NewEgg publishes Windows 7 OEM prices

"[Apple] zealots arguing over MSFT's monopolistic pricing policies. It doesn't get any [ironical] than this" There you go. I fixed it for you.

“It says quite a bit that it seems to be the same "Microsoft is evil - buy a Mac" people here that are the ones saying that stealing sofware is fine and offering justifications why the law shouldn't really apply to them.” Where there is intentional slavery whether corporate or Govt. it is our solemn duty to break such a system. As long a one human is subject to corporate authoritarian absolutism we are all its subjects. I will care on the good fight. Separately, a new version of Sandboxie is out v.3.40 Win7 ready. Real security not software suit crap.

"Does this apply to server software also? How do I purchase an OEM version of SQL Server?" If I remember correctly, server software like that can be purchased via volume licensing because it's really just an application. Application software can be purchased via volume licensing, and it isn't an upgrade (at least, that's the way it is with Office if my memory serves me well). Client OS's are always upgrades only in volume licensing though. Businesses that adopt platforms frequently are best served buying their client OS from the OEM hardware manufacturer, and if necessary, buying only Software Assurance for support and upgrade rights if the need arises. They can buy Software Assurance on OEM licenses without having to pay again for the license in a volume license agreement too, and they'll still get the upgrade rights. Also (if my memory is still good), they can renew software assurance only once on its own. After that, they have to pay for licensing again in order to get SA (or activate new licenses for SA on hardware purchases by buying new systems). Buying Windows with a new computer is always the cheapest way to buy a full version license. The only other way to buy full version licensing is retail, and it's the most expensive method. Volume licensing is slightly cheaper than retail upgrades, but that depends on whether or not you get SA with it. You can't get SA added to retail software though - not even business versions.

as I post again... I am reminded of something.... who gives a hoot what we think? You think Paul does? Pffft.... we're a waste of his time.... That says a lot... a whole lot... Thieves just steal... just like drunks drink...

yoshipod And I can walk into a tire store and have them order me 4 Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD07 tires, or I can buy them online from a tire megastore, or I can buy them from my car dealer as replacement products and I already bought a set as OEM since they came with my car. Do you seriously think Yokohama sold them for the same price to every single channel? Do you have even a single example of a product that has the same OEM and wholesale and direct retail pricing?

Mike, I think you may be misunderstanding what I am saying. This is not about the price you pay at a given store, its about the fact that all these different versions of the same product exist. That is the price discrimination. Microsoft, like many companies, puts a set of requirements on a product in order to charge a different price to different groups of people for the same thing. Thus, you get upgrade, OEM, retail, etc. Its all Windows 7, but all at different prices. So with your tire example, it would be more like this. I walk into the tire store to buy the 4 tires. I can buy them at retail price. Or I can show them I am buying a new car that comes without tires and thus get them at the OEM price. Or I can trade in my existing tires, and get them at a third price. Or maybe I can show them my student ID and get them a different price. Or perhaps I can tell them I am going to buy a new car from them and those tires need to be on the car, and get them at yet a different price again. In each case I am getting the exact same product. However, the price I pay, and in turn the price paid to the tire manufacturer would be different even though I bought the same thing. But that does not really happen in the tire case, whereas it does with Windows 7. The tire dealer may be willing to give me a different price because I am buying more from him, but he does not pay the tire manufacturer a different price. He gets his tires at one price. Sure another tire store may do more volume and therefore get a better price, but that is not what this is about.

So please explain the difference in warrantees between OEM, Upgrade, & Retail versions of Windows 7. Clearly none of these come pre-mounted or installed. Its the same product, just different pricing.

And the difference between retail and upgrade?

@yoshi You don't understand the purpose of OEM software. It's for system builders, once installed that product key is tied to that motherboard. If you build your own system and use an OEM disk you'll be fine as long as you don't upgrade your mobo. If your mobo dies and you can't validate a call to MS usually allows you to reactivate but it always takes a call. When you buy the retail copy you can move the OS to your latest PC as long as you don't use it on more than one machine at the same time, to me it is worth having the retail copy since I build my new machines enough to make the retail version a better value.

My point still stands. This is clearly price discrimination. All the different versions (OEM, upgrade, retail, etc.) are really the same exact thing. Microsoft puts all these little gotchas to segment the market so they can charge more to certain types of customers.

As someone just pointed out above MS as a general rule will ALWAYS reactivate an install after a mobo swap IF you ask them to via phone. In fact the only time I know for sure they will say NO is if you answer incorrectly the question "how many PCs do you have this installed on". Correct answer= ONE. You say ONE (and of course you really do have it on only one) they always reactivate and they don't care (or even ASK) if this is white label OEM license. The Arstechnica forums are full of success stories of hobbyists swapping their mobos and reactivating Windows OEM installs. I'm telling you MS really doesn't care. They are happy that you paid at all and didn't pirate. Mainly they just don't wanna you calling expecting free support from them. This is the reality of they way Newegg (and plenty of others) sell OEM Windows. It doesn't matter what the fine print says...what matters is how MS handles it.