Confused about vista software prices

[Patrick]

i found a Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit DSP OEM DVD for 199.99 and a Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium - DVD for 239.99. idk what is a better deal and what is the difference between a 32 and 64-bit ultimate?:confused:

[mattmorgan]

can i also add: what is the difference between OEM and retail, i can get ultimate 64b for £122 but retail is £400.

ta.

[YukonMaster]

Hi,

To put an OEM product in the simplest terms, it is a product from a manufacturer that is sold without the retail packaging to system integrators and retailers for purchase in or with a completed computer system.

Retail is simply the same product in which you would purchase from a store in its original package.

Since price is such a huge factor in the purchase of product by consumers, OEM products offer a major advantage over a retail product. The reduced items and packaging can drastically reduce the cost of a computer component over a retail version.

The biggest difference between a retail and OEM product is how warranties are handled. Most retail products come with very well defined terms for service and support in case the product has any problems. OEM products on the other hand will generally have shorter warranties and limited support. The reason is that the OEM product is supposed to be sold as part of a package via a retailer. Therefore, all service and support for the component in the system should be handled by the retailer if sold in a complete system.

As a user who is building a computer system or upgrading a computer system, the retail version may also be important. If you are unfamiliar with what is required to install the component into the computer system, the manufacturer instructions can be very useful as are any cables that you may not have.

The price difference for your question Patrick if you notice that the Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit DSP OEM DVD is 'OEM' and the other is retail.

64bit vs. 32bit. This will tell you the difference (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64-bit)

[kilgoretrout]

Yukon's description of the difference between OEM and retail is accurate for hardware in general but not for MS software. The main difference bewtween OEM and retail for MS operating systems is the license terms. An OEM MS operating system is tied to a specific motherboard/cpu and cannot be legally installed on any other motherboard/cpu. When you activate the OS for the first time, it will be forever tied to that motherboard/cpu. For retail, you can change the motherboard/cpu and get another activation code as long as you have removed the OS from the original system.

[mattmorgan]

thanks, that answered my questions :)

m