What's the difference between OEM Vista & the much more expensive one!

blackninja · 7 Jun 2008 at 17:15

As per title ... why get the Retail instead of the OEM version?

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-Bit - OEM (66R-02034): £99.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 - Retail (66R-02266): £160.99

Theguy · 7 Jun 2008 at 17:18

this comes up at lest once a week, a simple search would have found the issues.

however, simply put: OEM = 1 computer only. Retail = Many computers (1 at a time)

blackninja · 7 Jun 2008 at 17:25

I apologise for my evident laziness in asking the question ....

Thank you for your time ...

HarryPainful · 7 Jun 2008 at 17:30

Its not just that.

OEM version means you get support from the OEM you bought it from, MS will not support you if you call them.

Retail, MS will support you.

teaboy5 · 7 Jun 2008 at 17:47

Why would you be phoning MS anyway?

Slam62 · 8 Jun 2008 at 10:25

teaboy5 said:
Why would you be phoning MS anyway?

they get lonely or you get lonely :confused:

Qdos · 8 Jun 2008 at 10:58

Also, OEM software usually requires you to buy some hardware as it's supposed to be supplied to system builders.

Most OEM software suppliers get around this by shipping it with a mouse or some other small component.

csmager · 8 Jun 2008 at 11:29

Qdos said:
Also, OEM software usually requires you to buy some hardware as it's supposed to be supplied to system builders.

Most OEM software suppliers get around this by shipping it with a mouse or some other small component.

This is not a requirement.

RJC · 8 Jun 2008 at 17:56

OEM is tied to the original motherboard in which it was originaly activated on, you can upgrade any part of your system bar the motherboard.

Retail allows you to upgrade any part without restriction belongs your only ever running one instance of the operating system, like already said above you get support from Microsoft.

Rob

Glaucus · 8 Jun 2008 at 18:52

Since the price of retail has come down I would get retail. You only have to change your mobo once to make retail worth while now.

Or even better getter vista retail for education, it's between oem and retail price and is identical to retail in every way. But you would be braking the EULA if you arent in education or a teacher though.

Burnsy2023 · 8 Jun 2008 at 22:48

There's loads of info on this in the sticky that nobody reads.

My advice: if you can go retail.

Burnsy

whiskycycle · 9 Jun 2008 at 10:22

Burnsy2023 said:
There's loads of info on this in the sticky that nobody reads.

My advice: if you can go retail.

That sticky probably needs to be in a font size where the height fills the screen. People would still miss it though!

Everyone else: what Burnsy says - get Retail now it's a more reasonable price. I did and I'm laughing now after a mobo change recently.