Cheap Windows?

O

oronte

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After trying (and loving) Ubuntu for the last 3 months, there's only one thing Linux can't do - gaming. I've tried Wine, but it's only given me headaches and no success on any of my games. So I've decided to partially rejoin the dark side. What's the cheapest (legal) option for getting Windows XP or Vista? The best I've found is buying the DSP version with some new hardware at take2 for R800, anyone have any better ideas. I'll really only ever be using it to play games.
 
exactly why Linux will never be amongst the big guys
either you have Linux on your pc or Windows or Vista
dual booting is BS
 
oronte said:
After trying (and loving) Ubuntu for the last 3 months, there's only one thing Linux can't do - gaming. I've tried Wine, but it's only given me headaches and no success on any of my games. So I've decided to partially rejoin the dark side. What's the cheapest (legal) option for getting Windows XP or Vista? The best I've found is buying the DSP version with some new hardware at take2 for R800, anyone have any better ideas. I'll really only ever be using it to play games.
Click to expand...

all my machines are dual booted....

XP Home/XP Pro and/or Ubuntu/Kubuntu/OpenSUSE

and they all work fine!

The cheapest Windows is the XP Home DSP Version.

Matrix has them for about R950 (and no you don't need to buy any hardware).
 
Garyvdh said:
all my machines are dual booted....

XP Home/XP Pro and/or Ubuntu/Kubuntu/OpenSUSE

and they all work fine!

The cheapest Windows is the XP Home DSP Version.

Matrix has them for about R950 (and no you don't need to buy any hardware).
Click to expand...

Can you please explain how the DSP thing works. As I understand it, the copy is tied to the component I buy it with? Or does it get tied to the motherboard when I install it? I'd like to be able to upgrade in the future but I'm really confused as to how it works.
 
Saule said:
:confused: Lots of people are running dual boot systems, myself included.
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dual booting is fine ;)
its the linux fanboys that p15535 me off:mad:
"I only use linux, windows crashes all the time" BS that i hate, BUT " i dual boot to play games" WTF!
if you are such a BIG linux user you should have no other os on your system not even in a VM
 
oronte said:
Can you please explain how the DSP thing works. As I understand it, the copy is tied to the component I buy it with? Or does it get tied to the motherboard when I install it? I'd like to be able to upgrade in the future but I'm really confused as to how it works.
Click to expand...

As far as I can tell the product doesn't get tied to your hardware, but cannot be actived a second time, unless you contact Microsoft.

I believe it has more to do with Microsoft Licensing (ie pricing ), all the versions are pretty much the same once installed.

What it all boils down to is that if you want to re-activate a DSP/OEM/AE product with different hardware you may need to phone Microsoft and tell them your original hardware failed (If you can live with telling a small little fib ;))

Basically, Microsoft products are most commonly classified into four groups:
1) OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer
According to the license agreement an OEM license may only be sold with a "qualifying hardware product" which basically means that the suppliers can decide which products they want to provide with OEM licenses. It's basically a tool to help promote brands and provide discounts to clients who make use of these brands. An example would be buying a new branded PC (HP, Mecer, Acer, whatever) and getting the OS a bit cheaper.

2) DSP - Delivery Service Partner
This category is slightly more expensive than the OEM version and basically targets clients who don't necesarilly want to purchase brand name equipment, but rather assemble PCs from components.

(Both DSP and OEM are intended to be non transferable, typically requiring you to phone Microsoft with a valid reason (Hardware failure most commonly) if you wish to re-activate the OS on a different machine)

3) AE - Academic Edition
Discounted versions of Microsoft products aimed at students and acedemics, where the business components of the software are typically removed (Example: Outlook removed from Office AE), and users allowed to install and activate the product on multiple machines (typically 3)

4) Retail
Targeted at the end user, usually ALOT more expensive than DSP/OEM. I heard once that they allow you to activate the product on a different machine, as long as you remove the product from the original machine, but don't quote me on that.

I have found that most suppliers in SA are not all that strict on the licencing issues and will pretty much sell you whatever license you request. Might bite you in the but if the BSA ever came round, which is not all that likely with home users, unless you REALLY give them a reason.
 
Garyvdh said:
all my machines are dual booted....

XP Home/XP Pro and/or Ubuntu/Kubuntu/OpenSUSE

and they all work fine!

The cheapest Windows is the XP Home DSP Version.

Matrix has them for about R950 (and no you don't need to buy any hardware).
Click to expand...

XP home may be one of the cheaper versions, but just note that Home is not the same product as Professional. It's basically a watered down version of Professional with many of the features (especially networking components) either removed or not functioning very well. It has improved a bit with the service packs though.

Technically OEM XP Starter Edition would be the cheapest, if you want half an OS :p
 
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quik said:
As far as I can tell the product doesn't get tied to your hardware, but cannot be actived a second time, unless you contact Microsoft.

I believe it has more to do with Microsoft Licensing (ie pricing ), all the versions are pretty much the same once installed.

