The Frugal Windows
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So, you want to buy Windows Vista for your computer? Do you feel like shelling out hundreds of dollars for it? Of course you don’t. That’s why The Frugal Geek is here.
Windows Vista and Windows XP are widely available in many different forms out on the market. The retail version is being pushed on the market with no mention of the cheaper alternatives for those that build their own PCs and want to get a genuine copy of Windows. Luckily for us, there are much more inexpensive ways to get legal copies of the OS on our machines.
Let me start by saying that the popularity of P2P sharing communities such as BitTorrent are indeed the cheapest way to get a non-legal copy of the software, at a very extreme security cost. It has been found that the potential for pirated copies of Windows XP and Windows Vista in the P2P community being laced with malicious software designed to make your computer part of a bot net is there. It’s estimated that 100,000,000 systems in North America are part of bot nets and the owners of them don’t even know it. That’s the price you pay when you want to avoid the genuine advantage. This isn’t to say that I don’t agree with the idea of free information and software, but that is a discussion for a different blog.
Back to the task at hand, Windows on the cheap. Microsoft puts out retail versions of its operating system that is licensed to receive tech support from them. Retail versions of their OS allows end users to receive full support should anything go wrong with the software. This can be a very good thing, though it doubles the cost of the OS for a service that is rarely used.
Another version of the OS is called OEM. Many stores will label this version as being “for system builders.” The difference between this version and the retail version is a lack of support from Microsoft for the product. They will certainly give patches and updates, though the type of support OEM versions lack is phone support and general tech support should anything go wrong in the installation. OEM copies also cannot be transferred to other systems once installed. Here is a copy of Microsoft’s system builder license. For anyone that is looking for an inexpensive alternative to the retail version, this is the one for you.
To give an example of the price difference between the two versions, Windows Vista Ultimate Retail chimes in at a whopping $319.99 while the system builder version is available at a lower $189.99. I used Newegg.com for comparisons here because they happen to be my personal favorite online store for system components, though I am sure lower prices can probably be found elsewhere.
This is just one small tip for people that want to upgrade their existing Windows experience that have been stricken with sticker shock at the retail version sold at their local store. Online retailers are your best bet for buying computer equipment and software hands down. You can often find free shipping deals in addition to the amount you save on taxes if you find an out of state business.
If you have anything to add, bargains to share, or comments please leave them below.
Matt Ryan of MattRyan.TV
[tags]Windows, XP, Vista, Cheap, Low cost, Budget, Frugal, Geek, Matt Ryan[/tags]
7 Comments
Chuck
September 27th, 2007
at 9:49am
“It has been found that virtually every pirated copy of Windows XP and Windows Vista in the P2P community is laced with malicious software designed to make your computer part of a bot net.”
Really? Wow, where’d you get that little nugget of info from, Microsoft?
Matt Ryan
September 27th, 2007
at 10:32am
Thank you for bringing that to my attention. That is the result of writing late at night and not properly proofreading my document before sending it out. I edited it with your change, and thank you for the feedback.
I understand there are a lot of P2P users, and I am one of them. I’ve used my share of software from many different sources. I can tell you that I have come across strange network activity on initial install from pirated Windows that I have not found with OEM Windows prior to Third Party software installations. The intention of my articles are to promote legal tech for the budget geek, and though P2P may indeed be the easiest way to obtain software, it is also a dangerous way to obtain software. This is especially true for people that aren’t extremely tech savvy, which is the audience my articles on this blog are geared towards.
Again, the pirating discussion is one for a different blog. I have no intention of causing any legal trouble for myself, Lockergnome, or any of the members of the community.
Chuck
September 27th, 2007
at 11:11am
I agree completely with your comments on p2p and piracy. I will definitely tell any colleagues to look out for the weird network activity, thanks for the heads up!
By the way, love the column. (if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have bothered commenting)
Hans
September 27th, 2007
at 1:31pm
“Microsoft puts out retail versions of its operating system that is licensed to receive tech support from them. Retail versions of their OS allows end users to receive full support should anything go wrong with the software. This can be a very good thing, though it doubles the cost of the OS for a service that is rarely used.”
Support from Microsoft? Does it exist?
I had problems with installing Win XP (full boxed version - very expensive). I emailed Microsoft with the support email given in the box. I got an immediate automated email back telling me of Microsoft’s wish to help and an assurance that they would get back to me in 72 hours. They never did.
After waiting about a month (I guess I’m too patient), I wrote (yes, on paper) to Microsoft using the support address in the box. No answer.
After waiting another month or so, I wrote again, this time a register letter. A few days later I got my letter back - address no longer valid!
Of course, I am in Europe where Microsoft sells its products for nearly double the US price. Maybe in the US Microsoft does give support.
Will I buy Microsoft Vista? No way.
Pete
September 27th, 2007
at 8:21pm
Thanks Matt for this interesting article.
As for myself,I won’t bother to get Vista - too bloated for me
and most of the ënhancements I can get for XP.
As for Hans, I sympathise with him and the people in Europe,
This price is an unconscionable overcharge.
especially the UK.
Do you know that as of this moment XP Pro w SP2 is selling at
Amazon.uk for BP 234.00 ,which converts to a staggering almost US475.
No wonder there is piracy
I have no idea why the Brits put up with this garbage.
As to piracy - this is a peculiar thing.The supposed losses due to that
are highly inflated,since the people that use pirated copies had no intention to buy the licence since they could not afford it.
Besides,the software is not sold - a fact M$ emphatically states in their EULA, so you can’t steal something that isn’t sold,you can only borrow it
Anyway,just in case anyone wonders ,my copy of XP is legit - came with the machine
Matt Ryan
September 27th, 2007
at 8:39pm
Thanks for the comments. Please keep them coming.
You can also email me at matt@mattryan.tv if you have anything you’d like to discuss or add without necessarily leaving a comment.
Blackwolf
September 27th, 2007
at 8:44pm
One thing you can also do to save yourself some money, is buy the upgrade version of MS Windows Vista. The way the license reads, as I understand it, is that you can upgrade from any previous version of Windows, including Vista Trials. To do this, you just purchase the Upgrade Version of whatever version of Vista you want, (such as Ultimate or Business), install it (choose the same “trial” version that you plan to install as a full version), but don’t put in your CD Key, and install it as a “trial”. Once you have installed it as a “trail”, you can then just re-install the OS over itself as the full version. This can save you about half the price of buying the full version.
Blackwolf