From: John Kim (kim_at_stormhaven.org)
Date: Wed Dec 09 1998 - 10:35:03 EST
Another question you want to ask (though it's usually not
relevant to laptops) is if the part is OEM. OEM items are
sold in bulk to resellers at a discount, and are supposed to
be used in pre-built systems. So they usually come with a
bare-bones manual and without bundled software. OEM may be
useful in some cases like a sound or graphics card or hard
drive, and may cost 10%-40% less than the same retail item.
But sometimes they just aren't worth it.
I found out at the last minute that the place I ordered a
CD-RW drive from was selling an OEM item. I canceled the
order and for $30 more got the retail version, which included
CD burning software ($25 add-on to the OEM version, and they
version they were selling didn't even support the drive I was
buying), miscellaneous software like Adobe Photo Deluxe, a
CD-labeling kit, and a manual that described more than
installation. Well worth the extra $5.
Does anyone know of any other online customer ratings services
than www.resellerratings.com? I think these organized
end-user reviews are a great feature unique to the net since
they rely on user feedback.
-- John H. Kim kim_at_stormhaven.org
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