There hasn't exactly been a shortage of Windows 7 promotional offers, but if you missed the initial pre-order discount or the current student offer, you might be in luck with an OEM copy of Microsoft's upcoming operating system.
US retailer Newegg.com has listed multiple versions of Windows 7 OEM, highlighting savings of over 50 per cent. At present, a full copy of Windows 7 Home Premium OEM can be purchased for $99.99 - that's roughly half the full retail price of $199.99.
Similarly, a full version of Windows 7 Professional OEM can be had for $134.99 - a huge saving compared to the $299.99 asking price of the full retail equivalent. Last but not least, Windows 7 Ultimate OEM is priced at $174.99, compared to $319.99 for the full retail release.
We've yet to see any UK listings for OEM copies of Windows 7, but US savings of over 50 per cent suggest that significant discounts could be available.
Wondering what OEM software is? Put simply, it's a piece of software sold to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for installation on self-built systems. With previous Windows releases, OEM copies tend to have been sold alongside the purchase of additional hardware - but Newegg.com currently lists no such requirements.
Users can purchase OEM software for self-built PC, but there are a few provisos to be aware of. The software won't come in Microsoft's usual retail package - you'll most likely receive little more than a sleeve containing a disc - and you'll also only be eligible for limited customer support. More importantly, OEM licensing allows for the software to be used only on a single machine.
