Software Sold at Computer Shows?

Jake_Barnes · Aug 31, 2003

About every 3-4 months, a major computer show (<A HREF="http://www.marketproshows.com" target="_new">http://www.marketproshows.com</A>) comes by. I went to one to look at hardware prices (major brand prices), but noticed OEM type copies of software available for attractive prices: XP Pro, Norton/McAfee, Power Quest partioning/imaging progms, etc. Has anyone had any experience buying bargin copies from these shows? All vendors claim they are legit, but you'll never know untill you try to load it and/or register it.

Any advice, or experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I did NOT have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky ... - Bill "Cigar Man" Clinton

Jake_Barnes · Sep 2, 2003

Got a show coming up next week-end (bump) - would appreciate some opinions on comp show software.

I did NOT have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky ... - Bill "Cigar Man" Clinton

jmecor · Sep 2, 2003

i've seen computer shopping shows, but they're in Japanese
CANT' UNDERSTAND.


"Remain at stock speed" - The Overclocker.

jmecor · Sep 2, 2003

and the price is yen, looks super expensive, unless converted


"Remain at stock speed" - The Overclocker.

Jake_Barnes · Sep 2, 2003

These are like "gun shows" - a bunch of out of town, mass vendors selling everything - at a convention center/state fair grounds type of sale. Most of the "goods" appear to be OEM quality - but often without manuals and other docs - but at some good prices. New and some used - like a big flea market. Many of these vendors only sell at these week-end events: Sat & Sun - 9am-5pm.

I did NOT have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky ... - Bill "Cigar Man" Clinton

sparky853 · Sep 2, 2003

there is only one way to find out if they are any good...mind you, if the vendor says thay are legit, hes not telling the truth in the first place, as OEM software is not to be sold, only distributed with new PCs.

As for registering, who knows how many times the software has been used and registered? Most OEMs have a single copy of software and use it for all systems they build.

If I was as sexy as I was smart.....I'd still be ugly..DAMN

Jake_Barnes · Sep 2, 2003

Then how does Newegg sell thousands of XP OEM disks?

I did NOT have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky ... - Bill "Cigar Man" Clinton

sirantony · Sep 2, 2003

I think your pretty safe buying software at a computer show. I have had problems with hardware I got at the computer shows though. I stopped going to them. I think alot of the OEM stuff they get is questionable. Maybe stuff the manufacturer wouldn't sell otherwise. Maybe I had bad luck. I learned to buy major name brand stuff from reliable retailers. If you have a problem with somthing from the show you pretty much have to wait until the show comes back around. There are small computer buisiness owners who go to these shows and buy all thier parts to build PC's. Scary.

goblinking · Sep 3, 2003

Microsoft's current OEM licensing agreement is you have to sell Windows with one of the following (and this is a weird list):
Motherboard
CPU
Hard drive
Case *with* PSU

We can't sell OEM Office or server apps without a prebuilt PC... which is crazy... people buy every component of a £3000 machine from us, and we're not allowed to sell them Office XP cos we didn't build it...

I figure MS's oem license thing encourages piracy, plenty of my customers have told me they're gonna pirate when I've been unable to sell them Windows or Office... but they wouldn't be the richest company in history if they didn't know what they're doing, I guess...

Jake_Barnes · Sep 7, 2003

Sorry for the bump - was hoping Toey or someone software savey would weigh in on this comp. show software question.

I did NOT have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky ... - Bill "Cigar Man" Clinton

jmecor · Sep 8, 2003

Toejam? wherever you are?

Toejam31 · Sep 8, 2003

In my experience, the majority of software sold at these shows is either counterfeit, a burned copy by an end-user, or an OEM distribution that won't be supported by the manufacturer's warranty. And that means no technical support, or even finding yourself on a blacklist if the stolen software is detected on your computer during the registration process, even if you claim to have bought the software legitimately. With your name on the blacklist, you won't ever be able to purchase software from that company, under that name, from that point on.

The low price, odd packaging, and the lack of a real 3DCD edge-to-edge holographic image on operating system and Office CD's is a dead give-away that the software is copied. There is also the possibility that some of this software could be damaged during the copying process, and/or contain a virus.

Here's a link showing a typical shopping experience:

<A HREF="http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,8566,pg,10,00.asp" target="_new">Stolen Software: It's Everywhere You Shop</A>

If you do buy the software, don't expect the vendor to honor your request to return it and get your money back if something goes wrong. He'll probably laugh in your face. I've never heard of a licensed distributor setting up shop at a computer show. It could happen, I suppose, but it's unlikely. No one does it in my area.

