many computers as you like, over the years. product B can be installed only on the motherboard with which the hardware is sold (or any DIRECT replacements caused by hardware failure, i.e. not because you feel like it or for the purpose of upgrades). what gives YOU the right to decide to pay for B but use A?

feel free to claim that enforcement is poor (it is) or that you have some moral right to whatever you want (you don't), but at least have the balls to admit it

and if your (wrong) excuses are correct, then please explain the difference between OEM and retail - since you seem fairly adamant that just because the license is more restrictive, it doesn't apply to you. why does one cost more?

ever actually READ a software license?

[directhex]

To top it off

PC Perspective - Windows Vista Installation Process - Upgrade and Clean



So it seems like Microsoft doesn't mine you reinstalling Vista as long as you only use it on only one PC according to the wording their telephone people use.

Myth ..... BUSTED

call center drone in bangalore in "doesn't give a ****" shocker. does that give you free reign to do what you like?

[directhex]

[H]ard|Forum - View Single Post - Microsoft OEM Licensing FAQ

i'd link direct to the oem.microsoft.com entries, but they require registration to read