Vista OEM vs Retail & No support from MS

G

Guest

I want to purchase Ultimate 64bit Vista yet I cannot in the UK. I have
contacted MS regarding OEM versions, they advised me NOT to. You cannot buy
Vista 64bit Ultimate Retail anywhere at all. I have contacted MS regarding
this, they had absolutely NO IDEA either. I have tried to lodge a serious
complaint with MS, yet the site "conveiniently" will not accept the complaint
form. I do not want a download or upgrade, I want the 64bit Ultimate DVD. You
cannot purchase a retail version of that ANYWHERE so it seems in the world.
Yet there are hundreds of sites offering the OEM version. Why are microsoft
shafting people who want to do the right thing and get the correctly licensed
version? And more to the point why are they allowing so many people to use
the OEM version ? Now ive made enquiries about this, I bet my bottom dollar
if I was to get the OEM version and I had a problem that my mobo failed and I
needed to reactivate vista, they'd block me. I cannot get a single contact
detail for MS off the site, and im sick to the back teeth with the answers im
getting. So im posting here hoping that some MS expert can either tell me
where I can purchase Vista Ultimate 64bit Retail. If that isnt availible,
then why isnt it ? Why sell the 32bit version with the 64bit, and charge over
£300 for it. Yet the OEM is £100.
 
J

Jupiter Jones [MVP]

"You cannot purchase a retail version of that ANYWHERE so it seems in
the world."
Yes, you can.
Purchase Windows Vista Ultimate and there are 2 DVDs in the box, 32
bit and 64 bit.

Also, the other versions of Windows Vista, Home Basic, Home Premium
and Business, include instructions for ordering the 64 bit DVD.

Also see:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/vistaget.htm


"Why sell the 32bit version with the 64bit, and charge over £300 for
it."
That is not two licenses, it is one license with a choice of which,
If 32 bit DVD were removed from the packaging, savings would probably
be less than £1.
OEM has always been cheaper than retail which is why many choose OEM
in spite of the disadvantages.
 
J

Jon

LeVzi said:
I want to purchase Ultimate 64bit Vista yet I cannot in the UK. I have
contacted MS regarding OEM versions, they advised me NOT to. You cannot
buy
Vista 64bit Ultimate Retail anywhere at all. I have contacted MS regarding
this, they had absolutely NO IDEA either. I have tried to lodge a serious
complaint with MS, yet the site "conveiniently" will not accept the
complaint
form. I do not want a download or upgrade, I want the 64bit Ultimate DVD.
You
cannot purchase a retail version of that ANYWHERE so it seems in the
world.
Yet there are hundreds of sites offering the OEM version. Why are
microsoft
shafting people who want to do the right thing and get the correctly
licensed
version? And more to the point why are they allowing so many people to use
the OEM version ? Now ive made enquiries about this, I bet my bottom
dollar
if I was to get the OEM version and I had a problem that my mobo failed
and I
needed to reactivate vista, they'd block me. I cannot get a single contact
detail for MS off the site, and im sick to the back teeth with the answers
im
getting. So im posting here hoping that some MS expert can either tell me
where I can purchase Vista Ultimate 64bit Retail. If that isnt availible,
then why isnt it ? Why sell the 32bit version with the 64bit, and charge
over
£300 for it. Yet the OEM is £100.
Click to expand...



Right, so to recap you want to buy the retail version so that you can gloat
over people who have legitimately bought the OEM version, and tell them that
they have illegitimately bought it.

You also want to pay more, since you are disturbed at the fact that people
are obtaining exactly the same product as you for a fraction of the price.


And you're looking for the added value of Microsoft technical support which
you'll get with the Retail version, which your own first-hand experience has
just shown to be a waste of space, and which lead you to post a question in
a free newsgroup in the hope of a better answer.


Yep, that makes a lot of sense
 
G

Guest

Jon said:
Right, so to recap you want to buy the retail version so that you can gloat
over people who have legitimately bought the OEM version, and tell them that
they have illegitimately bought it.

You also want to pay more, since you are disturbed at the fact that people
are obtaining exactly the same product as you for a fraction of the price.


And you're looking for the added value of Microsoft technical support which
you'll get with the Retail version, which your own first-hand experience has
just shown to be a waste of space, and which lead you to post a question in
a free newsgroup in the hope of a better answer.


Yep, that makes a lot of sense
Click to expand...
So basically you condone the breach of License by people buying the OEM? All
the sales of Vista Ultimate ive seen in the UK are the 32bit version with the
option of getting the 64bit sent out + a handling fee, rofl yeah right.

So according to you Jon, I can freely get the OEM and all will be well. Sure
MS would love that.
 
G

Guest

Jupiter Jones said:
"You cannot purchase a retail version of that ANYWHERE so it seems in
the world."
Yes, you can.
Purchase Windows Vista Ultimate and there are 2 DVDs in the box, 32
bit and 64 bit.

