posted on August 29, 2004 09:48:58 PM new
My daughter's college suggested that she have Microsoft Office Professional installed on her laptop...Best Buy sells it for $499 GULP! I see lots of lower priced versions on eBay but they mostly say: "0EM full version of Microsoft Office XP Pro Edition."...what does "OEM" mean and is it safe to buy on eBay?
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Sig files are too much trouble! http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
posted on August 29, 2004 09:53:17 PM new
I don't know what OEM means. But this is a common practice in college these days. Most professors will only accept assignments in Word or Excel files. Fortunately for my brother, I had a bootleg copy when his kids started college.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
This confusing term has two meanings:
1) Originally, an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) was a company that supplied equipment to other companies to resell or incorporate into another product using the reseller's brand name. For example, a maker of refrigerators like Frigidaire might sell its refrigerators to a retailer like Sears to resell under a brand name owned by Sears. A number of companies, both equipment suppliers and equipment resellers, still use this meaning.
2) More recently, OEM is used to refer to the company that acquires a product or component and reuses or incorporates it into a new product with its own brand name.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on August 29, 2004 10:00:51 PM new
Neg - I think that in the case of software such as what you are talking about, it's the backup copy of software that came preloaded on someones computer. They are selling the disks that came along for the ride.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on August 29, 2004 10:40:08 PM new
As long as they don't have to put up the $500.00 for the software, they will continue to suggest it. The fact is, I can go out on any Saturday morning, as can you, and hit 20 yard sales and have the chance to pick up an original version of Office2000 for $5.00 in at least 2 of the sales. And yes, as posted above, the seller, to be entirely legal, should be throwing in a hard drive with it that has enough capacity to support the program.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on August 30, 2004 04:03:15 AM new
the OEM (original equipment manufacture) versions are basically just versions that are bundled with new computers, or in mass quantity to a certain company that bought a certain amount of computers.. or a certain store/computer manufacture.. certain individual.. etc. etc.
the term OEM of course doesnt just apply to computers.
in either case, they got a hold of this non-retail version of the software.
its still authentic, its still a 'real' microsoft software.. its just not suppose to be sold or distributed individually or thru the way some of these people are selling them on ebay.
thats why some are throwing in a hard drive, etc.
IMO, just buy the cheapest one you can find from a reputable (as in, they'll actually send you the product) person.
eh, normally I dont endorse bootleg/piracy.. but $500 for Office XP just feels.. a little bit pricy.
I'm surprised the computer you bought didnt come with it.
honestly, for that price.. you might as well find a budget computer that comes with Office XP. And I dont even think the Professional edition is that much of a difference. In the sense that I dont use the extra features from Professional as much. Sometimes a simple word processor is all I need.
You can also just tell your daughter to er.. ask around her upcoming college friends.. I'm sure someone will let her um, borrow their copy. yeah.
and these days.. I haven't come across a college/univerisity campus without a decent computer lab with Office XP Professional or whatever else installed.
[ edited by CapYoda on Aug 30, 2004 04:05 AM ]
posted on August 30, 2004 07:07:01 AM new
where the software comes from (that's on Ebay) is they will send out 20 or 30 copies to an office for it to be installed on their computers. From there, somebody takes one copy and installs it on all the computers. Then there's all those extra "free" copies, and oh dear, what to do with them?
So they are (some of them) legit.
What they are saying by OEM is that it will be a full - able to be registered version.
I think though, that by being a student or something that they can get a copy very cheap through the college. Might want to check into that.
Or someone will be along shortly to tell you how to get ahold of the academic version I'm sure.
posted on August 30, 2004 07:24:40 AM new
Thanks Glassgrl - checked out the link but she needs full PROFESSIONAL and not the educational version for some reason.
I called the school's bookstore today and they offer the professional for $199 for registered students...WHEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
Thanks all for the help...thanks for the cool link Tom - hope they give MS a run for their money..the MS pricing is RIDICULOUS!
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Sig files are too much trouble! http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
