|
|
|
|
Windows Secrets Newsletter • Issue 105 • 2007-04-26 • Circulation: over 270,000
|
|
Contents INTRODUCTION: Where in the world is Fred Langa? TOP STORY: Save money with OEM software KNOWN ISSUES: More on getting educational discounts WACKY WEB WEEK: The great musical keyboard prank WOODY'S WINDOWS: Vista Timesaver #6 — how to preview promptly PC TUNE-UP: With Internet safety, be prepared, not paranoid PERIMETER SCAN: Don't ignore QuickTime zero-day threat YOUR SUBSCRIPTION: How to change your address or unsubscribe |
|
For links to every subtopic in this issue, scroll down to the
Index |
|
ADS
|
|
INTRODUCTION Where in the world is Fred Langa?
That roaring sound is Fred on his bike 
As I reported
last issue, Fred (at left) will be spending the
summer riding his cherished motorcycle from his home in New Hampshire
to the West Coast and then back via the Trans-Canada Highway. Out
of all the entrants in his Housecall contest, he'll choose at least four
readers to visit so he can personally optimize their PCs.Fred says it's the first time in 30 years of computer journalism that he hasn't been facing a deadline. I hope you'll agree that the editor of everything from Byte Magazine to Windows Secrets deserves to rest up after all the good information he's brought us over the years. (The contest closed on Apr. 25, and we'll name the winners in our June 7 newsletter.) Fred has promised to tell us what his Housecalls have taught him in a series of occasional columns that will start this September. I'm looking forward to them, and I hope you are, too. We're planning new content for you As mere mortals, we can only stand in Fred's shoes, not fill them. But the rest of us here at Windows Secrets are striving to bring you even more great information while Fred is riding in the wind. Associate editor Scott Dunn will write the top story for us in newsletters to come, where Fred's column would ordinarily appear. In today's issue, for example, Scott reveals the secrets of buying the OEM and nonprofit versions of software at far lower cost than Microsoft's "upgrade" versions. We're also introducing in the free version of the newsletter a new column called Known Issues. We'll use this feature to answer questions you've sent in, just as Fred has done in his columns for years. This week in Known Issues, Scott reports on the comments we received after we published his Apr. 12 analysis of who can get "educational discounts" for Windows software. (Even kindergartners and parents of kindergartners, it turns out.) Contributing editor Mark Edwards is also starting a new column entitled PC Tune-Up in the paid version of the newsletter. In this space, he'll continue writing up readers' tips, as he's done since December in our former LangaList Plus section. But Mark is planning on covering his own, new topics, too. Recipients of the paid version of the newsletter are in for some juicy revelations, I'd say. How to upgrade Stay with us as we forge into new areas in the weeks to come. Thanks for your support. Brian Livingston is editorial director of WindowsSecrets.com and the co-author of Windows Vista Secrets and 10 other books. |
|
TOP STORY Save money using OEM software
Who can buy OEM software? In theory, software sold at OEM discounts is intended for the makers of computers to install on their systems before selling the systems to the public. In practice, however, anyone can purchase OEM software. But because of its purpose, the package usually assumes a level of expertise higher than the average software buyer, omitting, for example, instructional manuals and technical support options. I'll tell you more about that later. One advantage of OEM products over academically discounted software is that more programs are available in OEM versions. For example, if you’re shopping for a copy of Windows Vista, only the Home Premium Upgrade version is available for academic discounts. But, you can get OEM discounts on nearly every edition of Vista that Microsoft makes. (Note that OEM discounts of upgrade versions are rare, since OEM products are typically intended for new computers.) In addition, educational discounts are usually limited to a single copy. But you can buy many copies of OEM-discounted products, some of which come in multi-packs that let you save a few dollars more. Big savings in the U.S. and U.K. OEM versions of Windows offer substantial savings over the equivalent retail versions. My survey of prices of several online stores in the U.S. showed savings up to 47 percent. (Amounts are averages.)
My survey of online stores in the U.S. showed OEM prices even beat out those of upgrade versions by more than 20%. (Amounts are averages.)
