Retail pack vs OEM

wdEvA · 29 Sep 2007 at 00:38

hey guys, just wondering whats the different between:

Retail WinXP / Vista vs OEM WinXP / Vista
Retail Office vs OEM office?

is it just the licensing issue? that OEM is only for one user?

Cob · 29 Sep 2007 at 00:39

OEM can only ever be installed on one computer.

Retail can be installed on any computer, providing it's only installed on one at any time.

yantorsen · 29 Sep 2007 at 01:32

If you're likely to be gettin a new mobo soon, or just change moo's often, then get the retail version.

Energize · 29 Sep 2007 at 03:22

You can buy 3-4 oem copies for less than the price of the retail version! The retail version is a waste of money unless you get a new motherboard every year, new sockets don't come out that often anyway.

Sime · 29 Sep 2007 at 03:35

yantorsen said:
If you're likely to be gettin a new mobo soon, or just change moo's often, then get the retail version.

I just changed my motherboard and have OEM Vista 64bit and it took a matter of minuites to sort out over the phone. Getting the activation code and the such. Get the OEM version if your happy only having it on one PC.

jbloggs · 29 Sep 2007 at 09:45

Also, with OEM you get no support from Microsoft, but with the Retail version, I believe you do....

wdEvA · 29 Sep 2007 at 11:47

but for those online updates and stuffs. it still the same right?

jbloggs · 29 Sep 2007 at 11:56

wdEvA said:
but for those online updates and stuffs. it still the same right?

Yes.

The "support" I am referring to, is, if you have got some problem with the (Retail) OS, you can contact Microsoft directly for help, but not so with an OEM version...

Burnsy2023 · 29 Sep 2007 at 15:05

MS office retail can also be used on both a desktop and mobile device (two machones) whilst the OEM version cannot.

The sticky has plenty of info on the Windows licensing constraints.

Burnsy

stickroad · 29 Sep 2007 at 19:30

Take a guess why Retial is vastly more expensive than OEM and your probally be right.

Its not exactly hard to work out.

HangTime · 29 Sep 2007 at 22:36

Well, I've read a lot of posts over the years to suggest that it's not that easy to work out, otherwise people wouldn't be confused or asking these type of questions!