I've been building a computer and I originally intended to use the Vista Ultimate disc that came with my laptop until I realized it was 32bit and I needed a 64bit version of Vista(I'll be damned if I get 4gbs of RAM and can only use 3gbs of it). So, I started looking for Vista Home Premium 64bit, but couldn't find it in the stores. Then I look it up on new egg and find this. I call bull****. This can't be what I'm looking for. All the store versions were $200+. Does OEM really mark it down $100?

Yes.

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Yes. I bought the "system builder" version of Ultimate for my MacBook Pro. The reason it's so cheap is because Microsoft offers absolutely no support for it (not really a problem for most people who are buying Vista individually anyway).

Yeah but it's home premium

They should all be OEM anyways... Microsoft Support is about as useful as eating steak with a straw.

What? There is no difference between "support" for OEM and Retail versions. Of course, then again, there never really is any support for Windows in the first place unless you count Windows Updates.

The only ACTUAL difference is in the licensing, in that you are not allowed to reinstall it on a different PC even if you are deleting the copy off the old PC. The retail box lets you reinstall on a new PC as long as only one copy of Windows exists at any point in time. So the OEM license is tied to the motherboard, and thus is stricter.

Do note that you can use the OEM license on another machine. You'll just have to do phone activation and lie through your teeth when you tell them you're only using it on one machine. But they'll activate it for you.

Or you can buy it, and then pirate an activation free copy.