> I have used VPC for over 6 years. My Windows version is W2000 Pre-SP5
> plus ALL the patches (Zillions...). NOTE: I have NEVER re-installed
> W2K since the original install of VPC.
>
> On my new Intel iMac (soon to be purchased as we near the release of
> Leopard)....I want to run XP SP2... NOT Vista. I'll keep my G4 .. it
> works fine except a mite slow on *some* W2K apps.
> I need to run a few apps that are only on Windoz... mainly IE 6 or 7.
> You'd be surprised at how many current Legacy Javascript apps that
> *Require* IE to run. Safari will limp through some of them but then I
> have no b/u when I have to call the App Owner with a tech support
> issue. Most of the apps are Web located usually on XP server systems
>
> My question: What are the pro/con's of buying an OEM XP SP2 from the
> vendors that keep pestering me to do so? "They" say you get a set of
> discs (or one DVD) and you install...
>
> Does one get a MSFT Registration? Can one get support from MSFT with
> these systems?
>
> XP SP2 is $299 at Fry's/Office Depot etc.The OEM'ers charge $49.
> Update is $199... but the only update would be on VPC on my G4...
> Don't need to update there.. Only want it on my Intel Mac.
>
> What is your advice?
>
> Cheers, Jim B
>>Does one get a MSFT Registration? Can one get support from MSFT with

> You should buy a full retail copy of Windows XP from authorized
> Microsoft reseller.
>
> OEM copies are distributed by hardware manufacturers for new machines.
> Apple (maker of Intel Macs) is NOT an OEM vendor for Microsoft Windows.
> Anyone claiming to be an OEM reseller is very likely a fraudulent
> seller, especially at $49/copy which is close to Dell's volume OEM price.
>
> There are some OEM copies of Windows tied to a piece of hardware such as
> a Microsoft mouse, but I believe this is still a gray area if you do
> business with these types of "resellers."