OEM version of Microsft Products

Well it used to be that OEM software was only supposed to be supplied by a computer manufacturer, or you bought it with hardware to build a system.
In fact back when Macromedia was a separate company (before being part of Adobe), their site specifically spelled out that you were not allowed to resell OEM versions of their software...

Well we needed to make a computer "legit" so we bought a full retail boxed copy of Office XP standard. It arrived, it was Office XP Pro with Publisher, but OEM version. I had mixed feelings, as 1, got better version for same price, but 2. they didn't let me know, and I thought OEM could not be bought to install on an existing system (this was for work, and I insist all software be 100% legit and licensed).

I call the company, and get told that Microsoft changed their stance on OEM and it is legal to resell OEM versions that have not been activated (which is what they do). Ok, I'm doubtfull, so I actually called Microsoft, and was confirmed that AT LEAST FOR MICROSOFT OFFICE, you can legally buy OEM without buying a system or parts to build a system. When you do this, they concider you to now be the system builder and you are on your own with not tech support from MS (hey, what would i need that with a 3 version old copy

Now, here is the flip site, Starting with Office 2007, when you purhase an OEM license for Office, that is ALL you are purchasing. Called three companies, each of them confirmed that the OEM they sell does not come with the CD starting with v2007....

So just some updated info for those who thought like me, that OEM was only for coming with a system or purchased with parts to build a system.

So if you are wanting a legal copy of Office Professional (with Publisher), and don't care that it is XP (which is before 2007 and 2003), you can get it for under $190. (go to www.pricescan.com, search for Office XP STANDARD, and follow the link to the store Software Media. (you save like $60 by following the link from pricescan instead of jsut going to their site directly). When I called yesterday, they said they didn't expect to get the standard copy soon, which is why they are substituting PRO.

Heck, when i built my system a year ago, i paid $360 for OEM copy of Office 2003 Pro! Compare against buying a full retail copy, and other than Vista support, the Office XP version is plenty good.

(that being said, for most people, Open Office is plenty good too

-Greg