Popular online retailer Newegg divulged details today on the OEM pricing of Microsoft's upcoming Windows 7.
For those of you looking to grab an OEM license of the admirable new operating system, you will be happy to know that Windows 7 comes in at a slightly cheaper price than it's predecessor Vista. Newegg are offering the OEM Home Premium version of Windows 7 for only $99.99, where as the full version is currently retailing for $199.99. OEM versions of Windows 7 Professional are available for just $134.99, which is a massive $165 cheaper than the $299.99 retail version, and $5 cheaper than what Vista's Professional OEM version would have set you back. Finally Windows 7 Ultimate is priced at $174.99, making for a $145 saving over the retail version.
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) versions of software were traditionally offered by software makers, like Microsoft, as a cost-effective way for computer manufacturers to upgrade to the the latest version. However since the collective rise of online retailers, such as Newegg, it has become staggeringly straightforward for anybody, computer manufacture or not, to purchase OEM software.
So if your looking to get Windows 7 on the cheap and you're not a student, going the OEM route is definitely worth your consideration, but be sure to be wary of the restrictions in place, including not being able to upgrade at all, clean installs only folks!
Newegg is currently taking pre-orders.
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