I am going to go the Boot Camp route, as all I would need is a copy of Windows. I've already set aside 200GB partition on one of my HDDs for Windows.
I read that I can buy Windows 8 Pro OEM System Builder for Personal Use, but it comes with no Microsoft Support. If I buy Win 8 Pro System Builder at a Microsoft Store does it come with support?
Buying OEM System Builder at Amazon is only $135, but buying at the Microsoft Store is $199. What's the difference between the 2 products? Does the cheaper OEM version have bloatware on there? I'd pay extra not to have all the gross bloatware!
If you look closely at the OEM System Builder, there are 2 versions you can buy - a 32 bit version, and a 64 bit version - that's why it's cheaper. The one you're seeing at the MS store (also if you buy it at a Best Buy) it comes with both versions for compatibility with the most number of machines.
Oh I see! At the Microsoft Store for $199 you're getting both the 32-bit and 64-bit OEM System Builder versions, while buying it through Amazon it's either or for $135.
I read on microsoft.com that OEM System Builder version can be used for personal use, except it comes with no support. The Microsoft Store says the version they sell comes with support, BUT when I called Microsoft Pre-Sales & Licensing, the rep said there's only one version of System Builder and that's the OEM version, thus the System Builders sold by the Microsoft Store comes with no support.
Entering the world of Windows makes your head spin! Their OS costs more than OS X and there's no many different versions even their own people are confused!
. The games I'm currently playing on Windows Steam that are not available on the Mac are Skyrim, Far Cry 3, Deus Ex Human Revolution, Grand Ages: Rome, Grand Theft Auto, Imperium Romanum: Gold, and Medieval II.
Deus Ex is on the Mac; it just isn't on steam because Feral ported it.
I am going to go the Boot Camp route, as all I would need is a copy of Windows. I've already set aside 200GB partition on one of my HDDs for Windows.
I read that I can buy Windows 8 Pro OEM System Builder for Personal Use, but it comes with no Microsoft Support. If I buy Win 8 Pro System Builder at a Microsoft Store does it come with support?
Buying OEM System Builder at Amazon is only $135, but buying at the Microsoft Store is $199. What's the difference between the 2 products? Does the cheaper OEM version have bloatware on there? I'd pay extra not to have all the gross bloatware!
Eh, why?Good catch. I played the original Deus Ex on the Mac, and Deus Ex Human Revolution on the Mac as well. I switched to both on Windows via Steam recently.
An important consideration in choosing the OEM version is that unlike the retail version which costs more, it is tied to the one system it is originally installed on. If you get a new Mac and want to use it again, you are likely to have problems because Windows will as usual phone home on install to validate and notice the hardware is not the same anymore.
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This is true for Windows 7, but they changed it for 8.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/3889-73-windows-system-builder