[Burned Phoenix]

Popular retailer Newegg.com has listed the OEM prices for Windows 7, which will be offered at less than half what Microsoft will charge for a retail copy.

According to a Newegg product page, a full 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium will cost $109.99; with a $10 preorder discount that expires Oct. 20, Newegg will lower the price to $99.99. Normally, the upgrade price of Windows 7 Home Premium would be $119.99, and the full retail cost is $199.99.

The 64-bit version of Windows 7 Professional OEM will be priced at $139.99; for this version, Newegg will only offer a $5 discount, bringing the price down to $134.99. At retail, the upgrade and full versions of Windows 7 Professional would normally cost $199.99 and $299.99, respectively.

The OEM, 64-bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate, meanwhile, will be priced at $174.99. Newegg again will offer a discount of $15, good through Oct. 20, and bringing the price down to $174.99. Normally, the upgrade and full versions would cost $219.99 and $319.99 at retail.

Windows 7 Listing on Newegg

News source: PC Mag

[7vic]

i know where i will get my win7...

I LOVE newegg!

[WhistAler]

Of course we all should buy the OEM version. Why paying extra for the box and MS support which we will never use?

[Elijah?]

Of course, with my luck, this would happen right after I spent all of my money on a motherboard.

[Gragier_521]

I knew OEM version would be that cheaper.

[pm_41]

What's the difference between the OEM version and the boxed version I'll see at Best Buy?

[Secured Tim]

There's no difference at all!

[Frylock86]

You know with all the various price cuts, there should be one that fits your bill. There is no excuse now to complain that Windows 7 is too expensive and to not upgrade.



R.I.P WindowsXP Oct. 25th 2001 - Oct. 22nd 2009

[The Flashing Fish]

Secured Tim, on 26 September 2009 - 07:29 PM, said:

There's no difference at all!

Not true.

pm_41, on 26 September 2009 - 06:59 PM, said:

What's the difference between the OEM version and the boxed version I'll see at Best Buy?

As someone mentioned above, with Retail, you're entitled to phone support (I think for something like 60 days). With OEM, there is no support.

But the big difference is the licensing. With Retail, you are allowed to transfer your license. With OEM, your license is tied to your computer, IE, the license is non-transferable. With both licenses though, you can only have the license on one PC at a time. Retail can be handy for those who plan to build a new computer often, as they can just transfer the license and get rid of the old computer. Whereas with OEM, they would have to repeatedly buy new licenses. For most people, this isn't a problem, since most will keep their computer for around the duration of Windows (around 3 years with upgrades), and most will still keep their old computers.

[coldemone]

the difference is when your computer gets destroyed, you can usually find your boxed cd there, but if you have OEM you won't find it later. It will mix with other crap you have.

[AMIRZ]

OEM version FTW (same OS, cheaper price). You don't install the box right? Hehe

[aklass]

Its cheaper, but its bound to your motherboard. Change boards and byebye license

[K.L.Devine]

Don't install the OEM on an old motherboard.

[RickSOLET]

Retail box is a wastage of money if you have a future proof motherboard.