OEM SBS2003 vs retail version ?

I tried to get this answer via groups.google.com , but all I got from a
search was basically a lot of ads.
I always thought that OEM sw came only with hardware from the
manufacturer - like I've had XP sw on a Dell PC , and the license showed
as OEM-123xxx and I thought it would only work with Dell hw. Maybe I was
wrong. So, is it legal to buy OEM SBS sw online ? Would OEM sw only work
with certain hardware ?
My reason for asking:
I want to build a SBS server for 4 pc's and while searching online for
sw, I see a FULL/retail version vs an OEM version. I read that the OEM
version can't be an upgrade - it needs to be a clean install - that's
fine as I will be building the box from scratch. Is it OK to buy this
OEM SBS online for $400 vs Retail version for $900 ? Would it work with
a pc-clone box ? Would it be legal ? If so, why is it not advertised for
sale ? What happens when SBS2008 comes out - need to backup data files
and then wipe disk to install the next version ?? Would probably then
build a new box anyway ?

Thanks for any input/pointers .

as far as i understand OEM software and hardware (eg mice and KB's) are
supposed to be only sold with new hardware eg if you buy a compleate system
or sometimes a hard drive or mother board alone. Companys selling OEM
equipment should do the right thing by the manufacturer and not sell OEM gear
with out the system.

"- Bobb -" wrote:

I tried to get this answer via groups.google.com , but all I got from a
search was basically a lot of ads.
I always thought that OEM sw came only with hardware from the
manufacturer - like I've had XP sw on a Dell PC , and the license showed
as OEM-123xxx and I thought it would only work with Dell hw. Maybe I was
wrong. So, is it legal to buy OEM SBS sw online ? Would OEM sw only work
with certain hardware ?
My reason for asking:
I want to build a SBS server for 4 pc's and while searching online for
sw, I see a FULL/retail version vs an OEM version. I read that the OEM
version can't be an upgrade - it needs to be a clean install - that's
fine as I will be building the box from scratch. Is it OK to buy this
OEM SBS online for $400 vs Retail version for $900 ? Would it work with
a pc-clone box ? Would it be legal ? If so, why is it not advertised for
sale ? What happens when SBS2008 comes out - need to backup data files
and then wipe disk to install the next version ?? Would probably then
build a new box anyway ?

Thanks for any input/pointers .

That's what I thought but I see LOTS of vendors selling OEM SBS sw and
wondered how to determine how/if a specific OEM package would work with
a generic box. ie. If I build and AMD/ASUS box and then order OEM
SBS2003 , how do I know that I wouldn't get a version that would only
install on , say ... a Dell server. In which case I have just bought a
coaster.
There are a LOT of these vendors online - selling both the OEM and MS
Full versions. They all state that the difference is only
"upgradeability" .


"Jay" wrote in message
...
as far as i understand OEM software and hardware (eg mice and KB's)
are
supposed to be only sold with new hardware eg if you buy a complete
system
or sometimes a hard drive or mother board alone. Companys selling OEM
equipment should do the right thing by the manufacturer and not sell
OEM gear
with out the system.

"- Bobb -" wrote:

I tried to get this answer via groups.google.com , but all I got from
a
search was basically a lot of ads.
I always thought that OEM sw came only with hardware from the
manufacturer - like I've had XP sw on a Dell PC , and the license
showed
as OEM-123xxx and I thought it would only work with Dell hw. Maybe I
was
wrong. So, is it legal to buy OEM SBS sw online ? Would OEM sw only
work
with certain hardware ?
My reason for asking:
I want to build a SBS server for 4 pc's and while searching online
for
sw, I see a FULL/retail version vs an OEM version. I read that the
OEM
version can't be an upgrade - it needs to be a clean install - that's
fine as I will be building the box from scratch. Is it OK to buy this
OEM SBS online for $400 vs Retail version for $900 ? Would it work
with
a pc-clone box ? Would it be legal ? If so, why is it not advertised
for
sale ? What happens when SBS2008 comes out - need to backup data
files
and then wipe disk to install the next version ?? Would probably then
build a new box anyway ?

Thanks for any input/pointers .