curious about hardware bundled software

[mystvearn]

Now, here is something I want to know. Are we paying for the software that comes with our hardware? I don't think we are paying anything for printer drivers. But, how about a digital camera and phtoshop that comes with it. Are we paying some royalties to the company(adobe)? And is there a way just buying the hardware and the required software, drivers needed for the hardware.

Or no one noticed this yet. I have photoshop-I don't want to get more photoshop (sometimes lower version) than hardware that I bought.

[Cricket]

Originally posted by mystvearn And is there a way just buying the hardware and the required software, drivers needed for the hardware.

Buy OEM parts instead of retail. OEM parts only come with the drivers and sometimes the cables...no extra software and no fancy printed box.

Cricket

[morriswindgate]

The only example I can give you is the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy and the Audigy MP3+ /XGamer+. All three of these are the same sound card and drivers/program disk. The MP3+ and the XGamer come with a bunch of Shareware (Yes Shareware that expires or demos, all of which you can download) and an AOL 8.0 disk. Additionally, other than the Hyped name that leads you to believe that you are getting the next grade up card, you get a box. Here are the prices on newegg.

CREATIVE LABS SOUND BLASTER AUDIGY WITH 1394 - OEM - $64.00
CREATIVE LABS SOUND BLASTER BLASTER AUDIGY MP3+ - RETAIL - $75.00
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer - $78.00

This is a total rip-off and the reason I no longer will use a SOundblaster unless it is requested.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Morris, the X-Gamer comes with full games too, and those are not shareware or crippled versions of the retail ones. If you don't have the games the card comes with, and you like them go for the retail version.

[RayH]

The question of OEM vs retail comes up all the time. And the answer is big "it just depends!"

If you don't have the software to make the hardware run, the retail box can include some software that's worth more than the included hardware. Or, if the included software is all you need, then you don't have to go into it for deluxe retail box software.

Retail DVD ROMs might include Power DVD. Go buy Power DVD seperately! Retail CD RWs come with burning software.

Sometimes you save a few bucks buying OEM. Sometimes if you miss, you pay a lot more for OEM.

[mystvearn]

Most of the times, which is cheaper? OEM or retail?I bought Creative TNT2 4 years ago-it came with incoming, and another game. But the price that of TNT 2 is around $180

[RayH]

Usually, the PURCHASE price of OEM is less expensive. But sometimes you find retail on a sale when the OEM is not.

Sometimes the OEM is not that much more expensive than the retail. Sometimes the retail has a better warranty than the OEM. Sometimes the included software is bloatware (junk). Sometimes it's the reason to buy retail. It's a just depends.

I buy retail Pentium CPUs because they include the fan, heatsink, and thermal paste. For Pentiums, it's all you need.

I buy OEM hard drives and used floppies. Everything else, depends on my mood, the price, and what's included.

[mystvearn]

Originally posted by RayH Usually, the PURCHASE price of OEM is less expensive. But sometimes you find retail on a sale when the OEM is not. Sometimes the OEM is not that much more expensive than the retail. Sometimes the retail has a better warranty than the OEM. Sometimes the included software is bloatware (junk). Sometimes it's the reason to buy retail. It's a just depends. I buy retail Pentium CPUs because they include the fan, heatsink, and thermal paste. For Pentiums, it's all you need. I buy OEM hard drives and used floppies. Everything else, depends on my mood, the price, and what's included.

Same here. I buy retail p4, mobo. The rest OEM.
Does the retail charge more/less for the software. Or cheaper to buy software and OEM.