Windows MCE - with Vista upgrade coupon

[adam1701]

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119649/rb/23677991078

ebuyer seem to offer this...
it mentions on the page that this is not a cheap way to get vista...
If i was to buy this MCE how would i use vista when it comes out?
do they send me a disk? a serial key? or what?!?!

Thanks.

[jamena]

interesting in the FAQ...they state it's both definitely not a cheap way to buy Vista, but also a way to get vista having paid less for it... ???

[adam1701]

so if i buy this i can get the vista home premium, which is usually £225....

[colincliff]

This is copied from the customer review section for this item on ebuyer:

-----------------------


comment by:
johnny c

os: Windows XP to take advantage of this coupon

step 1 build a vista ready computer
My system:
amd 4200 x2
asus motherboard
1gb ddr 3200
512mb ati x1300 graphics
698gb sata raid hard drives
this copes well with vista RC1 build

step 2 buy windows media centre with the coupon & install

step 3 fill in the coupon with payment detials for the P&P

step 4 wait for your vista disk could be sometime in feburary 2007, install (vista premium for £8)

(I phoned microsoft directly & basically this is what the customer services said)

1 of 1 people found this comment useful

[ikonia]

why is everyone trying to get a "cheap" way.

I must be missing something, there are multiple versions with multiple price plans so you pick the one you want/can afford ?

[this_is_gav]

why is everyone trying to get a "cheap" way.

I must be missing something, there are multiple versions with multiple price plans so you pick the one you want/can afford ?

This is OEM only, so in theory, you have to build a PC and the license can be used with that PC only. It cannot be transferred to any other PC. To use on another PC another license must be purchased.

The retail (more expensive) version does away with that limitation, though of course can only be licensed on 1 PC at a time.

[adam1701]

So if i was to buy the mce and get the voucher thing for vista.... i would be able to use vista on the pc i am going to build right? but use mce until vista comes?

[BUFF]

yes, as long as the PC that you build is up to the requirements to run Vista.

[adam1701]

ok, so how can they basically give away vista home premium for like £70???

[this_is_gav]

They're not. They're charging you for Vista, but as it's not out yet, they're essentially letting you play with MCE until then.

It's to keep people buying operating systems (more for the OEMs) for Christmas and so on, and not have people waiting until Vista hits the shelves.

[adam1701]

Thats cool

[john427]

AFAIK, the small print states that the voucher is for complete system vendors to give out. So you can't actually use the voucher unless you got it with a complete system purchased from a major manufacturer eg. Scan/Mesh. Kinda sucks if that's the case. So don't get too excited, I would find out about that first.

[adam1701]

I am building a computer..
does that not mean that i can get the MCE OEM version with the upgrade to vista premium, and then install it on that computer only?
or am i not a system builder?

[Splash]

If you register as a Microsoft System Builder, yes you can

[chrestomanci]

If you register as a Microsoft System Builder, yes you can

Are you suggesting that regular hexus readers who are hardware enthusiasts should register with Microsoft as system builders if they build a one off PC for personal or family use?

If it is just a simple matter of filling a quick online form, and no fee where involved I would not mind doing it just to get a cheap Vista upgrade, but it sounds like a lot of trouble, especialy for microsoft.

I can imagine their sales flunkies phoning me every month asking how many systems I shipped, and trying to sell me OEM coppies of office to include with them.

[Splash]

I registered about a year ago - I get loads of email (some of it is even useful!) and had 1 call, but that was it. That said I haven't tried the upgrade path and in all honesty I don't plan to - will be buying a couple of copies of business retail.