What it all boils down to is that if you want to re-activate a DSP/OEM/AE product with different hardware you may need to phone Microsoft and tell them your original hardware failed (If you can live with telling a small little fib ;))

Basically, Microsoft products are most commonly classified into four groups:
1) OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer
According to the license agreement an OEM license may only be sold with a "qualifying hardware product" which basically means that the suppliers can decide which products they want to provide with OEM licenses. It's basically a tool to help promote brands and provide discounts to clients who make use of these brands. An example would be buying a new branded PC (HP, Mecer, Acer, whatever) and getting the OS a bit cheaper.

2) DSP - Delivery Service Partner
This category is slightly more expensive than the OEM version and basically targets clients who don't necesarilly want to purchase brand name equipment, but rather assemble PCs from components.

(Both DSP and OEM are intended to be non transferable, typically requiring you to phone Microsoft with a valid reason (Hardware failure most commonly) if you wish to re-activate the OS on a different machine)

3) AE - Academic Edition
Discounted versions of Microsoft products aimed at students and acedemics, where the business components of the software are typically removed (Example: Outlook removed from Office AE), and users allowed to install and activate the product on multiple machines (typically 3)

4) Retail
Targeted at the end user, usually ALOT more expensive than DSP/OEM. I heard once that they allow you to activate the product on a different machine, as long as you remove the product from the original machine, but don't quote me on that.

I have found that most suppliers in SA are not all that strict on the licencing issues and will pretty much sell you whatever license you request. Might bite you in the but if the BSA ever came round, which is not all that likely with home users, unless you REALLY give them a reason.
Click to expand...

Thanks, now I mostly understand, but what requires a reactivation? If I upgrade the processor or the motherboard (or both)? What about if I get rid of my old Hard drive and want to replace it, will that require a reactivation?
 
If you can still find it! Don't know if you're into Vista - but Vista Home Starter is R399. R299 if you buy it with a PC/laptop.

Or check out the forums - someone was seling Win2K for R150?

quik said:
Technically OEM XP Starter Edition would be the cheapest, if you want half an OS :p
Click to expand...
 
Gru said:
http://www.cedega.com/start/
Click to expand...

Had a look at them. They're not really better than Wine, there are no games that I have or would buy that Cedega does that Wine doesn't (actually fewer games that I want to play on Cedega). Also I don't want to have to pay a monthly fee to play games I've already paid for. But I appreciate the response.
 
chris2.0 said:
If you can still find it! Don't know if you're into Vista - but Vista Home Starter is R399. R299 if you buy it with a PC/laptop.

Or check out the forums - someone was seling Win2K for R150?
Click to expand...

I could be wrong, but Starter edition limits the hardware you can use, I have a dual core so I don't think I would qualify. Also I'm using it for gaming so I want to take advantage of all my RAM, processor, etc.

I have the OEM disc for XP (Sahara) from my other system (that I don't use anymore, which I'll switch to Linux when I have the time). Would I be able to use that on my new PC?
 
There is very little difference between XP Home and XP Professional that the average home user would notice. It is certainly NOT a "watered down" version. The only differences are in network options and configuration. I have been using XP home for years, even in an office environment and the only "limitation" that I have ever run into is the maximum number of home users on the same workgroup (5).

DSP versions are "tied" to a certain motherboard and PC in that if you try to activate it on a different machine it will refuse to activate. Microsoft does give you an "out" though by asking you "is this the same machine?" and if you answer yes, it will activate. I have no problem with answering yes to that question when I am only using the operating system on one computer. I paid for it. I will use it on whichever single computer or hardware I want.
 
You're not wrong - Vista Starter does not like new(ish) dual cores, mostly limited to celerons and laptop chips. Also nogo on more than 1GB ram and more than 250GB hdd...
oronte said:
I could be wrong, but Starter edition limits the hardware you can use, I have a dual core so I don't think I would qualify. Also I'm using it for gaming so I want to take advantage of all my RAM, processor, etc.

I have the OEM disc for XP (Sahara) from my other system (that I don't use anymore, which I'll switch to Linux when I have the time). Would I be able to use that on my new PC?
Click to expand...
You would be able to, but M$'s policies would forbid it...
 
wcoetzee said:
exactly why Linux will never be amongst the big guys
either you have Linux on your pc or Windows or Vista
dual booting is BS
Click to expand...

I dual boot... with Ubuntu and Suse.... :D
I don't have a single thingy from M$ on my computer. Really proud to say so. I just decided to %%%% Windows and format my Vista partition and to try Suse on it [again].
 
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DSP versions are "tied" to a certain motherboard and PC in that if you try to activate it on a different machine it will refuse to activate. Microsoft does give you an "out" though by asking you "is this the same machine?" and if you answer yes, it will activate. I have no problem with answering yes to that question when I am only using the operating system on one computer. I paid for it. I will use it on whichever single computer or hardware I want.
Click to expand...

This is true, within 6 months of activation. Had no problem re-activating a given copy of Windows on a customer's repaired PC after I replaced almost all the compoments inside. I didn't have to phone Microsoft.
 
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