Windows 7 Price question...

Aside from $100 difference....
What is the difference between these two? Is the one priced at $109 not a full install version (not just upgrade)??

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116752

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116766

 

Seems like the first one is only 32bit OEM while the second one includes both x86 and x64 DVD retail discs.

 

The first one is the OEM 32bit version, so you only get one disc and it's tied to the hardware. The second choice is the Full Retail version which gives you both 32 and 64 bit disc and it's not tied to the hardware but you'll need to call MS if the configuration changes drastically.

 

Correct, you want Windows 7 64-bit if you have a compatible CPU (Core 2 Duo, or AMD Athlon 64 or newer, except some Intel Atom CPU's).

64-bit OS provide you with:
- Higher performance, by unlocking your 64-bit to be able to execute 64-bit long instructions (rather then being locked down to 32-bit)
- Execute 64-bit programs.
- The fact of having Windows in 64-bit benefits 32-bit applications.
- Able to support and address 4GB or more of RAM.
- Able to support and address 2TB+ HDD's.
- Ability to use 64-bit codecs with a 64-bit player such as Windows Media player 12, which provides you with reduce CPU utilization so increase battery life (the amount of battery life depends on your system, codec, and video format used).

Windows On Windows (WoW) technology allows 100% 32-bit application support (basically you have all Windows 32-bit libraries with 64-bit Windows, so that 32-bit programs runs perfectly, even better).

Downside of going 64-bit Windows
- drop support for 16-bit application (a.k.a: DOS programs)

 

I'm looking to get a copy to put on a mac via bootcamp, preferably as cheap as possible!!
Would the $100 version do? Not sure what you guys mean by 'tied to the hardware'. Even if it is OEM, wouldn't I still get a disc?

 

Yes, but you can't install it on ANY other computer asides from your mac.

 

Basically what ronnieb said. An OEM is tied to the hardware it's used on. It's like the Windows key under most laptops: it can't be used on another computer.

But yeah, you can bootcamp with that.

 

So how does the disc know if it has been installed on a machine previously???
Is it because the software is locked until activated online, and then can never be re-installed/activated again?
Sorry for the dumb questions, just trying to understand before purchasing.
I really am only planning to install on one macbook, and want to do it legally, but want to understand what I'm buying.
Thanks!!

 

Here's a link to a quick & dirty explanation on OEM Vista(same still applies for Windows 7):
http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2007/01/8730.ars

Basically, the main difference is that the key, upon activation, will be tied with the hardware(most notably the motherboard) of the computer it has been activated on. This is the same version of Windows which is sold to computer manufacturers.

 

Thanks! Rep power to you.

 

OEM won't be able to be moved to another system, even if you have a failure. Although I believe you can call Microsoft and get it unactivated if you have a failure.