Attached Link: http://www.oem-biz.biz/?160760790#

Well, I don't know about this particular people, but in the past i've bought oem stuff (antivirus, computer tweaking programs by Norton) and they were factory stuff, and they were very cheap... So, I don't know if this is the same thing... I've bought Norton for as little as $10 and it was legit...

"We ship by international airmail free of charge." Can't be true. I didn't know this web.

never heard of them, thnx for the link though, (atleast if they turn out to be legit :P) and the site has stopped working for me.

You have to check (don't know how though) what kind of OEM version they are selling. I have seen that kind of people at conferences (including SIGGRAPH) who do not hesitate selling OEM versions with a label on them saying "Do not sell without a Dell computer" or something like that. They may be legit but it does sound very suspicious...

I've bought OEM before too with no problems (and very cheap) but not sure about this. Looks too good to be true. -Lin

Hmmm! There is something funny in their FAQ:

*QUESTION: What do I get when I order something from you?

ANSWER: You get the CD(s) with the software in jewel case and labels. You also get the activation key, serial number or cd key necessary to activate the software so it work. Note, that you will not be able to register the software with the manufacturer and get their support, but we will do our best to support you any way possible. This includes providing different updates and service packs. However some updates will still be available from manufacturers, in fact most of them.*

I would like to buy something, but ....

Here is another, more detailed, definition of what OEM means (found on another site). In short, it confirms that OEM versions are meant to be bundled with another piece of hardware and should not be installed without it. "OEM software OEM stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer". OEM software is pre-installed software that comes either with the computer or the hard drive. OEM software dies with the hard drive. This means that you can't install software of this kind on another PC. If you're replacing your hard drive, you can't install this software on the new hard drive. Instead you have to buy the software over again. Some stores sell this software on CDs in addition to the software already found on the hard drive. Other stores offer a recovery CD instead. Anyhow, it's not possible for you - the customer - to install the software on a new hard drive. The whole idea of the CDs, is to enable you to reinstall the software, for instance if the drive or the file system have a malfunction. "

OEM software dies with the hard drive is not true, Laurent. I got Windows 98 many years ago with a new computer as an OEM. I have installed it now on one of my older machines that's not the original one it came with. No problem.

"dies" means that your right to use that software dies with the hardware it came with. I also installed windows 98 / ME that came with older machines on newer PCs, but it was not officially legal to do so.... of course, nothing prevents you from doing so except maybe the lack of support. This is why Microsoft and now other companies rely more and more on product activation. that way they can track your usage of OEM software version retail if they want to, in addition of monitoring pirate copies.

Attached Link: http://www.bsa.org/usa/press/newsreleases/BSA-Bids-Against-Online-Auction-Software-Pirates.cfm

Thanks for all your input. I hate illegal software and will not buy any thing there. I also saw in the FAQ that it is shipping from Eastern Europe. This means what it means! Huuuuu!!!!!

Mayb ethey have stolen it somewhere:-(

They don't have to steal it. All they have to do is buy second hand PCs that came with these software pre installed and resell each part individually. Although... I don't know how there can be an OEM version of 3D Studio.

Attached Link: http://www.networkclue.com/os/Windows/licensing/faq.php

Looks a bit fishy to me why can you not register the software? hmmmmmm.

You can't register it because the vendor will not recognize it as a legit copy. I spent about an hour looking for references of an OEM license for 3D studio on the web and I could not find any. Any idea about which kind of hardware would come bundled with 3Dstudio 6 pre-installed ?

Ok....

You purchase a PC with bundled software, say with Microsoft Office 2003. You register it under you name Joe Blow. A year later, you build yourself a new PC and install the same copy of Microsoft Office on your new PC. Everything is fine. Now however ifyou were to sell you Old PC with the bundled software, the new user of that PC can use all the Pre-Bundled software that is one the PC, but they 'Willnot" be able to register it, cause it is already registered to you. It is your software. These people who a reselling OEM software are basically pirating it from somone elses machine. That is why they say you will not be able to register it. My suggestion......don't buy it..!!

I don't believe that the definitions of OEM software listed here are entirely accurate. I can buy OEM versions of Office and XP or 2000 from VERY reputable sellers (www.tcwo.com - www.newegg.com) and I can put them on ANY one machine. I have bought the OEM version of XP and put it on one of my machines and registering it was NO problem. The same with Windows2000. Unless of course I am not undertanding what is being said here. Megalodon

I just usally forward such offers off to the respective software companies and let them decide how good of a deal they really are. I don't get to many of those spams anymore for some reason.

I am mad I didn't think of that before.... Guitta... if you were looking at 3D studio, you can send the link to Discreet and let them decide if it is legit or not.

Attached Link: http://www.bsa.org/usa/press/newsreleases/BSA-Bids-Against-Online-Auction-Software-Pirates.cfm

Well there site is down now. :)

No, it's still up. Photoshop 7 for $59.95? There's gotta be a catch...

In some African, Asian and East European countries you can "legally" buy software that is incredibly cheap. This software is sometimes manufactured illegally by pirates, and those countries don't have the resources to police the problem. I work in an internet cafe in Ireland, and I get a lot of foreign students from these countries coming in to use my machines, and I have seen the software they bring with them. Perfect copies of software with serial numbers and packaging etc, but you can't register the software, and a lot of it doesn't even need serial numbers, like they have been "pre-cracked" before the software was manufactured onto CD. This is especially true of PC games coming from China.

3DStudioMax requires a "dongle" before it will run properly. This is ususally a small key that plugs into a port (USB, parallel, serial, etc.) on the PC you've installed it on. Some are pass-thru, meaning you can still use that port with another device. Many are not. Lightwave requires a dongle, and lots of high end audio software, such as Steinberg, use dongles. This site has several home pages (adv1, adv2, adv3) and there is also more than one domain containing the same content (or most of it, I didn't go thru everything). They are: www.oem-cheap.biz, www.oem-cd.biz and csoft.alisasoft.biz. At least three that I came up with. Maybe there are even more! Norm

On third thought: You know what I was just thinking of? What with this outfit being in Europe, it could just be that they are a complete scam to begin with! That is, those prices are so darn cheap, even cheaper than academic prices, or even second hand prices (as in eBay for legitimate used software), and it's been priced right at the price-point that most impulse buyers might click the Purchase button. Only never to see what they bought.... Just thinking out loud. :) Norm