Windows 7: Buying American

Don't know if I am in the right spot but as the price of 7 is so expensive out here someone suggested that the US prices are at least half what we have to pay so does anyone know of some US outlets where I can get copies cheaper.

I have Googled to find some and gone down the OEM track only to be lost in interminable legal paper trails and am still not sure of what I can legally do with an OEM.

For those who are wondering I tidy up machines usually cleaning out the dust, replacing the thermal paste, replacing hard drives, CPU's, and RAM for friends and putting on 7 as the best alternative to what they have got. But as I see it an OEM cannot be used for that purpose.

Is it possible for me to buy the machine from them do it up and then resell it to them for just the cost of the parts??

cant you install 7 for them ,then have them purchase a license from microsoft direct to activate it. i believe you get 30 days to activate a 7 install .
Activate Windows 7 by Phone

Thanks Boobah one problem though mate the ones I do up are in the main for my work colleagues and their positions as enrolled nurses and assistant nurses means they don't have the means to lash out MS's outrageous prices or the cost of shop techies.

Which leaves me as a semi savvy trawling around to find the best deal I can or work around it somehow for them. It's really galling that some can get it through their workplace for a nominal fee while us "commoners'" as one "nice person" put it - have to pay the full up front cost.

Personally I think it would be magnanimous of MS to let individuals on low wages / pensions and the like get OS's for a reduced price. But knowing what greed does I can't see that happening - can you?

That aside it also annoys me that Mr.Gates can be very philanthropic with some things while the can't quite haves of this world have to go without.

Don't get me wrong because I can pay the full price albeit begrudgingly and get the OEM when I build - but not when I refurbish my friends machines for them.

If your nurse friends are studying they may well be able to buy the student version.

Software4Students here in the UK is offering Windows 7 upgrades at huge discounts.

You probably can get something similar in Australia.

No sea vixen they are in the main already trained and as you may be aware the pay for any grade of nursing staff below a registered nurse is pretty damn poor.

Frankly I don't know how some of them manage mortgages and every day living costs.

Oh well the hunt goes on

If they are after other software as well as Windows 7 for example Office 2010 and Windows 7 they might be better off getting a TECHNET STANDARD subscription.

I think you can do it legally just about as much as they can do it legally. All Microsoft really cares is that you only have 1 copy installed on one computer.

I understand that Windows licensing is expensive, and even more so in Australia. I guess the cost of it is going to be up to the consumer as to whether it's worth it or not. You say that you put 7 on as the best alternative to what they already own....but perhaps if they are unwilling to pay that cost they should stay with what they are already licensed for.

Yeah mate but the ones I do are for people who (I work with mostly) do not earn a great deal of money and I don't mind helping out with the odd hard drive or such but the OS is a major expense.

I'm talking about the lower paid nurses and cleaners who earn just above the poverty line so don't really have much choice.

But anyway if push comes to shove I'll get it for them and they can pay me off a bit at a time. I just can't see why MS can't allow a little leeway here, especially when the haves and have nots gap is getting wider and wider. But I suppose when one is earning a great deal of money - cash you gain - basic humanity you lose.

I see what you are getting at, but my point is that while cleaning up their computer...perhaps switching them over to Windows 7 just isn't necessary. Leave them on what they have.

Yes, Windows can get expensive. It's the reason that i opt to not run it on all of my computers. There are lots of free alternatives out there which are solid.

Sorry pp but I have bee in my bonnet over the wealth gap I wasn't having a go at you - just the system / world in general.

Perhaps I am a little too sensitive for my own good eh??

Yeah I have been testing out that Linux Mint on my little old XP and haven't really had the time to get into it properly yet.

Anyway I have resolved a Vista problem with a factory default - just got to load everything back on now

Now the other one an XP is a different kettle of fish