Toey

<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?act=ST&f=41&t=328&s=91c282f2e5207e99b7a652ee13b3512a" target="_new">My System Rigs</A>
___________________________________________

<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/" target="_new">BTVILLARIN.com</A> - Your Computer Questions Answered

siranthony · Sep 9, 2003

Hmm. The computer shows I have been to here in Sacramento are usually very crowded with alot of vendors. I remember one guy was selling nothing but porn. I was talking to this guy and he was saying how he gets harrased alot by the authorities for selling porn at the shows. I never saw the guy again at future shows. I find it hard to believe that these computer shows are getting away with selling all this pirated software. Ya the OEM stuff being sold seperatly is technically illegal. But it is not pirated. And how is Microsoft going to know that your computer didn't come with it unless you tell them. How much money do they need anyway? They got paid for the software. As far as this black list. I find that hard to believe also. What good is it going to do Microdoft to ban a customer who might not even know he got pirated or OEM software? I can see a blcklist for the vendors selling it or certain hackers who break the code and distribute it. If the black list worked we wouldn't need all this copy protection hastle we all go through. Do you work for a software company? Just want to know what light to put you comments in. In this link there was nothing mentioned about purchasing at computer shows. Now I'm not saying you shouldn't be carefull about what you buy. If it looks pirated it probobly is. I would never buy somthing like that. I personally wouldn't hesitate to buy OEM software if it saved me a signifcant amount of money.

These specs are here so I don't have to repeat them. P4 2.4c @ 3.0 ASUS P4P800 dx Geil pc4000 2.5,3,3,6 250FSB 1:1 Radeon 9500 non-pro 2 Maxtor 60gig 7200rpm 8mb cach in raid 0 SB Audigy 2

Jake_Barnes · Sep 9, 2003

Work for a software vendor - heavens no. I'm just trying to save a few $ on Partition Magic and Norton Ghost (or similar) oem type untilities. Hell, newegg sells Win XP Pro OEM - you just have to buy some hardware with it - can you say $5 thumb screws.

I did NOT have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky ... - Bill "Cigar Man" Clinton

TomaHawK · Sep 9, 2003

hmmm why don`t you call microsoft??? they`ll tell you. (i think we all know what answer they`ll give you) vworth a try tho.

Jake_Barnes · Sep 9, 2003

I'm not looking at Microsoft. I'm looking a utilities: Norton Ghost, Partition Magic, Anti-Virus, disk mirrowing, etc. The disks are in the white sleeves, looks legit (or damn good silk screening jobs), some in retail boxes (Norton).

I guess it's a crap shot at best.

I did NOT have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky ... - Bill "Cigar Man" Clinton

Jake_Barnes · Sep 12, 2003

There's a "show" this week-end. I'm going and buying a discount copy of Partition Magic and maybe Norton Ghost. I'll post the results of my installing and registering - if I don't get hosed.

I did NOT have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky ... - Bill "Cigar Man" Clinton

TomaHawK · Sep 14, 2003

i wonder if Jake_Barnes is already in prison, since he ain`t replying >

hehe. you there? what happend when u registered?

Beat the heat with the USB-Powered Fan

jmecor · Sep 14, 2003

why? get prisoned

If your nose RUNS, and feet SMELL.
Then you must be born UPSIDE DOWN.

TomaHawK · Sep 15, 2003

by the microsoft police or the norton police for piracy

do not take me up on this, it was a joke...
weeeeeeeeeeee i made it to newbie...
Beat the heat with the USB-Powered Fan

Edited by TomaHawK on 09/15/03 10:28 AM.

Jake_Barnes · Sep 15, 2003

Actually I bought OEM copies of Partition Magic v8.0 and Drive Image 2002 for $45 - both shrink wrapped (like XP OEM), with manuals (quick start guides) and, "tada" - serial numbers. Haven't installed yet, but asked around the show and the vendor has been selling OEM software for 8+ years and has a good reputation - plus, he lives 5 miles from me.

Also bought an external hard drive enclosure (USB 2.0)w/power source and cooling fan - I had a lightening strike that fried my last computer and wanted an external drive device to see if I could recover my data - assembled it, powered it up and plugged into a front USB port - and it worked like a dream. Silent (but with a fan), XP detected it immediately and "My Computer" now shows 3 hard drives (old drive was dual boot). Transfering files and folders is a snap. The device cost me $31.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Bejamin Franklin

siranthony · Sep 15, 2003

Very cool. I didn't think the piracy issue at computer shows could have been as bad as some people say. Now be careful if you order somthing from spain or china.

P4 2.4c @ 3.0 ASUS P4P800 dx Geil Golden Dragon PC4000 2.5,3,3,6 250FSB 1:1 Radeon 9800 non-pro 2 Maxtor 60gig 7200rpm 8mb cach in raid 0 SB Audigy 2 Antec True 480

Jake_Barnes · Sep 16, 2003

I don't do no ordering dude - except from know sources - and only after reviewing resellerratings.com ...

<A HREF="http://resellerratings.com" target="_new">ResellerRatings Link</A>

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Bejamin FranklinEdited by Jake_Barnes on 09/15/03 07:01 PM.

siranthony · Sep 16, 2003

I was being sarcastic. Like anyone orders software from china heh.

P4 2.4c @ 3.0 ASUS P4P800 dx Geil Golden Dragon PC4000 2.5,3,3,6 250FSB 1:1 Radeon 9800 non-pro 2 Maxtor 60gig 7200rpm 8mb cach in raid 0 SB Audigy 2 Antec True 480

Jake_Barnes · Sep 16, 2003

Oh, I'll bet there's a bunch of peeps who would if they thought they could save a buck or two ...

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Bejamin Franklin

Software Sold at Computer Shows?

Splendid

Splendid

Distinguished

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Splendid

Splendid

Distinguished

Distinguished

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Splendid

Share this page