OS for new rig

[drifter106]

I getting things ready for a new rig and found there to be a price variance at newegg (and other vendors) on the xp professional. What is to be gained by purcahasing the system at a higher cost. Its about $200 retail vs $150 EOM.

The only thing I know about EOM is that you can buy products at this price if your putting together a system

I know this is a very elementary question but the only way I can find out is by asking... I'd call a vendor if i could but haven't been able to get a phone #.

thanks

 

[mechBgon]

Functionally, the retail-boxed full version can do upgrades from certain other versions of Windows, while the OEM full version can only do straight clean installations. Note that there are also Upgrade versions that would require a qualifying other OS in order to install.

Also, with the retail-boxed version you are entitled to support from Microsoft themselves, and I don't believe your OS license has to be transferred with the hardware either.

Last I looked, OEM was about $145 while full-version retail was $300-ish. MWave.com and ZipZoomFly.com both had XP Pro for less when I was looking, if either of them have a piece of hardware you would need anyway. ZZF has quite a few items with free FedEx 2nd-Day so that could be worth a closer look.

 

[Klixxer]

Slackware Linux with Dropline Gnome for desktop use.