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Trying to switch to Mac
- Thread starter BoredMan
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LOL 
OEM = Other Equipment Manufacturer
Basically it's a version of Windows that you can get for a fraction of the price of retail. It's meant for PC builders, but you can get it with a piece of internal hardware such as RAM (which is dirt cheap nowadays). You are supposed to use the piece of hardware in the PC that it'll be licensed to.
You get no support with OEM.
One thing with OEM, it's tied to the PC (or Mac, I guess) and can't be transferred. Not without cracking it anyway (and if you're gonna buy it, why crack it.... or vice versa!)
OEM = Other Equipment Manufacturer
Basically it's a version of Windows that you can get for a fraction of the price of retail. It's meant for PC builders, but you can get it with a piece of internal hardware such as RAM (which is dirt cheap nowadays). You are supposed to use the piece of hardware in the PC that it'll be licensed to.
You get no support with OEM.
One thing with OEM, it's tied to the PC (or Mac, I guess) and can't be transferred. Not without cracking it anyway (and if you're gonna buy it, why crack it.... or vice versa!)
LOL
OEM = Other Equipment Manufacturer
Basically it's a version of Windows that you can get for a fraction of the price of retail. It's meant for PC builders, but you can get it with a piece of internal hardware such as RAM (which is dirt cheap nowadays). You are supposed to use the piece of hardware in the PC that it'll be licensed to.
You get no support with OEM.
One thing with OEM, it's tied to the PC (or Mac, I guess) and can't be transferred. Not without cracking it anyway (and if you're gonna buy it, why crack it.... or vice versa!)
Did you get all this information from one of those chinese OEM-soft sites? Because it sounds like a lot of nonsense.
How is it nonsense? Its a copy meant to be purchased with a new computer and can only be used on that single computer forever once activated. But you dont actually need to buy a computer to get an OEM copy.
And its original equipment manufacturer, not other.
And its original equipment manufacturer, not other.
Because OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer, which you are not. I wasn't aware that individuals could legally obtain OEM software.
If individuals couldn't legally obtain OEM software, Newegg wouldn't sell millions of copies of OEM XP per year. He's right, you're not. Let's move on.
Please, do some research first if you're going to attack people and accuse them of talking nonsense in an online forum. As a "Demi-God" you should know better.
OEM is actually just terminology meaning it's marketed towards system builders (let's not forget that technically speaking you can build a system for yourself, thus you are a "system builder", but we'll come to that in a moment), it specifies the general idea of the license but not a license itself.
The key to being legal is following something called a EULA, for End User License Agreement.
The EULA varies from one piece of software to the next. Indeed, some specify that it must be bought at the same time and place as a fully assembled PC, usually the "Manufacturer Specific" versions such as "HP OEM" or "Dell OEM". You also get software such as Nero OEM which specifies that it must be bought with a CD or DVD burner.
But speaking for Microsoft Windows Vista (as mentioned in the OP, thus it is what I'm referring to), it also comes in a generic "System Builder OEM" version which anyone can buy.
I refer you to a few simple articles from reliable sources:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,248704,00.html
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070130-8730.html
http://www.lockergnome.com/blade/20...lable-for-system-builders-but-theres-a-catch/
And for a more accurate source, Microsoft's own System Builder license agreement:
http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/Public/sblicense/2007_SB_Licenses/FY07_SB_License_English.pdf
Let's go by that, and first let's define "System Builder".
This means it can be you, the end user. Microsoft do not recommend it, but it's legal. You can assemble your own computer, or even install Windows on a pre-built computer such as a Mac, and you yourself will be classed as a "System Builder". Microsoft themselves have even confirmed it, as referenced in some of the above articles.
You will probably pick up on point 4.1, and think you have it nailed:
In which case re-read point 1. If the company (such as NewEgg) are supplying the *sealed* software to you, they are not bound to the "System Builder" license. The rules are thus:
Older rules said they would have to supply either a "fully assembled computer" or a "non-peripheral component" (such as a stick of RAM) with it, and that if it's a component it would have to be used in the same machine that the license is being bound to. Some companies such as Scan UK still follow this old rule, but they actually removed that requirement when they released Vista.
OK? That's the legalities solved for Newegg and other distributors. We've also established that if you're buying the OEM version of Windows for yourself and you're the one who opens the seal, then you are the system builder. So let's see what your restrictions are.
Re-read the license and you will find... you can install it. There is no restriction at all (apart from the usual software license agreement - you may install only 1 copy yada yada). The restrictions apply if you try to pass on the opened license (at which point you have declared that you are the system builder) to someone else.
That's where restrictions such as point 4.1 come in to play: it means you can't transfer your OEM Windows license to another user unless it is part of a fully assembled system. In short, the license is tied to the computer. If you wanted to sell your PC/Mac on, you'd have to supply the missing parts or remove Windows and remove its license sticker.
Also you can't transfer the OEM license on its own to another individual or another computer.
Nothing unusual there. As you're the system builder, supplying it to yourself, most of it is irrelevant unless you want to sell it on afterwards.
