What version OS do you buy for 5 office PC's?

[Edge Tech NY]

I have a office with all the pcs running vista home.. 1gb ram in some pcs.. im reccemending a upgrade to 7 and a gig of ram in computers that have less then 2. Do you guys buy the System builders disc and use the same license? Is there a place to buy the license if you already have the sys builder disc? Im guessing you dont goto store and buy 5 individiual box's of the OS..

 

[MrUnknown]

you buy the upgrade version. Yes, 5 of them.

System builders is if you are building a system. Which you are not doing.

 

[Eddie]

Personally I'd go for the full license rather then the upgrade option.

 

[Psychoticus]

please whatever you do dont do an upgrade, backup the data and do a clean install, you will have nothing but problems with an upgrade.

I use windows 7 for all new PC's, there is a new feature that allows you to turn the computer on remotely built into windows from memory, also they have remote support tool that is built in as well and it seems pretty good from what i have used of it (recently did my windows 7 client course)

 

[maclaptech]

I would never upgrade from VISTA. I would do a clean install to 7. You can but OEM full version of Win 7 for really good prices online from places like newegg.com. Retail full versions of 7 is expensive.

You can also find OEM full version locally. We have Fry's Electronics here and I always buy them from there. There are people who say don't install OEM on an existing system but it doesn't really matter.

 

[Alan22]

There are people who say don't install OEM on an existing system but it doesn't really matter.

It does matter. It's illegal according to the Windows license agreement. We are not the kid down the street who doesn't know better. We are professionals and need to conduct ourselves as such.

 

[maclaptech]

It does matter. It's illegal according to the Windows license agreement. We are not the kid down the street who doesn't know better. We are professionals and need to conduct ourselves as such.

If you want to go spend hundreds of dollars and charge your clients that much, it is totally up to you. Good luck.

 

[JRDtechnet]

Ya know even Microsoft puts out mixed signals about OEM vs retail. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/is-it-ok-to-use-oem-windows-on-your-own-pc-dont-ask-microsoft/1561

However, keep in mind that an Upgrade version is only a few bucks more then the OEM version, Windows 7 Ultimate System Builder is $179, Win 7 Ultimate Upgrade is $194. This is important because there are a few big differences.

1. You can't switch between 32-bit and 64-bit versions with OEM. If you bought and installed the 32bit version you can't change your mind and install 64bit. You can with the regular versions.
2. MS provides zero end user support with OEM version
3. Licenses can't be transferred to new PC with OEM. You can transfer with the retail versions.

 

[kats22]

I just cant believe an office setting is running VISTA on all machines? That is just nuts! I stayed with XP PRO until 7 came out and I am still rolling out 7 PRO to machines (200+).

Definitely do a CLEAN install of 7 with the FULL disc.

Adam

 

[Alan22]

If you want to go spend hundreds of dollars and charge your clients that much, it is totally up to you. Good luck.

Current Newegg pricing:

Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade: $110
Windows 7 Home Premium OEM: $100
Difference of $10

Windows 7 Professional Upgrade: $176
Windows 7 Professional OEM: $140
Difference of $36

Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade: $195
Windows 7 Ultimate OEM: $175
Difference of $20

So, if you want to go the OEM route where you shouldn't, well, "it is totally up to you. Good luck".

Oh, and a clean installation can be done with the upgrade media.

 

[maclaptech]

Current Newegg pricing:

Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade: $110
Windows 7 Home Premium OEM: $100
Difference of $10

Windows 7 Professional Upgrade: $176
Windows 7 Professional OEM: $140
Difference of $36

Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade: $195
Windows 7 Ultimate OEM: $175
Difference of $20

So, if you want to go the OEM route where you shouldn't, well, "it is totally up to you. Good luck".

Oh, and a clean installation can be done with the upgrade media.

Please get your story straight. There is no mention of retail prices in what you have posted above. Is there? You are talking about upgrades and OEM pricing not "retail". You want to deal with hassle of doing a clean install with upgrade version, that is your choice "good luck".

