Datasheet

54
Part I: Surviving Setup
Figure 1-4: Windows Vista OEM packaging
is pretty bare-bones.
OEM versions of Windows Vista differ from retail versions in some important ways:
They are dramatically cheaper than retail versions. As shown in Table 1-15, the OEM
versions of Windows Vista are much cheaper than comparable retail versions. Note, how-
ever, that OEM pricing fluctuates somewhat, so the prices you see online could be a bit
different.
They do not come with any support from Microsoft. Because PC makers support the
products they sell directly, Microsoft does not offer any support for OEM versions of
Windows Vista. This explains the cost differential, by the way.
You are not really supposed to buy them unless you’re building PCs that you will sell to
others. Technically speaking, OEM versions of Windows Vista are available only to those
who intend to build PCs to sell. Furthermore, online retailers who sell OEM versions of
Windows Vista are supposed to verify that you are a PC builder and/or sell the products
with some kind of hardware. For this reason, you are sometimes asked to purchase a
hardware tchotchske such as a USB cable when you purchase OEM software.
There’s no box. This shouldn’t matter too much, but you don’t get the cool Vista retail
packaging when you buy OEM. Instead, you pretty much get an install disk shrink-
wrapped to a piece of cardboard, and a product key.
Unlike the retail versions, it’s very easy to purchase both 32-bit and 64-bit OEM
versions of Windows Vista online. However, you can’t purchase Upgrade OEM
software, because OEM versions are aimed only at new PC installs.
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