OEM Software

  • Thread starter Thread starter MM
  • Start date Start date
M

MM

This is more about software purchases. I recently purchased a copy of
Windows 2000 Professional from an internet website. They seem to be legit
(not sure now.) The description said Full version of software includes
hologram CD.
When I received the software, the CD was an OEM version with the words only
to be sold with a new PC. I called the company they said that it is legal
to sell this software (OEM) without a new computer. I said that it never
has been in the past and I wanted a certificate of authenticity. They said
that there was a change in how Microsoft looks at OEM selling.
I don't believe this is true but thought I would see if anyone out there
knows what is "legal" and what is not.
I appreciate all input.
Thank you.
MM
 
There was no fine print at least that I could read. That doesn't mean they
didn't have something somewhere.
The description of the product was that it was a Full Copy and Windows 2000
Professional. In the description they showed the actual box that the
software should have come in.
When I called and asked about a certificate of authenticity, I was told that
the product key was enough. I said that only purchasing software didn't
seem to make it legel given the "to be sold with a new PC" info on the CD.
Now I am very leary to send back the CD for a refund without getting an
actual refund. But alas they can not refund with the product.
Goes to say when something seems to good to be true...
 
you should have gotten a certificate of authority, even with an OEM CD. i
generally build PCs for myself & a few others, & i buy the OS CDs in 3-pack
OEM versions. There's a little certificate of authority sticker with the
key (to be put on your pc case) for each disc. You don't get a box, just
some flimsy booklet of maybe 20 pages that's about the size of 2 CD cases.
I toss that.

and fwiw, ms knows (and encourages) the purchase of oem and/or academic
versions of their software by non-qualified users. They'd rather have some
money than none at all. I mean, they used to sell academic versions only in
campus bookstores that required student IDs. Then they found nobody was
buying Office XP. Now they sell it in Wal-Mart, Costco & all over.... they
say, "oh, you must still must be a student." <wink><wink>. It's where the
bulk of their Office XP retail sales have come from. They've made more
money moving Office XP Academic for low cost/high volume than they have made
selling the $$$ retail version in low volume. I sure as hell wouldn't have
bought a single copy of the retail version of Office XP, but i've bought 3
versions of Office XP Academic edition. I'm a "student of life," & ms is
fine with it.

They've done this because they cannot simply lower the price of the retail
version, or their volume licensing customers (the bulk of Office sales) will
scream! So they just seed the market with academic office & they can
legitimately claim to complaining businesses who demand lower prices, "but
we didn't lower the price. Those people are just buying versions they're
not supposed to use."

they know exactly what they're doing. They've been called on it countless
times & simply refuse to comment on it.
 
Thank you everyone. Very helpful information. I'll see what I can do to
report this.
I will try to return but am sure I will need to chalk this up to learning.
MM
 
pay by credit card ? reverse the transaction with CC
supplier on the basis that an illegal product was supplied
 
Back
Top