Neowin.net - Microsoft confirms Windows XP64 will be OEM only

Microsoft confirms Windows XP64 will be OEM only

Posted by malebolgia on 30 June 2004 - 21:08 · 39 comments & 5462 views

Today Microsoft has confirmed that Windows XP 64 will not be sold to the general public. A while back rumors popped up that Microsoft would only ship Windows XP 64 to OEMs. It appears that rumor was true even though it’s a pretty odd move.

A product manager at Microsoft has told developers how his firm proposes to market and sell Windows XP64 - the version of the OS that will support iAMD64 chips from AMD and Intel. Brian Marr, Microsoft' Windows XP64 product manager, filed details of the move on a private Windows server 64 newsgroup. Marr admits that the current beta build is "very old" but he said that Microsoft is trying to get an update out soon. He said: "I think you are going to be impressed by how much work our development team has put into the OS".

Marr said that a technical beta programme is currently suspended, but Microsoft will open it up again after XP SP2 ships. The big question, however, is what happens when Windows XP64 ships, and Marr says the operating system will be available on "some" new OEM PCs. "The OEMs are responsible for deciding which systems they want to support it on," he wrote. "The OS will be part of MSDN" and Software Assurance, he continued.

News source: The Inquirer

*Added for EU comparison; it appears its not just the UK getting ripped off.

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#1 Posted by StaticX on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:12: dammit!

#2 Posted by Mister Lamar on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:14: ohhh man and woman

#3 Posted by fdlazarte on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:15

#4 Posted by ir0nw0lf on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:15: The will no doubt be a "few" people that will get pissed off over this. I don't honestly think there is anything wrong with this myself. Might piss off the major chain stores, who won't have a retail-boxed version to pimp out to customers. But then again, I wouldn't expect a lot of the sales people in those chain stores to be able to properly sell this product, no offense to all you BB, etc. peeps here hehe.

#5 Posted by neufuse on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:17: so you have to buy a hard drive cable along with it to qualify as an OEM buyer big whoop

#6 Posted by sparkyewu on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:18: Seriously i'll buy a floppy disk and my copies of windows 64

(3 replies) #7 Posted by jeavis on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:19: Ummm ... am I reading this right. End users will not be able to buy this software? I will not be able to get Win64 for my A64 processor?

(1 reply) #8 Posted by sljkjk on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:20: Well I guess that leaves out in the cold for I already have an AMD 64 chip. And I really think it stinks that they are going that route. For I like being able put my own computer's together.

#9 Posted by lothodon on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:23: the bigger issue here (i think) is that microsoft won't offer any type of support to end users. all support will have to come from your computer builder. purchasing the oem version will be no different than it is now, must be purchased with some form of hardware.

#10 Posted by Jerry J. on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:26: Will be on MSDN, w00t!

#11 Posted by Smithee on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:28: I always go for OEM stuff where possible anyway. You just need to know where to buy, plus it's always about half the price of the retail product.

Oh and you do not need to buy a hard disk or motherboard as some retailers are saying. You need to purchase one piece of "non peripheral hardware". A mouse is non peripheral hardware! it's simply hardware that your PC recquires to run. When I got XP Pro OEM I bought it along with my keyboard.

Many retailers, don't actually force you to buy anything, and in the UK, I'm not 100% sure that part of the licence agreement is compatible with local trading laws.

Anyway... I digress.

#12 Posted by Saadu on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:44: I wonder why they made that move. Let the 64 bit flow... I had plans to upgrade to 64bit AMD 3000+ from my AMD1600 but this just pulled the ground underneath my feet.

I suppose i can get 64bit from an OEM but if they dont support it actively then who is going to care about writing proper software or drivers for this...
You can say get a 64bit 3000+ now and wait till longhorn comes, and by then 3000+ would be obsolete... Its not a very good time for those of us who are thinking of an upgrade.

(2 replies) #13 Posted by denzilla on 30 Jun 2004 - 21:50: They prolly didn't want to confuse the end user. Say a person with a p4 walked into Best Buy and bought Wondows XP64 thinking it would work on their system. I think this is a rather dumb move though. I seriously don't see why they cannot pack both versions onto a couple of discs and make it auto detect the correct OS installation.

