harddisk- OEM or Retail

[lankor]

I am thinking of buying a Western Digital special edition harddisk-120gig
the prices between retail and OEM varies about 50 pounds
are there any difference between OEM and Retail?

cheers

 

[WilsonTung]

OEM and retail are no different except for packaging and a few minor things.

Retail boxes often have software that can help you transition your old disk to your new disk. OEM is just a plain brown box with the item.

As long as the warranty is the same, I would go with OEM.

 

[brianp34]

<< As long as the warranty is the same, I would go with OEM >>



yup...there's really no difference if you don't need the purdy box and an ide cable.

brian

 

[Mavrick007]

Pretty much any component(except components which specify a difference) have the same warranty with OEM as retail.
Save yourself some shillings and go OEM 🙂

 

[kgraeme]

Just to be non-conformist, I prefer retail. Particularly from brick and mortar stores.

I like getting the cables and screws and sometimes mounting rails. I like getting the diagnostics tools disk. I like getting the jumper settings on a printed sheet. And I really like being able to walk it back to Best Buy or wherever if I decide it's too loud or something.

 

[LanEvoVI]

For a hard drive I usually just go OEM...saves u a nice amount of money.

 

[goog]

Another vote for OEM, just make sure to verify the warranty.
Cables are cheap and come with motherboards, and the rails and screws come with cases.
The utilities are available for download for free.

 

[HalfCrazy]

<< Another vote for OEM, just make sure to verify the warranty.
Cables are cheap and come with motherboards, and the rails and screws come with cases.
The utilities are available for download for free. >>



I think I'm going to agree with him. If the warranty is the same thing just get the OEM hdd. Why pay more for the utilities and IDE cable. When you can download the software for free and if you are like me you all ready got ton of IDE cable's as it is. 😀

 

[Challenger]

<< I like getting the jumper settings on a printed sheet. And I really like being able to walk it back to Best Buy or wherever if I decide it's too loud or something. >>




Me too.Had one bad drive and it took me an hour to take it back and get the new one up and running.In your case fifty pounds make OEM sound like a much better choice😉

 

[ST4RCUTTER]

I like getting the jumper settings on a printed sheet.


Simple fix. Go to the website and print it.

 

[aka1nas]

OEM is fine as long as it is a reputable source and you can return it hassle-free if you have any problems. I wouldn't trust a lot of places with OEM drives, like Fry's for example. Also double check their warranty and make sure yuo can RMA the drive if neccessary later on.

 

[kgraeme]

<< Simple fix. Go to the website and print it. >>



Simple, unless your computer is in pieces waiting for the new drive. 😉

 

[bozo1]

Almost all current drives have a jumper setting diagram on the drive itself.

 

[Comp625]

Although I've never bought an OEM hard disk myself, I would say either Retail or OEM would be fine. Just beware, buy an OEM hard drive only from a reputable dealer (ex: Newegg) and make sure the OEM drive has a good warrenty (makes RMAing less of a headache just incase something goes wrong).

 

[ST4RCUTTER]

Simple, unless your computer is in pieces waiting for the new drive.

What? You only have one computer? You must be at the wrong website. 😉

 

[billyjak]

I bought mine OEM and it purrs like a kitten, save your money go OEM

 

[Kingofcomputer]

those with same 3 warranty as retail is bulk/bare drive, is different from oem drive.