Retail vs. OEM

[Poppa_Meth]

whats the difference between a retail version of a drive and an OEM? I'm having trouble with the Lite-on 163 in mine and DELL is being stupid about it at usual. I'm looking at a Sony drive to replace it. this is for a DVD-ROM not a burner. I'll get a link to the drive in question if anyone would like to see it.

[theDruid]

A retail item will come in nice colourful box, with lots of picture of smiling people on it.

An OEM version might come in a plain white box - OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, so OEM's are people like Dell / HP etc.. who aren't that bothered about the packaging if they buy a few thousand drives to put in their systems.

You might also get extras in the retail box - more software, cables etc.., but often the OEM versions have all that stuff too (driver CD's, cables needed for installation etc..)

For a DVD-ROM, you might get PowerDVD or WinDVD bundled with a retail drive, and a nice new IDE cable, and possibly an audio lead to connect the drive to your soundcard inside the PC. In the OEM version, you might not get all of this stuff.

There may be some difference in the guarantees etc.. as well, but I think the manufacturer's warranty is usually the same whatever the packaging.

It's worth finding out what is and isn't included if you buy something in the 'OEM' version - but the difference can be as little as the box it comes in.

cheers,
mcdruid.

[SatStorm]

In Europe, we also use the term "BULK" for OEM products.

[Poppa_Meth]

thanks for the info. I was hoping that was the only difference. I already have a decent software suite from the Lite-On and all the cables I need. The sony has no software but its only $32 and comes in black which matches my case a lot better than some other options. Thanks again.

[Suntan]

Just be sure to check exactly what comes with the OEM Drive. In the case of HD and DVD (or CD) drives rarely is an IDE cable or audio cable included with the drive. Probably won't even come with instructions for setting the master/slave jumpers (though you can normally find a diagram for it on the company website.)

Not that this is a big deal, expecially for a reagular DVD-ROM drive as you can plug that into your computer and boot up with little problem, just make sure you know what you are buying. Would make a difference for something like a burner if you didn't have burning software though.

[housepig]

I already have a decent software suite from the Lite-On

make sure that your software is not an OEM bundle that will only work with the Lite-On - I have a copy of Nero floating around that will onlyrecognize the burner it came with.

[theDruid]

I have a copy of Nero floating around that will onlyrecognize the burner it came with.

So do I actually... but then on the other hand, I have a copy of WinDVD that came with a combo drive I used to have - and although it has a skin with the Toshiba logo rather than WinDVD's, it's worked fine with all my other drives since then.

I suspect that burning software would be more likely to be tied to the drive it came bundled with than DVD playback software - which has to be able to play files off the HD etc..

' worth finding out about though.

cheers,
mcdruid

[housepig]

theDruid -

true, true... somewhere along the line I lost the fact that he was talking about a dvd-ROM and not a burner...

the other thing is that you can find WinDVD and PowerDVD for peanuts on Pricewatch.com, so if your existing software balks at the new drive, it's dirt cheap to get a different app.

[Poppa_Meth]

yeah I have Nero and Easy CD but they are both retail versions. the only thing that really would be bundled with the Lite-on is power DVD which doesn't work worth a crap IMO anyway. its odd how some dvds play with heavy pixelation in power DVD and play just fine in media player despite using the same codec for both.

I just found out that the Sony drive I was looking at is just a rebadges Lite-on LTD-166S. Anyone have any recommendations for a decent drive. I can't say I'm too fond of Lite-on. Might call Dell again and try to force them to send a replacement. I don't want to reinstall the whole computer when I know that isn't my problem.

[videobruce]

As far as the software that is p[acked with any computer product, it is usually last years version (or even older yet) and/or a scalled down version just to get by.
Mostly to wet your appetite to go out and but the 'new and improved' version.

The warrenty is something different. Usually it is less and some manufactures won't support it at all since it was meant to be sold to other companies for instalations in their computers with their support, not the manufactures.

There is a thread somewhere here where someone complained anout a OEM NEC drive not being supported by NEC!

[BJ_M]

pioneer and NEC OEM drives have little or no warrenty - though where you bought it from might honor one ...

like OEM intel and AMD have a only a very short warrenty (basicly warrenty is over when you install it)