VOT: A+

[Technomage]

Stephen wrote:
> OEM has no support from Microsoft that's theDifference
>
> On 11/22/09, Trent Shipley <tshipley at deru.com> wrote:
>   
>> Right now the lab system has Vista on it.
>>
>>
>> What evil consequences will befall me if I get the OEM version of XP?
>> It is about $100 less than the generic XP shrink wrapped box.
>>
>>     
Sorry I wasn't able to get back and answer this sooner, been bust with 
local chores and finding employment.

Differences between retail windows and OEM:
1. retail gets you *some* support from MS (at a substantial fee for the 
phone calls)
2. OEM; if you purchase this and install yourself, you are your own tech 
support. MS will not help you
    unless you sign a service contract with them (this is prohibitively 
expensive for a single individual). Also
    MS will direct you to seek assistance from your OEM (if thats you, 
you are SOL).

as with either version, online updates are free of charge.