Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler DIY HTPC builders, where do you purchase your OS?

I'm thinking about purchasing Windows XP MCE 2005, and was wondering where most of you buy your software for custom built HTPC's? In my IT field, I've been lucky from time to time as our Microsoft rep has given me some enterprise versions of XP, 2000, etc...

I was thinking about checking out local retail stores, but was wondering if there was a better option online?

Randy

I came across this website when using Froogle (Google shopping).

http://www.ankhsoft.com

They sell OEM software which is downloadable very very cheap compared to Retail. I could get my XP MCE 2005 version for 59.95, that is about $50+ cheaper than local retail or even on Ebay.

Has anybody purchased/downloaded software from these folks?

Thanks, Randy

I've never bought from them before but I know a few people that bought their OS from a similar vendor (it could be the same I can't remember the name). As far as they told me there wasn't any problems and it was well worth the price. Also you download the software directly without having to wait for a cd to be delivered which speeds up things quite a bit (with broadband of course)!

I'm curious to know why you are planning to go that way instead of using Windowx XP + third party (like MediaPortal) since I'm debating myself whether to buy it or not.

Well, for my new PC I'm building I would still have to have an OS installed. I figured if I was going to have to purchase XP, I might as well get the MCE 2005 version of XP? It seems to be the same price from their website. Either way I go, I need an OS.

I would be very leery about such sites.
a) It's not legal to sell OEM software without selling hardware with it. Now, the hardware can be just a cable, but if you don't sell hardware with it, it's not legit.
b) You don't get something for nothing.
c) Many such sites use spam for marketing.
d) How do you know it's legit? Do you want to have trouble with Windows Update the first time you go to run it and it fails the authentication check?
e) Piracy for profit is rampant--and while I'm agnostic on personal piracy, piracy for profit really gets my goat. That's out and out theft.

Try zipzoomfly. They're generally fairly inexpensive, and they play by the rules.

Thanks Ken, I'll check it out. Not sure about your a) answer? Even ZipZoomFly sells OS software only as OEM, no hardware included.

Zipzoomfly requires that you purchase hardware with the OEM software. At least they did last year... It is/was in the fine print.

Yup, it's in the Please Note! bit under Description. Of course, they're backordered on MCE...

Yep, I just went and saw that also, that sucks...man I just need an OS, no other hardware, oh well.

Ken is right that a lot of those businesses are shady when it comes to selling OEM software. As I said I am not familiar with that company; all I know is that the company that my friends used was approved by my company for us to use so they might have some kind of a deal with it or something.

About buying MCE... Be mindful that if you want to run MediaPortal or the like on it you will encounter a lot of problems if you don't uninstall the MCE module first, so in that case you'd better just buy a standalone Windows XP (well... unless you can buy it cheaper).

With a little research I found this must be BS. The IP originates in Russia, not a good sign. In addition, I found a website that showed how they like to change their domain very often. They used to offer ordering on non-secure website, now they offer secure, still a scam in my book.

Yup. I mean, it's probably legit in the "it's not illegal in Russia" way, but that ain't saying much.

In Russia, gray-market software buys YOU!

Having sworn off of /. for life, I had hoped that I would never hear another one of those jokes again. I see my hope was misplaced.

Peter has a great memory.

Yea, be careful of those sites. Many of them are illegal. I've heard stories on both sides of people who have gotten their software all happy dappy, and who havn't.

Honestly, I think buying it from that site is just as legal as downloading Windows from bittorrent. Only difference is, you are paying for it.

If you want free, go for linux. :-)

However, it sort of lacks some media center...ammenities. Good luck getting a remote to work with it. I had trouble getting linux to recognize a 5 button mouse.

Anyways...

I don't think you can get a very cheap copy of MCE legally.

I have a friend who works in Redmond. He can get deeply discounted software at the company store (including other versions of the OS), but NOT MCE. Same thing with Xbox Hardware.

And no, being a "friend of a friend" doesn't get you anywhere. Sorry.

Abhorrent as it is, sometimes, you've just got to pay retail.

I hear ya Tom, working in IT for a very large company, believe me, I've got connections also.

Considering the cost of building an HTPC , the cost of a legal copy of the OS is not a major concern for me, average price is about $109.

Yeah, but there is one difference, you don't have to ask for permission.

The utter cuteness of Randy and Peter's kids inspired me to change my avatar for a while.

I'll still want to talk more with INANE and others and learn more about Girder, IRMON, XLobby, etc. Like I said, I'm stuck on XP Pro (partly because I'm a cheap SOB) and I haven't really integrated my wirelessness and MX-700 into the mix yet. Don't talk to me about switching to MCE. I'm choosing to spend time instead of money on this particular project for a variety of reasons.

Hmm, if you right click one's avatar and click "view image" you can get a blown up version as long as the avatar isn't resized.

Just realized that this forum doesn't auto resize the avatars...pretty cool.

It’s my understanding that XP 2000 MCE 2005 has to be purchased w/ the hardware(PC), MS don’t sell the OS alone. Not sure if this has changed, though.

~Jaime mcsd.net, mcad, mcp

That's correct, but since Randy is most likely planning on using a third party HT front end (MediaPortal) he could just buy the regular Win XP version instead of the MCE.

In reply to:

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In Russia, gray-market software buys YOU!

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Good stuff bud..did the ole lol on that one!

Microsoft doesn't offer downloadable OS images to little local computer shops. You can only get them through top-tier channel partners (and those are for "media sets" that go with OLB licences) or if you are an MSDN subscriber or Certified Partner and these are NOT for resale. Any LCS that gives you a burned CD of MS software is selling you pirated goods. Any online store that offers ISO images for cut rates is either scamming you for your CC# or selling pirated software.

Tom, don't forget MediaPortal.

You can always buy some cheap cable or something from zipzoomfly and get your OS. It would qualify as "hardware".

Free 2 day shipping too.

I believe you need to purchase major system hardware such as a proc or motherboard or hard drive to get the OEM software. That is the norm.

Nope, cables are legit. I used to work for a reseller.

Hmm... I'm leaning toward LightningJoe having a point... I know at the reputable stores here, it's OEM only with CPU/mobo.

The little ratholes in St. James will do no-hardware OEM sales, but since the opening sales pitch there is "psst... hey buddy..." I'm not sure they're on the up and up.

Bren R.

Ken is right if you read the details on the websites. Keyboards, cables, etc.. also qualify on Directron, Newegg, and ZipZ.

LIke I said, I worked for a fairly reputable reseller. And I'm intensely scrupulous about that sort of thing--I was always pissing off the managers by checking out that stuff on things we were selling.

Got any extra copies?

Never sold MCE, so... wait a minute.

This site owns for HTPC stuffs:

---> www.pcalchemy.com <---