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General discussion

OEM 20% of actual software? fishy.

May 10, 2008 7:47AM PDT

I've been struggling to find OEM software. Either its too expensive or its illegal. I've read other posts and found that anything below 50% of the price is usually illegal. I found a site that offers most of the software for only 20% of the price. I investigated further and found it pretty legit. The guarantee access codes, legality, and a refund if needed. Any thoughts?

Discussion is locked

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The other sign is...
May 10, 2008 7:52AM PDT

It's a Microsoft title and they don't ship the CDs.

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no big deal
May 10, 2008 9:18AM PDT

I wouldn't mind not having the CD. I could prolly save in the installation to a CD.

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Don't fund criminals.
May 11, 2008 12:59AM PDT

Can I make this any clearer?

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Seen a few like this
May 10, 2008 8:30AM PDT

No CD/DVD's, just downloads.

Serial numbers are usually the same as those that are available from certain sites on the internet.

Where is the site at 20% and looks legit?

Email my profile with the answer


P

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All of this software is illegal
May 10, 2008 11:08AM PDT

Just checked the site.

Almost all of it is NOT OEM.

Filemaker Pro Server does not come as an installed option on a Mac, neither does CS3.

Buyer beware, this is not kosher.

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(NT) Thank You.
May 10, 2008 12:10PM PDT
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Alrite.
May 14, 2008 9:25AM PDT

I have one more site for you to check if that's alrite. I've been looking at cheapsoftwares.org for a little bit. is is legit?

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This one,
May 14, 2008 10:09AM PDT

says that it will be shipping stuff to you.

This is a little better than the first one.

I would reserve judgement on this site, it is still "caveat emptor"

I might risk a smaller piece of software to see if all is genuine or not.

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genuine?
May 20, 2008 9:07AM PDT

what type of checklist should I have to determine wheter or not it is genuine?

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Basically, the smell test
May 20, 2008 9:57AM PDT

If you are not receiving physical media, in the original manufacturers carton, and the price is ridiculously low, then it is probably not a genuine product.

If you are willing to purchase suspected pirate software, with serial numbers that are liable to be removed from the manufactures database or marked as stolen, without reliable, if any, support and with little chance of updating the product, then nothing I say will stop you from doing so.

The final decision is yours but most forums will not be inclined to help you with a pirated version of anything.

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i dont plan on buying illegal software.
May 20, 2008 11:11AM PDT

if i did, i would not go through the trouble of this forum.

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Good Choice,
May 20, 2008 9:55PM PDT

I was not suggesting that you were.

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The best answer...
May 24, 2008 6:38AM PDT

... if it hasn't been mentioned already, is be a student or know one who isn't actually using a Mac for him/herself (nudge nudge)

All right, so that's not strictly totally legit but that is the best way to take advantage of the humongous discounts available for students for the education versions of most leading software in virtually all major categories. Commercial use is prohibited, but I'm assuming that if your business is anything other than a failure you wouldn't be putting so much effort into buying software a bit cheaper.