Since recently installing a new CDRW drive in my computer and realising that it’s all pretty easy, I’ve been casually investigating building my next computer.
I’ve been looking at the price of what I consider to be “must have” software, which pretty much boils down to an OS and Microsoft Office. At one Australian based site, they have the retail version of Office Basic and an OEM version. The difference in price is around $400 Aus.
Now I kind of get that OEM is stuff supplied by one manufacturer that can be re-branded by another manufacturer. This doesn’t really gel with software as it will always be Microsoft Office, not Joe Bloggs Office. So I figured that this OEM software is for supply at a reduced rate to PC manufacturers to bundle with their computers.
Is that what OEM software is for?
Would I be able to purchase the OEM version of the software and save lots of money? There is nothing at this website to suggest that the OEM software is not available to private citizens.
In general, an OEM computer manufacturer is supposed to sell you third-party software at reduced OEM prices only when you are buying a complete computer system from them. The third-party software is not supposed to be sold separately at the reduced price. (Presumably this is governed by contracts between the software supplier and the OEM.)
I have seen a few smaller places that play a bit loose with this though: their definition of a ‘buying a system’ can be something as small as ’ getting a new hard drive’.
If you are looking to save money and you need an office suite, why not consider OpenOffice? It does most of what Microsoft Office does, and it’s free for the downloading! I use it at home and haven’t had problems dealing with files from work. Then again, I do all my publishing work in FrameMaker.
For home or independent business use, I would only recommend spending the bucks on MS Office if you have a need for a specific capability or compatibility that it has. Usually this occurs when you are working with files or data from a larger corporate workplace; there are sometimes custom Excel or Word macros or something that you are required to use, and only MS Office supports them.
There are software vendors in the US that sell all kinds of out of box software.
It consists of an ‘OEM’ CD and access number(s) in a sealed packet. No manual. Good price.
They show up at PC shows, advertise in computer mags. and in general provide a source of software for thsoe who cannot afford “Boxed” prices.
They generally get their supplies from going out of business shops and OEM’s with excess inventory on hand. Seems to be condoned by the originators.
OEM software is meant to be bundled with a branded PC, which isn’t to say that it’s not legit if you find someone selling it without a computer to go with it. I say try to buy it.
You have to pay for your support if you got OEM software, except if you do not get support from your computer supplier(HP, DELL). Normal license software costs more because it comes with free support.
I have also read (or heard) that OEM software cannot be legally uninstalled from the system it is first installed on and then re-installed to a new system, as would be allowed with the retail boxed version. Once it is installed on the system it was purchased for, it cannot be used again for any other purpose. As a practical matter, a telephone call to MS will usually result in allowing re-installation if you state that you had a motherboard failure, or some such and it just looks like a new system because of the replaced component.
We seem to do this a lot here: confuse contract law with criminal law. It’s not illegal to violate a contract, but you’re subject to civil liability. On the other hand, you don’t have a contract with the software writer; the OEM does. You’re not violating a contract or license by purchasing OEM software contrary to OEM terms; the vendor is, and that’s not your problem.
Okay, you have a software license. The license always has a cancellation clause. Once it’s cancelled, you’re not bound by it anymore. You can give it or sell it to anyone you want that’s willing to be bound by the terms. The only complication is the software vendor is liable to be an asshole and not honor the transfer. In this case, my non-lawyer opinion is that you’re then able to use any crack or pirated serial number you want. You’re completely in the letter of the law – if Microsoft doesn’t want to uphold their end of the license, then you’re only doing what it takes to oblige them to comply, i.e., you’re using the product.
I work at Monarch Computer so I have some experiance with OEM software. There is no diffrence in the software itself between the OEM and retail versions. The only diffrences is Microsoft doesn’t provide tech support for OEM, you have to go through the OEM supplier. Also, the program only comes with the CD, the CDkey, and a VERY basic manual. When you buy retail you get a better manual and tech support from Microsoft.
The way the contract with Microsoft works with OEM software, is that you have to buy hardware with the software. They do not acctully say what type of hardware is required, for example, if you buy Windows XP OEM from Monarch, we include a FREE CD audio cable (woot! ).
Microsoft OEM software can be sold to two groups of people initially:
OEMs - these are the big name high volume folks like Dell, Compaq and the like
System Builders - mom and pop shops that want to include software on their PC’s or with their parts.
Way back when, OEM software had to be with a specific type of component or a whole system. Now it’s sold with a lot of different hardware. The thing that’s most important to remember is how you are buying it.
If you buy it preinstalled on a piece of hardware, or you are buying it as a consumer, the OEM or System Builder that sells it to you provides the support, which in most cases is “format, reinstall”.
If a wholesaler sells it to you, then it is implied that you are buying it as a system builder and there is no implied support from the wholesaler.
If you are fine with this then that’s great.
With OEM products, as Flex mentioned, they are meant to be installed only on the system they were sold with. So this means if you buy the hardware, install the hardware and the software on your system, the only way that software can sold is if the hardware goes with it. This was not really enforcable until Product Activation. With Product Activation, specific codes are used for OEM machines. These OEM machines have special specific Product Keys to install the software that will only work on OEM software. If you sell the CD, it will be identified as OEM software when the person tries to activate it on another computer. In this circumstance the product will instruct the customer to call the call center during activation and the person on the phone will inform them that it can only be used with the original machine it was installed on, and the machine they are using is not that same machine.
So in short, it’s low priced for a reason. Someone is buyign it to install on a PC they will sell, they are providing all the support, and the limited installation rights all equal a lower price poitn than a full retail product.