The reason the OEM version is cheaper is that it comes with NO support from Microsoft (the System Builder must provide support - interestingly this means you are legally obliged to provide support for your family if it's a family PC!) and it can't be transferred to another computer, whilst the retail version can. It also doesn't come with the pretty box or the manuals.
Chinese/eBay sellers *are* often illegal because they're selling on Manufacturer Specific OEM version such as Dell OEM which must ONLY be used with a Dell PC. But that's irrelevant to my original point, and anyone who trusts an eBay seller from China is treading on thin ice, IMO.
There, you can't get much better proof than that? If you still don't believe me, ask Microsoft. Unless you can prove better to the contrary (which I think would be a very difficult task) you have no right to tell me I'm talking nonsense.
people get so cranky.....
Okay, if you are trying to convince your parents to switch to mac (as I am also doing) tell them it's an easier system. Everything works. Period. And everything works together (iLife, iWork, ect.). On Macs, everything works in a similar fashion-- you don't have to be a geek to figure advanced stuff out, get familiar with iTunes and the whole OS works the same way. I switched myself, and left the crappy 4yo Dell to my parents (using every hacker and pirate friend to keep the system in working condition). They Hate It. Just from me no-longer fixing it 24/7, I fix it about 3x per year (in both instances, basically anytime I get on the computer). All of the Mac vs. PC commercials are true. so are the old adds saying that if you can figure out iTunes, you can figure out OS X
Okay, if you are trying to convince your parents to switch to mac (as I am also doing) tell them it's an easier system. Everything works. Period. And everything works together (iLife, iWork, ect.). On Macs, everything works in a similar fashion-- you don't have to be a geek to figure advanced stuff out, get familiar with iTunes and the whole OS works the same way. I switched myself, and left the crappy 4yo Dell to my parents (using every hacker and pirate friend to keep the system in working condition). They Hate It. Just from me no-longer fixing it 24/7, I fix it about 3x per year (in both instances, basically anytime I get on the computer). All of the Mac vs. PC commercials are true. so are the old adds saying that if you can figure out iTunes, you can figure out OS X
I clearly said "I wasn't aware that individuals could legally obtain OEM software." as in "I did not know this please explain..."
Yes, it did sound like nonsense to me. Since I do not build (or use) PCs I am not intimately fluent in all the legal intricacies of Windows. When I think of OEM, I think of stuff that comes with a computer, or illegal software from China. When I think of OEM, I think Dell and HP. Saying something sounds like nonsense (not is nonsense, which isn't what I said) is a way of enticing someone to explain something in detail.
Chill out...
I made a public cut-off date of January 1st 2005 that I made sure all my friends and relatives were aware of.
It was partly because I don't like PCs and want to encourage Mac sales, but also partly because by that time I hadn't owned a PC in 3 years and it was becoming more and more difficult and tedious for me to actually help people, since I no longer used PCs on a daily basis.
OK. Well, consider it explained
The way you said it was very confrontational. Asking for sources or something would be a lot more polite than "that sounds like a load of nonsense"
Everyone has an opinion, etc.
Well lets talk about my experiences on a retail level. I sold both Macs and PCs. PCs were cheaper of course.
On a monthly bases, I would get customers coming in frantic because of viruses and spyware on their PCs. This was great because I got to see them software that did not want to buy when they bought their computer! Yes, some virus and spyware software are free, but in general I found that most people were to lazy to look for it, so they came into the store.
RAM was another huge issue. They would not read the owners manual to learn how to install memory or what kind of RAM to purchase! Usually 95% of the time the memory came back because they could not install it, or it did not work! (We carried brand name memory to.)
I have not had virus software on my Macs for years! Maybe some day I might have to.
As mentioned, tell your parents that they can have OS X and XP or Vista on 1 computer.
People tend to keep Macs longer, so the cost is actually teh same or cheaper!
See other posts for other good suggestions.
You do not say what your parents use their computer for. That would be the best place to start in determining what their needs are. if it ends up not being a Mac, then it is up to them to live with their choice.
Well lets talk about my experiences on a retail level. I sold both Macs and PCs. PCs were cheaper of course.
On a monthly bases, I would get customers coming in frantic because of viruses and spyware on their PCs. This was great because I got to see them software that did not want to buy when they bought their computer! Yes, some virus and spyware software are free, but in general I found that most people were to lazy to look for it, so they came into the store.
RAM was another huge issue. They would not read the owners manual to learn how to install memory or what kind of RAM to purchase! Usually 95% of the time the memory came back because they could not install it, or it did not work! (We carried brand name memory to.)
I have not had virus software on my Macs for years! Maybe some day I might have to.
As mentioned, tell your parents that they can have OS X and XP or Vista on 1 computer.
People tend to keep Macs longer, so the cost is actually teh same or cheaper!
See other posts for other good suggestions.
You do not say what your parents use their computer for. That would be the best place to start in determining what their needs are. if it ends up not being a Mac, then it is up to them to live with their choice.