OT: Buying MS OEM Hardware

[Service Pack]

I just went to my favorite computer store to buy OEM MS Keyboard. I was
told that MS has changed their policy on all OEM stuff and I must now buy
some kind of a hardware to buy anything OEM from MS. ???? I know that this
policy is in place for software but this is the first time I heard of it on
hardware. Anyway, I ended up buying a $2.00 audio cable just to keep them
happy.

 

[Opinicus]

I just went to my favorite computer store to buy OEM MS
Keyboard. I was told that MS has changed their policy on
all OEM stuff and I must now buy some kind of a hardware to
buy anything OEM from MS. ???? I know that this policy is
in place for software but this is the first time I heard of
it on hardware. Anyway, I ended up buying a $2.00 audio
cable just to keep them happy.

Huh? But the keyboard IS hardware.

Besides, I understand the "MS policy" no longer applies, not
even to software.

Methinks you ran into a very dim (or possibly very canny)
salesperson.

 

[Nathan McNulty]

Ok, first, I think they were pulling your leg since OEM hardware does
not require the pruchase of hardware. That makes no sense. Second,
what is the problem here? These newsgroups get about 100 questions a
day and it is difficult to sort through them all. Posting stories
doesn't help too much

 

[Service Pack]

That is why I put OT on the subject. And please, put me on your ignore
list.

 

[Nathan McNulty]

I don't have an ignore list and I don't care to add you to it. I have
seen a few informative posts from you and do not wish to miss those. I
see the OT in the subject line, but isn't there like a newsgroup
dedicated to normal chat? I don't know too much about newsgroups and my
ISP doesn't have any. I use Mozilla Thunderbird and stick to the
basics, so I may be off on that chat newsgroup. It doesn't really
matter much to me, it just doesn't seem like it needs to be posted here.

I don't speak for anyone but myself, and I don't mean to attack you in
any way. I'm just explaining my thinking for my first post

 

[D.Currie]

I just went to my favorite computer store to buy OEM MS Keyboard. I was
told that MS has changed their policy on all OEM stuff and I must now buy
some kind of a hardware to buy anything OEM from MS. ???? I know that this
policy is in place for software but this is the first time I heard of it on
hardware. Anyway, I ended up buying a $2.00 audio cable just to keep them
happy.

There are rules for selling oem hardware the same way there are for selling
oem software. In reality, it's supposed to be built into or sold with a
system and not sold alone.

There are ways around it that MS allows, and ways they don't approve of.
Chances are the store got a warning letter or something from MS and they're
being a little extra careful.