Question About Windows 7 Prices

[Texun]

So I'm stepping outside the box looking for the best LEGIT deal on W7 32 or 64 bit. I'm the kind of person that wants a super deal but also believes if something is really cheap there must be a reason.

I was checking out resellerratings.com for stores and prices on Win 7and found a link http://www.shoppalstores.com/softwareiq/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/29772/subcatid/0/id/487202 offering W7 Ultimate upgrade or full edition for about $80. RR had no ratings for the site which leaves me to believe something is FUBAR here.

If you prefer not to click on the link here's their blurb on what it is and what you get.

"What is a Recovery disk?
A Recovery Disk is a disk and key which will install the program just like a store version, will not expire, allows registration and updates, but lacks all packaging, booklets, and doesn't have a paper license. Therefore recovery media will work the same as retail, and includes everything you need to run the program, the only important thing to keep in mind is that you do not have the paper license, so you wont be entitled to support from the manufacturer. The software is the same as retail, and is not missing anything or limited in anyway. Recovery media is sold for recovering or installing the software to a pc with a lost, misplaced, or damaged disk, however; it will work for any pc.
Please use the "Contact" link at the top with any questions, or call 224-265-4660. Thank you for your support! Customer Service @ SoftwareIQ."

They offer DVD and downloadable versions, and what they offer looks like OEM which is not an issue for me but does anyone know if this is legit? If not then does anyone know of a good place to buy Windows software at a decent price? The best I've seen is at NE when they run a sale on W7 Home Premium for $89.

 

[lxskllr]

Outside of a special deal somewhere, all the legit sellers will be close in price. I'd use Newegg.

 

[Blain]

Well at least complaints filed against the company with the BBB have been closed.

I would stick with Newegg.

 

[TheStu]

Best $/license rate is to get the family pack. $150 for 3 licenses of Home Premium. The license keys work for both 32 and 64 bit media, but unfortunately they don't sell both bundled. The catch with the family pack is that all three systems need to be within the same family and under the same roof I believe.

 

[monkey333]

for 150, he might as well get a technet..

 

[TheStu]

for 150, he might as well get a technet..

What does that get you?

 

[zCypher]

The best deals are if you're a student or if your employer has deals (example, I got legit office 2010 pro plus for $11 thanks to my employer). Outside that scope, you'll be hard pressed to find a ridiculously good legit deal anywhere. $80 for Ultimate seems sketchy.

 

[Lifted]

What does that get you?

This is what I have access to download with TechNet Pro (copied from the download page), and I believe the only difference between Pro and Standard is that Pro gives 5 keys for each, plus 2 support calls, while standard gives 2 keys for each and no support calls. Certain software comes with a single multiple activation key, and a few come with only 1 key. You also get 2 collections of e-learning courses with Pro, 1 with Standard.

Inside each one the below you may have multiple keys for different editions, such as Office Standard, Pro, Pro Plus, and Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Pro, Ultimate, Enterprise - you'll end up with a couple of keys for each.

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[TheStu]

This is what I have access to download with TechNet Pro (copied from the download page), and I believe the only difference between Pro and Standard is that Pro gives 5 keys for each, plus 2 support calls, while standard gives 2 keys for each and no support calls. Certain software comes with a single multiple activation key, and a few come with only 1 key. You also get 2 collections of e-learning courses with Pro, 1 with Standard.

Inside each one the below you may have multiple keys for different editions, such as Office Standard, Pro, Pro Plus, and Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Pro, Ultimate, Enterprise - you'll end up with a couple of keys for each.

Crazy long list

Wow, I think I had heard of that when I was in school, but I had MSDNAA access so never paid much attention to it.

 

[llee]

If you have a friend that works at Microsoft, they can usually buy software at a quarter to a fifth the cost of retail. Even Xbox 360s are much cheaper.

 

[Texun]

Thanks everybody but I stayed with NE and paid the usual. I was hoping to get it for $80 or less, but I don't have any MS connections and buying software at dirt cheap price from an unknown or unproven source often ends up bad in the long run. Wouldn't mind taking the chance as much if it was for me but this is for someone else and I can't have it go Tango Uniform on me after I deliver it.

 

[Blain]

Thanks everybody but I stayed with NE and paid the usual.
Wouldn't mind taking the chance as much if it was for me but this is form someone else and I can't have it go Tango Uniform on me after I deliver it.

Good decision! :thumbsup:
You should have mentioned it was for a customer build.
That would have weeded out the TechNet suggestions.

 

[Texun]

Good decision! :thumbsup:
You should have mentioned it was for a customer build.
That would have weeded out the TechNet suggestions.

Well it's for a good friend and school teacher taking night classes for her law degree. She and her data are far too important for me to take such a risk.

 

[Steltek]

Well it's for a good friend and school teacher taking night classes for her law degree. She and her data are far too important for me to take such a risk.

If your friend is a working teacher and/or student, she may qualify to purchase academic versions of software from manufacturers (including Microsoft, Adobe, etc.) at significantly less than retail cost. She also needs to check with the IT department at her college as they may have programs where students can get access to certain software (ie. Windows, Office, etc) for little or nothing while she is attending college.