#14 Posted by divertom15 on 30 Jun 2004 - 22:14: Worst move ever
Actually i want to know how these ms peeps feel for people who have already built a64 machines and were wanting the os

anyways i know Frys DOES SELL yes you read that right DOES SELL oem copies of windows its in the mobo section if I remeber right. I think they make you buy a piece of hardware too but heck if a mouse qualifys its not going to kill anyone just buy some dinky 2 button mouse or 3 dollar keyboard.

#15 Posted by Skyfrog on 30 Jun 2004 - 23:04: It's too bad that you cannot buy OEM software with no restrictions on eBay. Oh wait...

(1 reply) #16 Posted by )(RockerBoy on 30 Jun 2004 - 23:10: Microsoft sucks

(1 reply) #17 Posted by mayamaniac on 01 Jul 2004 - 00:18: anyone else think intel has something to do with this? Think about it, all those people who are planning to buy an AMD64 are now having second thoughts, that maybe its better to wait and buy it OEM with XP64. I don't think its for OEM only, this is BS because there was no explaination as to why to sell through OEM only. What harm will selling it as retail do?

#18 Posted by lylesback2 on 01 Jul 2004 - 00:25: WTF!!! thats such a bad move my microsoft... why do they even release this information about a new 64bit and then say.. it's OEM only.

#19 Posted by Bwizzel-B on 01 Jul 2004 - 01:18: XP 64bit will get posted to more Warez groups than any other OS ever. MS, really retarded move. Doesn't matter anyways, 32bit XP will run fine on either x86-64 chip, and the AMD64 cpu is better than anything Intel has out now anyways for the average consumer.

(2 replies) #20 Posted by gren99 on 01 Jul 2004 - 01:56: man, as if anyone was gonna buy a retail boxed copy of XP64 anyway.

lets review:

XP32, retail boxed: about $280-300 (pro only. c'mon, XP home bites.)

XP32, OEM: about $120-140; plus whatever the cost of a IDE cable is these days. lets call it $5 (a nice rounded one).

yeah, real freaking hard choice there. both versions are basically the same. but you get (crappy) phone support from MS with the former. you're better off surfing stuff like the ms MVP websites than going to their techsupport anyway.

realistically, this is MS trying to:

a. not having to bother having to provide install and config phone support to end users and
b. an ounce of prevention that should keep some of the dimmer computer users out there from rushing out and installing XP64 only to realize a lot of their software suddenly ain't working anymore.

to those who are deadset on launching XP64, this shouldn't make a lick of difference. they'll either just buy a OEM copy from new egg or pirate a copy, same as always.

#21 Posted by gflores on 01 Jul 2004 - 03:42: When is the expected release of WinXP 64? Take in account any "unexpected" delays.

#22 Posted by Electronic Punk on 01 Jul 2004 - 08:37: Taking delays into consideration... later.

#23 Posted by Saadu on 01 Jul 2004 - 10:44: He said that Microsoft is working on a scheme to allow people to trade 32-bit XP Pro licences for Windows XP64. "We want to take care of the people who go out and buy or build X64 systems before we ship," he said.

...is what it said if u read the inquirer article. There is still hope...

#24 Posted by Randall_Lind on 01 Jul 2004 - 13:31: I am sure since MS doesn't want use to have it that people will pirate it more so now. The on the other have 64 bit linux sound good!!!

#25 Posted by Gary_Player on 01 Jul 2004 - 14:48: Why?

#26 Posted by Cyranthus on 01 Jul 2004 - 16:27: i dont understand this... making this harder to get is just going to increase piracy Bill was so afraid of... stupid idiot... very bad move.

(1 reply) #27 Posted by CaKeY on 01 Jul 2004 - 18:53: Yet another reason for people to give Linux a try. Linux has been 64bit ready for a while now..

example: http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/10/amd64

#28 Posted by SirEvan on 01 Jul 2004 - 19:28: this is what you get for trying to be the first on your block to have 64 bit

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