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Number   :  4709
Date     :  2003-06-02
Author   :  Charles Knox
Subject  :  Re: OEM vs Brand New
Size(KB) :  2


At 03:28 PM 31/05/2003 -0700, you wrote:
>I last bought a copy of Win98 Upgrade back in 1999.
> 
>Now in doing some formatting and using Partition Magic I find myself
reinstalling Win 98 several times. It's unhandy to install the original 98
first and then install Win 98 Upgrade every time so am thinking about
buying a new version.
>Note I'm not considering Win XP because of Mr Gates restrictions on
installing XP on more than one computer.
> 
>I have four computers. (wife is an avid computer nut also) Two PCs in
Calif. and two in Washington state.
>I have been able successfully to install the 98 version on each of my
machines.
>
> 
>I hate to have to pay out an extra $1200 to have the same XP OS on all
four PCs.
> 
>After all when I purchase a new car, Bicycle or Lawn mower I own them and
can lend them to any one I like.
>I object to just LEASING Windows XP so-to-speak and being limited to whom
or where I can install it. Just how rich does Mr Gates want to be?
> 
>Any way the question is, is there any advantage or disadvantage to
purchasing Windows 98 Full version OEM over the full factory version?
> 
>Some 40% difference in price. 
> 
>

As I understand it, full-version OEM is *supposed* to be distributed only
with a new computer, so conceivably you might have, with four computers,
four OEM OS versions.

However, I have a (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) additional question.

M$ (or its contractors, etc.) have laboured to produce a product, upon the
ownership and end use of which they impose a number of restrictions, some
quite onerous, some less so, but restrictions none-the-less.

"Purchasers" (quotes intentional) of full copies of this product have, in
their own small way, worked equally hard to produce the money which they
then pass to the company in return for that product.

Are they not entitled to place equal and similar restrictions upon the use
of the fruits of *their* labours (the money) in the hands of that supplier,
or is it a one-way street?

Think on it...

Charles



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