On Wed, 2017-06-28 at 22:18 +0930, Tim wrote: > My understanding was that only an Original Equipment Manufacturer can > sell/supply those OEM versions of the OS, and only to go with a > particular PC (one of those "not to be sold separately" conditions). > With only a retail package being something that could be sold as > standalone.
That is the official line. But NewEgg will openly sell it so I doubt Microsoft doesn't know and at least quietly approve of the practice. After all, they sell motherboards, cases, etc. People building up their own computer ain't going to pay full boxed set retail price for Windows and NewEgg would like to be the one who sells them their copy of Windows. Everybody knows these facts so Microsoft doesn't say anything. They don't even force them to only sell a copy on the same ticket with a motherboard. Microsoft knows their model is busted. That is why they are still letting everyone with Win7/8 to upgrade to Win10 for free. That is why they basically gave away Windows for free on netbooks until they could quietly kill the whole product category. The fake copy I bought forced phone activation but that was just some friction in the gears to discourage it, they still want to get the activation. They know their only hope is moving Windows to an Android model where they give away the OS and rake off thirty thick and juicy points from all content sales in the Store. For work we bought a few from them to run our accounting VMs on. Just system builder Windows packs, nothing else on the invoice; no problem. Not playing with eBay stuff when a BSA audit is possible. I just wasn't willing to personally pay as much for a Windows license as the machine it was going onto was probably worth. So I rolled the dice and for now it counts as a win.
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