OEM Software

[Rock Charogne]

I know I am naive here - and I know OEM Software has -

No manuals
No tech support
No registration
No automatic updates

But are there any other disadvantages ? It's a helluva cheap than the originals - is it legal ?

Rock

[Holden MacGroyn]

Yes, it is legal.
I bought my OEM Pioneer DVD RW dirt cheap at a computer shop.
I've also bought a few HDD's in the same way.

I was at a computer fair last week and was shocked to see the Pioneer for less than ?50...I paid 90 last year.

Anyway, back to the plot, yes, it is legal and I have no complaints.

[Guilbert]

>I know I am naive here - and I know OEM Software has -
>No manuals, No tech support, No registration, No automatic updates
>But are there any other disadvantages ? It's a helluva cheap than the
>originals - is it legal ?

You say above it does not come with techncial support or updates.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

Don't think that OEM software is somehow illegal. It is perfectly
legal, but should not be sold seperately from a PC.

OEM software is usually bought in bulk by companies who build PCs
(Dell, IBM etc) to be pre-installed on their computers (Windows, Office
and so on).

It differs from 'retail' software that is boxed software sold in places like
PC World.

It should of course only be sold pre-installed on the PC, with the CD
as a 'back up'.

But if you can get hold of a CD and install it, then you should still be
able to get technical support and updates.

Just make sure that what you get IS offical OEM software and not just
copies of the original CD. Also make sure you get a valid 'key code' or
license to make sure the software is activated.

Be careful of buying software at computer fairs. I have seen 'Windows XP'
sold very cheaply, but it was a restore CD for a Hewlett Packard PC and
would probably not have worked on a PC from another company.

[Holden MacGroyn]

OOOOOHHH SOFTWARE!
See what wanking does to a mans eyesight?

OEM software is another matter entirely and as long as you have bought it with a legit serial, you should be safe....unlike the rest of us thieving pirates who download anything that isn't nailed down and keygen it to buggery.

[Officer Dibble]

Excuse my ignorance, but OEM software legal? It just looks like moody bootleg to me. Does Bill Gates, Adobe and Macromedia know that their software is being offered by nefarious internet sites without manuals, licenses, or tech support? Do you reaaly think they endorse these ?OEM? sites? Even in the unlikely event that those professional software companies accidentally had more discs pressed than manuals and boxes, do you think they would compromise the image, integrity and perceived worth of their licensed product and let these overdressed discs out onto the market at a fraction of the cost of the original software? I think not.


Officer Dibble

[Guilbert]

*OFFICIAL* OEM software is legal.

Anyone who builds PCs as a business buys OEM software from
companies like Microsoft and Macromedia.

The same companies buy OEM hardware from Pioneer etc. This is
normally sold in trays of 50 or so with no instructions, screws etc.

If you are a company building hundreds of PCs you are hardly going
to buy the 'retail' version of the software then throw away all the
boxes.

BUT maybe many of these people who are offering 'OEM' software
are actually selling dodgy copied software, but that is a different
thing.

But GENUINE OEM software is legal.

[Officer Dibble]

That may be the case for inconsequential software, such as that used in the process of building consumer PC's (I'm not fully up to speed here, as I'm an apple Macintosh person), but I'm quite confident that it is not the case for worthwhile professional software like Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Deamweaver, and I would imagine, Microsoft Office. I get e-mails everyday offering me these expensive software programs for just a few dollars. It's all cobblers of course, the moody sites (probably based in Azerbaijan) that are offering these wondrous bargains most likely wouldn?t send you anything anyway, or if they did it would be some kind of bootleg copy of the program - which is no good for anyone who has serious professional work to do - you need the updates, tech support and all the rest of it if your not going to get bogged down with hassle and problems that will disrupt your workflow.

Officer Dibble

[mart]

Read this


Mart

[R18 DVD Shop]

As an IT consultant involved in deals where millions of pounds of software are sold every year I would like to point out that thats actually not true though no software company is going to come down on an individual for buying a "legitimate" OEM copy of Windows with a mouse for example.

Different companies differ in their rules etc but Microsoft OEM software, for example, can only be legally sold with a new computer - buying a mouse or a hard drive or whatever is just wise cracks trying to get around the rules and I know of resellers from personal experience who have been fined many tens of thousands of pounds for breaking these rules. Some companies like Nero, for example, will offer OEM software with DVD writers and again technically you cannot buy that software with a mouse - it must be bought with the product for which it was intended.

Generally speaking with OEM you are getting the same product but as it is at a reduced price you can expect to get reduced or restricted support, no manuals and greatly limited upgrade options. Its also worth pointing out that with Microsoft the OEM software belongs to the computer and not the user so when you buy a new computer / the old one dies you CANNOT legally just buy a new computer with no software and install the old OEM operating system and / or apps to it. Also with Microsoft you cannot upgrade OEM software - you can only upgrade retail or licenced software.

For the normal home user OEM is a good and cheap way of getting expensive software for lesser money but be aware that its not free of pitfalls.

Jay