Windows 7 OEM Pricing Revealed

[Guest]

Hmmm, it's interesting that the retail Ultimate price is only $20 more than the retail Pro price, but the OEM Ultimate price is $40 more than the OEM Pro price . . .

 

[captaincharisma]

sweet price for the pro version. The ultimate version only adds bit locker and multi-language support so its not worth the 175 bucks

 

[eklipz330]

i got it from the site that uses your edu email for $43, and apparently its the full version..well it better be anyway, or someone's getting shot

 

[santiagoanders]

By the way an OEM Windows license is NOT the proper license for a do-it-yourself build. And I quote from Microsoft's OEM partner center website: http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentPage.aspx?pageid=563841

"Microsoft retail software licenses are the appropriate licenses for the do-it-yourself market. OEM System Builder software is not intended for this use, unless the PC that is assembled is being resold to another party."

"OEM System Builder Software
Must be preinstalled on a PC and sold to another unrelated party...
Cannot be transferred from the PC on which it is preinstalled...
Must be preinstalled onto a new PC using the OPK."

 

[captaincharisma]

[citation][nom]Grunberg[/nom]I agree with this. This is an obvious typo, considering OEM units do not come bundled in full packing. This is going to confuse many newbies.[/citation]

how? OEM versions just come in a cardboard sleeve with very little documentation. this is that same for every OEM version of windows.

 

[Guest]

So, for someone who rebuilds somewhat frequently you won't be able to get the new clean install going since technically you already activated it for a single PC?

 

[viometrix]

i have reactivated oems, more than 4 or 5 times with a simple phone call... even MS cant forsee a hard drive faliure

 

[rooket]

All you need is professional, no point to having ultimate besides to brag to people that you have an overpriced o/s.

When do the vendor OEMs come out? that's what I'm more interested in.

And do you really get tech support if you buy retail? I never checked into that. I never need it anyways.

 

[matt87_50]

I didn't even notice this typo, cause it WAS SO OBVIOUS WHAT THEY MEANT! STFU COMPLAINING ABOUT TYPOS!!! sick of wading through these damn typo comments! worse than spam!

 

[mlopinto2k1]

[citation][nom]Matt87_50[/nom]I didn't even notice this typo, cause it WAS SO OBVIOUS WHAT THEY MEANT! STFU COMPLAINING ABOUT TYPOS!!! sick of wading through these damn typo comments! worse than spam![/citation] Praise Jesus! Someone else see's the light! Although, I have mentioned typo's before - when they are in the headlines. That just plain out pisses me off and makes me want to kick people in their fanny's. US and UK meanings alike.

 

[alextheblue]

[citation][nom]cookoy[/nom]what about Starter Edition - OEM vs Retail prices?Only need IE, Explorer and Media Player.Other apps I go for freewares or open source.Cheapskate ultimate, that's me![/citation]
I pretty much agree, although I do wonder if MS' freeware AV program will be available for Starter. If it isn't, I'll just use Avast! instead. Regardless, Starter edition is looking really attractive especially since there's no three app limit. Maybe not for my primary box, but for a large netbook/small notebook or a lightweight (quiet, low-power) fileserver/bittorrent machine.

 

[WINTERLORD]

good price, and windows 7 is definatly best OS ever i think. but i'll probably just use windows RC for awhile. but great to know this is avalable soon

 

[WINTERLORD]

sorry for the double post but does anyone know, if there is much of a difference between windows 7 RC and windows retail?

 

[silky salamandr]

Doesnt matter to me cause I get my Win 7 ultimate for 45 bucks. I have family that works for Microsoft and thats what they pay.

 

[CoryInJapan]

[citation][nom]aneasytarget[/nom]Do you guys ever grammar check?[/citation]

Actually I would recommmend and OEM for anyone who wants to purchase any version of windows...Paying retail prices makes no sense to me.But Im a PC guy so IDK what its like in the mind of the average consumer.

 

[jeverson]

What I don't understand is this...

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit 3PK DSP 3 OEI English - OEM = $549.99 ($183.33/each)

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit 1PK DSP OEI DVD English - OEM = $174.99

Shouldn't it be cheaper in bulk? Not $25.02 more. It would better/cheaper to just buy them individually if this is the case. MS does it again!!! The 3 pack should only be $499.99 ($166.66/each). Just when you think MS is starting to make sense. Also, I don't know why they are selling the 32bit and 64but separately, Vista even came with both versions in one box. Maybe this will change by the launch, I won't hold my breath.

 

[jeverson]

[citation][nom]Silky Salamandr[/nom]Doesnt matter to me cause I get my Win 7 ultimate for 45 bucks. I have family that works for Microsoft and thats what they pay.[/citation]

Yeah, the retail version won't expire. RC7 dies at the end of summer 2010 I believe.

 

[jeverson]

[citation][nom]winterlord[/nom]sorry for the double post but does anyone know, if there is much of a difference between windows 7 RC and windows retail?[/citation]

Sorry, meant to answer this question instead.

 

[dingumf]

>OEM

Dumbasses

 

[crisisavatar]

Still way overpriced but I got to admit that it could be worse.

 

[anamaniac]

[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]Has anyone ever called Window's tech support? I called once years ago, but only because my OEM tech support was giving me the run-around. Of course, they told me they couldn't help me, and that was that.In 15+ years of Windows computing, that was the only time I ever even thought of calling Microsoft. I'm just wondering how often people do it. Does the average consumer buying that fancy box at Best Buy even know Microsoft has tech support? Besides resetting a user password, what reason could you have for calling them? I doubt they help with 3rd party drivers or software, which is what most people run anyway.[/citation]
I've tried contacting Microsoft for help once...
Failure...

Now I contact Google.

Nice to see Ultimate for only $175. Do I really want to spend $75 more for it though?

 

[Khimera2000]

all things considered that's not that bad. i might consider buying it... i wonder if it would require hardware purchase... perhaps cpu??? motherboard??? or can i get away with just a GPU or maybe a new hard drive?

 

[spazebar]

I'm in with the MSDN-AA as well I found this completely ironic as I was actually in the process of filling out my information to buymy first ever non-preinstalled legitamate version of windows and then find out not only did I get selected to host a party so I'll get Ultimate free but for being in school I get Pro free as well! Thank You Micro$oft!!!!I installed the pro on my desktop this week and I gotta say its amazing not having to worry about activation hacks and all that mess I did with Vista

 

[jaragon13]

[citation][nom]war2k9[/nom]Cheaper than vista on OEM and it is WAY BETTER THAN VISTA.[/citation]
Actually, it's the same damn price.

 

[eaclou]

[citation][nom]th3d0ct0r[/nom]Or you could get the upgrade, install cleanly without entering the license key, then put in the dvd and upgrade from within the new install with your upgrade key...[/citation]

um - are you SURE about this? I know it worked for Vista, but i haven't heard anyone actually DOING this to know for sure. Also, the tech representative from MS that I talked to said it was NOT possible in windows 7 even though it was in Vista. Obviously they could be wrong because they usually are, but still, where's the confirmation that you can clean install from the upgrade disc?