Of course, nobody actually pays an "average" price. To get you started, here are the lowest prices I found as of April 24, 2007 (with links to the online sources I found):
OEM software isn't without risks and limitations Products intended to be pre-installed on machines for other customers omit some of the goodies normally included with full versions and have some licensing restrictions as well. For example, OEM software lacks the usual packaging and instructional manuals. But since third-party books on Windows abound, this shouldn't be seen as a hurdle. In addition, OEM software usually doesn't offer any free options for technical support from the software publisher. If you have a problem, you may be able to use paid support or consult one of the many third-party technical support Web sites. Some, such as Experts Exchange, will cost you ($13 a month, or $100 a year). But several of these are free, including the following examples: • Google Groups • Suggest a Fix • Tech Support Forum • Tech Support Guy OEM versions of Windows cannot be used to upgrade an existing system. The only option available is a clean install, which, according to one dealer (Tiger Direct), will delete your existing data. For a trouble-free experience, most PC gurus recommend a clean install of new instances of Windows anyway. So the lack of an upgrade option is not necessarily a problem. The OEM discount also comes with some extra licensing restrictions. In particular, you're limited to installing the product to a single machine — the license cannot be transferred to another machine. Although it's normal for Windows to be limited to a single machine at a time, the EULA for retail versions usually permits Windows to be removed from one computer and transferred to another. (See section 14 of this typical Microsoft EULA for XP.) In many cases, OEM software also comes with a no-refund, no-return policy, even if the package has not been opened. So, make sure you specify the right product at the time you place your order. Still more ways to save big OEM and academic discounts are not the only way to trim your software budget. For example, cheaper even than an OEM version is a "work at home" package of Windows XP Pro SP2 available in the U.S. for $105 from Von1. According to Christina Philpot, manager of operations at Von1, the lower price represents a promotion to home and student users — the product is not to be used for businesses. Reader Chris Miller points out that Microsoft offers a similar deal for Office Home and Student 2007, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Like the "work at home" XP product, Office Home and Student is for noncommercial home (not business) use. Despite the name, you do not need to have a student in your home to buy this product, according to a Microsoft FAQ. (See question 13.) Microsoft's suggested retail price in the U.S. is $149. Last, and most certainly least expensive, here's a tip from reader Linda Jones. She points out that TechSoup, which coordinates donation programs by software vendors, lets qualified nonprofit organizations purchase software for a substantial discount. For example, U.S. libraries, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, Canadian charitable organizations, and Canadian nonprofits can purchase Windows XP Professional Upgrade with Service Pack 2 for as little as $8. That's hard to beat. Scott Dunn is associate editor of the Windows Secrets Newsletter. He is also a contributing editor of PC World Magazine, where he has written a monthly column since 1992, and co-author of 101 Windows Tips & Tricks (Peachpit) with Jesse Berst and Charles Bermant. |
|
KNOWN ISSUES More on getting your educational discount
Academic pricing outside the U.S. Reader Jim Irving writes:
• Windows XP Professional Upgrade: £57.07 with VAT — compared to £151.58 without academic pricing. (Prices from GenStar U.K..) • Windows Vista Home Premium Upgrade: £53.33 with VAT — compared to £130.77 without academic pricing. (Prices from Pyramid Distribution Ltd.) Other sites that sell the academic upgrade version of Vista Home Premium in the U.K. include Microwarehouse U.K. and Ebuyer.com. Curiously, none of these sites mention requiring any academic qualifications (although I didn't actually complete a purchase, so some such requirement may arise at the end of the process). Thanks to reader Terry Bernstein for helping us locate these resellers. Other issues with educational discounts Naturally, you don't need to rely on online stores exclusively for academically discounted software. As reader Jim Phelps points out, many school bookstores sell these products at even better prices. Reader David Dows, however, highlights a potential drawback of educational pricing:
Finally, a reader named Neal has this complaint:
|
|
WACKY WEB WEEK The great musical keyboard prank
|
|
YOUR SUBSCRIPTION The Windows Secrets Newsletter is published weekly on the 1st through 4th Thursdays of each month, plus occasional news updates. Vacation breaks occur in late August, Thanksgiving Week, and Christmas/New Year's. Publisher: WindowsSecrets.com LLC, 300 Queen Anne Ave. N. #456, Seattle, WA 98109 USA. Vendors, please send no unsolicited packages to this address (readers' letters are fine). Editorial Director: Brian Livingston. Editor-at-Large: Fred Langa. Associate Editor: Scott Dunn. Contributing Editors: Susan Bradley, Mark Edwards, Woody Leonhard, Chris Mosby, Ryan Russell. Research Director: Vickie Stevens. Program Director: Brent Scheffler. Managing Editor: Jody Braverman. Trademarks: Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. The Windows Secrets series of books is published by Wiley Publishing Inc. The Windows Secrets Newsletter, WindowsSecrets.com, LangaList, LangaList Plus, WinFind, Security Baseline, Patch Watch, Perimeter Scan, Wacky Web Week, the Logo Design (W, S or road, and Star), and the slogan Everything Microsoft Forgot to Mention all are trademarks and service marks of WindowsSecrets.com LLC. All other marks are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: Anyone may subscribe to this newsletter by visiting our free signup page. WE GUARANTEE YOUR PRIVACY: 1. We will never sell, rent, or give away your address to any outside party, ever. 2. We will never send you any unrequested e-mail, besides newsletter updates. 3. All unsubscribe requests are honored immediately, period. Privacy policy HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE: To unsubscribe from the Windows Secrets Newsletter,
|