And for your information, if you do bother to read Microsoft System Builder License, this is what it says:

Authorized Distribution and Acceptance. To distribute the Software or Hardware in this Pack, you must be a System Builder
and accept this license. “System Builder” means an original equipment manufacturer, an assembler, a refurbisher, or a software
pre-installer that sells the Customer System(s) to a third party. You accept this license when you open this Pack. If you choose not
to accept this license, promptly return the unopened Pack to your distributor. You may only distribute unopened Packs within your
territory. For the territory in which you may distribute, see www.microsoft.com/oem/sblicense/territory.


Hmmmm, I know for a fact that all computer technicians are considered "assemblers". Yes, I have checked into this through my attorney. You want to hear another funny thing? All you have to do is to replace one $0.2 piece of wire in the computer and guess what? WOOT, you are now an equipment manufacturer and you just got around the licensing crap.

This is totally Microsoft's confusing licensing crap and they have shot themselves in the foot for years now. This is why they have changed their licensing terms over and over for OEM versions. Just go and look online.

If you are worried about being nice to Microsoft, why don't you look at what they do illegally. I used to work for Microsoft Xbox support team. How long has Microsoft been selling Xbox with a known heat dissipation flaw (3 red rings)? Did they stop selling their faulty hardware? NO... Did they know about it? YES... Does it sound legal selling faulty crap to people?

 

[Alan22]

IAMPC, I can see you're a true professional
Good luck to you.

 

[maclaptech]

IAMPC, I can see you're a true professional
Good luck to you.

After seeing all the corporate thievery and lies in the big corporation toward general public and their employees, I no longer care much about playing nice.. No more bending over for me....

I take care of my customers, offer them great support and pricing and that is all that matters to me...

Mr. Microsoft doesn't like me using their OEM software to upgrade their piece of *&($#@ VISTA operating system, then maybe they should have made a better operating system rather than making a piss poor OS just to make more money and rip off the end user... hemmmm????

Who is the professional now?

 

[vdub12]

It does matter. It's illegal according to the Windows license agreement. We are not the kid down the street who doesn't know better. We are professionals and need to conduct ourselves as such.

Since when does using an OEM copy of windows make you a pizza tech.

OEM licensing is perfectly OK to upgrade a system with. The kid down the street would use something he got off of bittorrent.

 

[4ycr]

Oh, and a clean installation can be done with the upgrade media.

I have done this myself a few times with no problems at all

 

[weezon]

I have done this myself a few times with no problems at all

There's no difference between an upgrade disk and a full version disk. I have both and do complete installs with both.

 

[Alan22]

OEM licensing is perfectly OK to upgrade a system with.

No, it's not. Windows OEM versions are intended for distribution with a new computer, not upgrading existing computers unless it can be considered a new computer, like if the motherboard is changed.

Alot of information is on the Microsoft OEM Partner Center and Licensing and Packaging for Windows 7

 

[Alan22]

There's no difference between an upgrade disk and a full version disk. I have both and do complete installs with both.

The difference is that with an upgrade disc a bit more work needs to be done to activate Windows if a clean install is performed without an existing Windows OS on the hard drive.

 

[Alan22]

Since when does using an OEM copy of windows make you a pizza tech.

When it's used outside the scope of it's intent, when the installer doesn't understand the licensing that goes along with it or the other options available to ensure proper Windows licensing. As computer professionals that install Windows operating systems we have an obligation to know these things.

It's all about making sure the client's system is properly licensed. That's important, isn't it?

 

[maclaptech]

When it's used outside the scope of it's intent, when the installer doesn't understand the licensing that goes along with it or the other options available to ensure proper Windows licensing. As computer professionals that install Windows operating systems we have an obligation to know these things.

It's all about making sure the client's system is properly licensed. That's important, isn't it?

You can say whatever you want. OEM used by computer technician is completely fine. We fall under the licensing terms. You just want to prove a mute point and as I told you this before, you do what you think is right and we do what we think is right.

I want to see what happens when your client wants to reinstall his OS for any reason (and you used upgrade CD) and he has no clue how to do it himself and you are not around.