VISTA is on its way!!

Gibbo · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:06

NathanE said:
I don't think OCUK is classed as a 'system builder' in Microsoft's eyes. That term is used for very very big competitors of OCUK that I won't mention.

If Microsoft truly didn't want OEM copies ending up being sold seperately then they wouldnt shrink wrap them seperately, would they... They'd just send out a box of CDs and licenses - so that when OCUK (or whoever) built a system for a customer they could pick out a CD and a license and bung it in the box of the PC.

Hi there

Microsoft do class us as a system builder actually. You don't necessary have to build 1000+ and more systems a month to be so. Our relationship with Microsoft gives us additional support and BETA evaluation of all products.

At the moment we average approx 300-400 systems per month and we sell several thousand copies of Windows per month, so the support we get from Microsoft is very good and their club bonus schemes earn us a lot of money as were always in the maximum tier group.

Gibbo · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:08

dirtydog said:
The insurance is for your (the retailer's) benefit because you are the ones responsible if it doesn't turn up, not the buyer. Also surely you could send it Special Delivery for well under £8, even including packaging costs :shrug:

Hi there

Your correct and hence why we won't be shipping out goods un-insured.

Also Royal Mail is not cheaper than Citylink for heavier and higher value items. In the whole scheme of things £10 postage is not a whole lot when spending over £200.

Burnsy2023 · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:11

vapor matt said:
I agree! but what iam saying is you can blag it, ive had my OEM XP since launch and have changed proberly 10 M/boards in that time, they always reactivated it no problems! and its registerd with microsoft. with Vista it will be very strick. you might get away with it once or twice but they have evry right to ask you to pay for another license. so with vista unless you plan to keep the same M/board ect for 5 years! then OEM is fine. if you change hardware a lot like most of us do on this forum then the extra for retail is worth it for hassle free activation.

Very true, although how MS regulate activation with Vista is unknown. You shouldn't have got away with it for XP and whether you will with Vista depends on how stict MS make the process.

Burnsy

DDave · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:12

Gibbo said:
Well would you really want to have £300 worth of software shipped 1st class with no insurance?

Cheap shipping is only for low value goods.

Just had a look at the royal mail site and it could be shipped Special Delivery Next Day which is Guaranteed by 1:00pm next day, Up to £500 Compensation and fully tracked for well under £8.

Burnsy2023 · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:15

Gibbo said:
Hi there

Microsoft do class us as a system builder actually.

OK Gibbo, I'm interested in how OcUK get around the distribution clause that I posted earlier? Feel free not to answer

I think there is a way around it, a 'loophole' if you will that a lot of etailers use, but I can't for the life of me remember what exactly it is.

Burnsy

edit: NathanE, also, you may only need to build one PC a month a be a authorised system builder. I am registered as part of the program although, unlike OcUK, i'm on the lowest tier as I only do a few a month.

NathanE · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:16

Gibbo said:
Hi there

Microsoft do class us as a system builder actually. You don't necessary have to build 1000+ and more systems a month to be so. Our relationship with Microsoft gives us additional support and BETA evaluation of all products.

At the moment we average approx 300-400 systems per month and we sell several thousand copies of Windows per month, so the support we get from Microsoft is very good and their club bonus schemes earn us a lot of money as were always in the maximum tier group.

Hi there Gibbo. I didn't know that, fair enough

Duke · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:21

I expected Vista to be a lot more expensive that this.. good prices.

OzyOly · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:25

DDave said:
Just had a look at the royal mail site and it could be shipped Special Delivery Next Day which is Guaranteed by 1:00pm next day, Up to £500 Compensation and fully tracked for well under £8.

It's £8. It's not going to break the bank, vista might but £8 is not a lot, for knowing whatever happens you product will reach you.

If it get's lost, I'll be resent, if it get's stolen it will get resent, if the van catches on fire it will be resent. Plus City-link make sure the parcel get to you and is signed for.
I have had royal mail leave my expensive goods in my back garden during a rain storm with a card telling me where it is through the letterbox.

Slinwagh · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:26

Gibbo said:
Hi there

Your correct and hence why we won't be shipping out goods un-insured.

Also Royal Mail is not cheaper than Citylink for heavier and higher value items. In the whole scheme of things £10 postage is not a whole lot when spending over £200.

With the volume of goods you ship through City Link I can't believe that the price we pay is the price you pay.

Slinwagh · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:27

OzyOly said:
Plus City-link make sure the parcel get to you and is signed for.

Hmmm I have a parcel they lost in July still outstanding !!

shrek2 · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:29

I thought you had to buy oem versions of windows with a hard drive?? This whole thing has my poor little braind in a spin

Azza · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:31

I thought it would be a lot more expensive. They are good prices. Looks like OcUK will be getting my custom.

OzyOly · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:33

Azza said:
I thought it would be a lot more expensive. They are good prices. Looks like OcUK will be getting my custom.

As always.

CHUDS · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:37

rip off

csmager · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:39

burnsy2023 said:
1) "4.1 We grant you a nonexclusive right to distribute an individual software license only with a fully assembled computer system. A "fully assembled computer system" means a computer system consisting of at least a central processing unit, a motherboard, a hard drive, a power supply, and a case."

What this means exaclty isn't obviously clear. However, if an etailer does sell you an OEM licence, you'll still be legal. The above quote is fromthe SystemBuilder licence and not the OS EULA.

Burnsy

Did I miss something? I thought MS removed this restriction, or was that just for XP?

vapor matt · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:42

rip off

not really as it will be the most used item in the next five years! people who upgrade a lot proberly lose more than this on the hardware they sell on. and if theres one thing you will use everyday it will be your PC's operating system! in 5 years time that new GTX8800 will be proberly worth £25 vista in what ever format or updated format will still be with you and worth it!

Burnsy2023 · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:42

csmager said:
Did I miss something? I thought MS removed this restriction, or was that just for XP?

I thought this too, and like I've said I think there is a 'loophole'.....I just gotta find it.....

Burnsy

csmager · 2 Jan 2007 at 19:59

burnsy2023 said:
I thought this too, and like I've said I think there is a 'loophole'.....I just gotta find it.....

Burnsy

Just having a look around myself, and it appears MS changed the rules to 'with a new PC only' back in September 2005... still not found how on earth that was interpreted as 'with no hardware at all'.

hardc0re_tid · 2 Jan 2007 at 20:05

Gibbo!

just curious, for how much longer can we see Vista at your current prices?

NathanE · 2 Jan 2007 at 20:07

hardc0re_tid said:
Gibbo!

just curious, for how much longer can we see Vista at your current prices?

I'd imagine they're already at the "high end". From now on they'll only fall in price really. Just like XP did.