I am half way to assembly my new computer, I did not by any operating system jet.

Could anyone tell me, what desadvantage I have to face if I purchase VISTA OEM rather than the Retail one! I mean is there any shortage on hardware support or such?

Furthermore what is the different between 32bit or 64bit version!!

Thanks in advance!

OEM, once installed is 'locked' to that one machine...
Retail, is one that can be installed on only one machine at a time but can be moved around no problems, just as long as its on one at a time.

32 bit, is what most machines are run on currently. but due to a recent limitation find (that 32bit doesn't support more than 4 gb of ram)

64 bit, is supposedly faster but doesn't have the program or driver support yet and it can support as much ram as you could ever need... it does have a 32bit compatibility mode.

I haven't used a 64bit os yet so the is just what i know offhand from reading previous things. I'm sure many other people have used it and can shed plenty more light on it...

Can you legally buy OEM versions.. I thought only manufacturers and licensed retailers could legally install them.

Why the hell would anybody want shitsta when there are far better free alternatives?

one word varnull... Gaming.

i'd love to be able to use a linux distro, but its hard to find drivers and games for my laptop that would work on it...

and yes anyone can buy OEM operating systems... here's a whole list: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLis...ption=vista+oem

Thanks Engage16, I have diged out some more info about OEM but I still did not get 100% answer to my main question.

Is OEM software 1 to 1 the same to the retail version or there is any limitation regardin hardware support?

It is exactly like the retail version... only it comes with a little sticker your supposed to stick to the pc tower, instead of one in the manual or on the sleeve of a retail version... it is meant for people who build computers and sell them, and then in turn provide the enduser support for the machine too... and no there is no hardware limitiation support...