what does OEM stand for?

OEM is Original Equipment Manufacturer, essentially just means you get the product itself, a retail boxed item will come with cables and drivers/software/accessories as appropriate. The motherboard should come with all the cables you need and partitioning/formatting software is supplied with Windows or is freely available on the internet.
 
The WD disc will come in anti-static bag with no cables ect.
Samsung place ther HD'S in a plastic box.
 
often means less warranty too, not so sure with HDDs but if you buy a retail CPU with the box etc you get 3yrs, OEM is just 1.

Still very firmly in the "who gives a ****" category though :)
 
You can save money, but often the amount is so negligible that it's not worth it.

Most of the time, the OEM is just a few £ less, and when you're spending like £80, a saving of £3 isn't worth the lesser warranty.
 
If they are proper channel stock oem they will have a three year warranty. They only drives with a one year warranty will be grey stock that has got into the channel.
 
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