OT: Windows is too expensive

geoschmo · #1 March 7th, 2007, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Imperator Fyron said:
That's not what this is; it is an OEM copy of XP. It is not an upgrade copy, it is a full installer. You don't need to provide anyone any information to install or activate it. The "OEM" version simply means that its activation is tied to a motherboard, and you can't transfer the license to a new machine (like you can with a Retail full edition). When you buy the thing AZ linked to, you get a full, working copy of XP that is installed from a clean slate, not linked to upgrading any previous edition of Windows.

That sounds better, but I'm curious how that works. Do I have to show proof of purchase to NewEgg(Or whoever I buy the OEM version from). How does one do that for an online purchase? Do have to fax it or something? I still think it's a stupid hoop to have to jump through. Why not simply say, "$90 bucks for a single use license." and only let you register it once. The same thing is accomplished without forcing someone to buy new hardware and turn in receipts. Hardware that isn't even being purchased from Microsoft. I must be missing something because it doesn't make sense to me.

Fyron · #2 March 7th, 2007, 01:45 AM

No, you don't have to give Newegg anything (other than money and a shipping address). You just buy it, they ship it, you install it. Nothing more. Noone is forced to buy new hardware or turn in any receipts. There are no hoops anywhere in the process (other than the Windows product activation, but that is just a trivial, automated step in the installation process).

AFAIK, the _only_ difference between purchasing an OEM copy of Windows and a Retail copy is that MS will not let you transfer the license to a new machine (defined by motherboard) down the line. With a Retail copy, you can generally get it to activate on a new machine by calling MS customer service and having them activate it over the phone.

The receipts bit is _only_ related to getting the discounted/free upgrade of Vista from Microsoft for buying an OEM PC (or being a system builder buying an OEM license) between 10/26/06 and 3/15/07. It is not the normal way to use an upgrade copy of Windows, which normally has no forms to fill out at all. That does not involve Newegg in any way. After getting the OEM copy of XP, you can apparently apply for the discounted Vista upgrade by just entering whatever serial numbers you like for the hardware, not having purchased any hardware at all, and MS will still ship you the Vista upgrade. Note that this is done on MS' web site, and is not any part of the XP installation or activation process.

AgentZero · #3 March 7th, 2007, 04:38 AM

Heh, sorry about the confusion, Geo. When I saw the disclaimer I jumped to the conclusion that they wanted receipts before they'd sell you an OEM copy, since nowhere does it say anything about a Vista upgrade. Thank goodness we have Fyron around to slap Newegg CS about and find out what they're really on about.

Baron Munchausen · #4 March 8th, 2007, 05:00 PM

Quote:

AgentZero said:
Heh, sorry about the confusion, Geo. When I saw the disclaimer I jumped to the conclusion that they wanted receipts before they'd sell you an OEM copy, since nowhere does it say anything about a Vista upgrade. Thank goodness we have Fyron around to slap Newegg CS about and find out what they're really on about.

Now if he'd just slap MS around and make them give us better license terms...

geoschmo · #5 March 8th, 2007, 10:19 PM

Well, I will say this about Linux. It may be that there are comparable programs out there for everyhting I need, but it's not always the easiest thing to get them loaded and running.

I sure am spoiled by Windows. You find a program, install it and it runs. I'm a moderatly techie individual and I'm findign it diffecult to get thigs setup in Ubuntu. Everything's got six lines of commands you have to type into the command line terminal, and even then maybe it won't work. I've been working on getting a wireless adapter setup for a few hours now and it's just not flying. I've found instructions in several places on the web, all of them with minor differences, and none of them seem to work.

I know the same thing would happen if I tried to plug non-supported hardware with windows, but it's still frusterating. The biggest problem I seem to be running into is there is just so much information out there it's tough to filter out those that know what they are talking about.

Fyron · #6 March 8th, 2007, 10:54 PM

For software installation, just use Synaptics. Its often as easy as Windows, cause you can get almost all software you'd need in one integrated package management application.

Network configuration is loads of fun...

Baron Munchausen · #7 March 8th, 2007, 11:34 PM

That has been the standing complaint about Linux, recognized even by the geeks who are boosting it, for some years now. Linux is still not being adopted, despite being better at nearly everything. Linux has native security and has had for years. Windows is still a bug-riddled trojan that lets all the organized crime syndicates who have now entered into cyber crime do whatever they please with your machine. Apache on Linux is vastly more secure and more stable as a web server than Windows and IIS, and it can carry a much heavier load on the same hardware. Open Office has almost every single feature that MS Office has, and it is more backwards compatible than Office itself -- yes, a third party program is better at loading old Word or Excel files than brand-name MS Office! Games is where Windows still has the undisputed advantage. Everyone has gotten used to using Direct-X and it's hard to make the effort to independently learn how to program graphical hardware. But because it's still so hard to use -- the learning curve is just too steep for anyone but a tech geek -- almost no but but the geeks are using it. So it remains a niche product or a server OS at best while Windows continues to rule the desktop.