Also, the other versions of Windows Vista, Home Basic, Home Premium
and Business, include instructions for ordering the 64 bit DVD.

Also see:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/vistaget.htm


"Why sell the 32bit version with the 64bit, and charge over £300 for
it."
That is not two licenses, it is one license with a choice of which,
If 32 bit DVD were removed from the packaging, savings would probably
be less than £1.
OEM has always been cheaper than retail which is why many choose OEM
in spite of the disadvantages.
Click to expand...
So basically, the person I spoke to at Microsoft telling me I am not allowed
to purchase the OEM and use it, was totally wrong ? Id be quite happy to buy
the OEM and ive never used MS for technical support anyway, so I couldnt care
less about that. What I was told, is that the consumer may NOT purchase the
OEM version. And even if I did, if my mobo fried, id have to buy it again.
This all seems well strange. Using the OEM is close to piracy according to
MS, but not here. Whos right and whos wrong ?
 
J

Jupiter Jones [MVP]

I do not know exactly what was said between you and Microsoft.
At the least there was a misunderstanding.

The rules seem to vary depending on who you talk, but OEM is generally
available to anyone.
The variable is if the seller will sell just the OEM or if you also
need to purchase hardware with the OEM.
Typically those selling and requiring some hardware, satisfy the
requirement by selling some piece of computer hardware such as a hard
drive , motherboard, even an inexpensive cable etc.

Some people interpret the OEM agreement to mean if the motherboard
dies, the license is void, but motherboard is not named in the
license.
However, OEM is permanently tied to the original computer regardless
the condition of the original computer.
But the original computer can be upgraded and a new motherboard is an
upgrade.
Read the license for more details.

There are other differences between, but those are the major reasons.
A few of the many reasons you pay less for OEM than others pay for
retail.

Major OEMs such as Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway etc, also design their
install media to be tied to the motherboard.
So the major OEMs have effectively tied the Windows license to the
motherboard.
In that case, a motherboard replacement may mean you can no longer use
the included media if the replacement motherboard is not from the
original manufacturer.
 
G

Guest

dennis@home said:
You haven't tried very hard http://www.ebuyer.com/product/119995 or pop
into pcworld or staples as they have them on the shelves.
Click to expand...

Does that say Windows Vista 64 bit ? No. You can buy the OEM 64 bit, but not
the retail, thats my point. Anyways at 275 quid you gotta be joking. Just
seems a complete and utter joke that so many people are getting the OEM and
not having problems. 110 quid for the OEM 275 for that retail. Yet MS say you
cannot use the OEM. MS are a ****ing joke. I dont want their crappy technical
support and I dont need a manual, im paying an additional 165 quid for that.
Its just if I did install OEM and my mobo fried, they wouldnt re-activate it.
God I wish linux was better.
 
S

Synapse Syndrome

LeVzi said:
Does that say Windows Vista 64 bit ? No. You can buy the OEM 64 bit,
but not the retail, thats my point.
Click to expand...

Wow, you are an idiot. You said you wanted Ultimate? Retail version of
Ultimate comes with both discs. How many times do people have to explain
this to you?

ss.
 
J

Jupiter Jones [MVP]

Go into a store, any store selling Windows Vista RETAIL
Look at the box.
Front, top left corner:
"32- and 64-bit" (Vista Ultimate)
That is the box pictured in that link.

"Yet MS say you cannot use the OEM."
FALSE, see my other post.
Call back for another opinion.
Also remember, the techs you talk may not be trained in the
differences between retail and OEM.
Think of OEM as being marketed, manufactured, sold and supported by
the seller and not Microsoft and understanding will be more clear.

"I dont want their crappy technical support and I dont need a manual"
There are other limitations, but the choice is yours and choice is
good.

"and my mobo fried, they wouldnt re-activate it"
FALSE again, see my other post.
People activate OEM with upgraded motherboards regularly.
 
D

dennis@home

LeVzi said:
Does that say Windows Vista 64 bit ? No.
Click to expand...

It says retail vista ultimate.
Not OEM and you get the 32 bit and the 64 bit DVDs in the pack.
You can buy the OEM 64 bit, but not
the retail, thats my point. Anyways at 275 quid you gotta be joking. Just
seems a complete and utter joke that so many people are getting the OEM
and
not having problems. 110 quid for the OEM 275 for that retail. Yet MS say
you
cannot use the OEM. MS are a ****ing joke. I dont want their crappy
technical
support and I dont need a manual, im paying an additional 165 quid for
that.
Its just if I did install OEM and my mobo fried, they wouldnt re-activate
it.
God I wish linux was better.
Click to expand...

M$ say you can use the OEM if you want.. there is nothing to stop you buying
it.
Just don't expect to buy a new computer next year and port the OEM version
to it like you can the retail.

BTW there is also a retail upgrade version.

BTW which feature of ultimate do you need rather than say premium OEM at £61
 

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