asnbd Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Hi,I have received tons of email with an web addresses that link you to some "OEM DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE WEBSITE".I was surprices by how cheap the same software that can be.So my question is:1.Are OEM illegal? What's OEM?2.Same question to Retails.2.What does the word"activated" mean?3.What does the word"geneiune" mean?4.What does the word"registered" mean?they're just so confusing...would be appreciated if you could answer my questions.thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 OEM means "Original Equipment manufacturer" and refers to software provided with a computer or major component hardware. It is not illegal but is software provided by companies such as Microsoft coded for sale through hardware manufacturers.It is not supported by the software company (like Microsoft) and can be installed on just one computer. If you need technical support - this must be provided - if available - from the computer supplier rather than the software company. OEM software cannot be transferred to another computer - it is tied to specific hardware - so in theory it has strictly limited use.Retail software is supported by the software company and can usually be transferred from one computer to another.Some software needs to be "Activated" with the software company for it to be usable after a trial period. This is done normally over the internet but some companies allow it to be done via a telephone call. Software that requires activation cannot be used once the trial period is completed - it will automatically become "crippled" and unusable without an activation code.Genuine - means original software provided by the software company like Microsoft. Some dodgy sites sell copies of software which have been hacked to allow it to be installed. This is illegal and software companies take measures to prevent such piracy.Registered means that you register your details with the software supplier so that you qualify for software upgrades and are kept informed when future upgrades are available. You need to be very careful when buying what looks like cheap software - there are many internet based sites that sell pirate copies, which may or may not function but are unlikely to qualify for proper updates to maintain functionality. It is like most things in life - you get what you pay for and there are no free lunches. What appears to be a cheap bargain - is so often a rip off scam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 My advice would be to keep well way from offers such as you are consideringThere is an extremely good chance that the software is not what it claims to be - either pirated or just not the program as you wanted.Always remember: If it seems too good to be true then it most likely is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 I have received tons of email with […] web addresses that link you to some "OEM DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE WEBSITE".When you write "email", you probably mean spam. These websites do not sell OEM software, but pirated software. If you buy it, you will not be able to activate it, because it's not genuine software.All these websites are illegal, and mostly hosted in (mainland) China. What still amazes me about these is that they have the full cooperation of financial institutions such as Visa. Anti-spam organizations have for years tried to dissuade Visa from cooperating with these criminals, but it seems that the financial interest is too big for them...B.t.w. most spam sites will sell you illegal stuff, e.g. pharmaceuticals. You will more likely receive rat poison than real medicine if you order it.Also, providing credit card info to such illegal websites will get your credit card details sold to other illegal organizations.Be very careful when dealing with spammers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asnbd Posted January 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 OEM means "Original Equipment manufacturer" and refers to software provided with a computer or major component hardware. It is not illegal but is software provided by companies such as Microsoft coded for sale through hardware manufacturers.It is not supported by the software company (like Microsoft) and can be installed on just one computer. If you need technical support - this must be provided - if available - from the computer supplier rather than the software company. OEM software cannot be transferred to another computer - it is tied to specific hardware - so in theory it has strictly limited use.Retail software is supported by the software company and can usually be transferred from one computer to another.Some software needs to be "Activated" with the software company for it to be usable after a trial period. This is done normally over the internet but some companies allow it to be done via a telephone call. Software that requires activation cannot be used once the trial period is completed - it will automatically become "crippled" and unusable without an activation code.Genuine - means original software provided by the software company like Microsoft. Some dodgy sites sell copies of software which have been hacked to allow it to be installed. This is illegal and software companies take measures to prevent such piracy.Registered means that you register your details with the software supplier so that you qualify for software upgrades and are kept informed when future upgrades are available. You need to be very careful when buying what looks like cheap software - there are many internet based sites that sell pirate copies, which may or may not function but are unlikely to qualify for proper updates to maintain functionality. It is like most things in life - you get what you pay for and there are no free lunches. What appears to be a cheap bargain - is so often a rip off scam.hi,thanks.but i have another question...[removed]please check out the link above.i can't understand how a same copy of windows 7 can be this cheap at this site, and so expensive from microsoft...and one junk mail i got, said "they would never sale software that needs to be "activated". so what does he mean?"software do not need to be activated" are better?thanks again.ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 This company has no address on its website and a UK call centre phone number but offer software costed in dollars. They are all but anonymous.You are asking for trouble if you send them any money. They thrive on the gullible who are tempted by outlandishly cheap offers.If something is too good to be true - then it really is not worth risking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 "software do[es] not need to be activated" ...This statement is probably slightly wrong: read "software that cannot be activated".Please note that the website [removed] is located in Moscow, Russia and there is probably a reason for that. Russia, like China, does not have strong laws against software piracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 It is MUCH too early yet to be buying Windows 7 this far below recommended price. Last year I bought XP at about half price from a very reputable British site. Wait for a couple of years and use a British site if you don't want to pay the full price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 As asnbd seems to be posting from Taiwan, this seems a strange request for advice. The Far East is something of the heartland for pirate, or otherwise illegal, software so I am of the opinion that this thread is not quite all it makes itself out to be.If it is genuine, then I apologise for my comments but bear in mind the advice you have already been given. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 As asnbd seems to be posting from Taiwan, this seems a strange request for advice. The Far East is something of the heartland for pirate, or otherwise illegal, software so I am of the opinion that this thread is not quite all it makes itself out to be.If it is genuine, then I apologise for my comments but bear in mind the advice you have already been given.I thought this from the first post. There were questions being asked that seemed to me to be rather like window dressing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asnbd Posted January 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 dude,do you even know where tw is?anyway, it's still awkward to me that some same copy of software can be sold at such wide range of prices.thanks.ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Yes, I do know where tw is.Regarding your query, our answers are still the same - be very, very careful about taking advantage of these too-good-to-be-true offers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 anyway, it's still awkward to me that some same copy of software can be sold at such wide range of prices.The word "same" is really the essential part of the whole subject; genuine software and pirated software is very much not the same!P.S. I have removed the links to the spam site, as we do not want to advertize such sites in this forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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