XP Pro for $50 -- is this legit?

If this is an incorrect place for this question, please pardon, but I got some e-mail, and you may have gotten the same, and one of the offers is this one: "Microsoft Windows XP Professional 2002 - retail price: $270.99 ; our price: $50.00." It says, also: "WHY SO CHEAP?? It's because all the software is OEM - Meaning that you don't get the box and the manual with your software (this has made we can sell the software at low price without spending on the eye-catching box & printing the manual). All you will receive is the actual software in CDs and your unique registration code."
Is this a legit offer? Sounds like something is not right, since even OEM XP has to be registered, and it is one to a unit.

OEM versions of Windows are a lot cheaper that retail boxed. Having said that, $50 seems way too cheap - also it's only supposed to be sold with hardware (though some places seem to consider a cable enough qualification!).

I would be very suspicious insofar as you got the offer in an unsolicited email - nearly all of those offers are dodgy in some way or other.

You could contact MS themselves, I'm sure they'd be happy to advise:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/

Have you checked this co. out with the BBB or at resellerratings.com? http://www.resellerratings.com/
betting it will flop...:p

I have not tried to check it out with BBB, since I doubt there is any place listed for an address. The Norton Sys Works was about $40, which is more than another offer I have in e-mail. Yes, this was unsolicited, BTW. Knowing each XP has to have a number to go with each computer, this seemed bogus. But I understand there are ways around the registration code. I am not trying to get around the code, BTW. I have paid voluntarily for some of those programs is which the author is putting it out there as "shareware" but does not have a "kill code" in it, and says that if it works, give a donation. Fair enough. I do not know how to program, and have no desire to learn. I think it is great for someone to do that. The address is of this is [email protected]/foryou. Thanks for replying.

Definitely dodgy, you should leave it well alone. I got a "page cannot be displayed" on that link, but no legitimate reseller would have an URL like that.

Nearly all those SystemWorks offers are pirate copies as well BTW.

You can buy an OEM copy from newegg, but the price is $144, and it's legit. Just bought a copy for my church.
I would pass on that offer and add them to my blacklist.

I posted the whole address given when I held the curser over the link. When I clicked on the link, however, it brought me to this address: http://wlycos.com/foryou/. It will give you the site, and there are other items there. Check that out. I gave a bum address at first. My fault.

This is Reseller Ratings view

hmm interesting

Hmmm, MS Visual Studio .Net Enterprise Architect, list price $2499.99 (that's about right), Our Price $200, you save $2300. I think that says it all. There is just no way that that's a legit site. I would still urge you to contact MS though, they'll tell you for sure.

If you want to check out the site, the URL is: http://www.wlycos.com/

If you look around the site it tells you the software is shipped from "Eastern Europe".

It appears to be illegally copied CD's, but I don't know why they have such a variety of prices. The "copy" sites I've run across in the past generally charge a flat fee ($20.00 or so) for each CD, regardless of the software title.

Hi, first comment, you refer to registration, this is actually optional what the site is saying refers to Windows product activation. They come out of Russia and use a third party to collect their money,( nothing wrong with that, however if you want to blur your tracks this is the way to do it) . I would have to say this one falls under "there is no such thing as a free lunch"

We ship by international airmail free of charge. The time of delivery depends on your location. But usually it takes 2-4 weeks when you chose our free shipping option.

Please be patient while waiting for your order. Sometimes delivery could take up to 6 weeks. But it is worth waiting for you software rather than paying hundreds more.



Where does this software comes from ?
The software is shipped from Eastern Europe.


carts link goto
https://www.smart-payments.com/cgi-bin/join.cgi?m=324



http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...om&sa=N&tab=wg

"Legal"? Maybe. Microsoft has NOT authorized such selling although they know it goes on. MICROSOFT WILL NOT SUPPORT SUCH INSTALLATION.

Read the EULA.

That said, I had a OEM copy of 98 and it worked as well as a retail version. XP is NOT the ame as 98, it can be inspected (and rejected?) by Bill when you are online.

I've seen the same ad at a different URL.

http://www.cdatlow.com/

yeah nice little scam someones got there

Hi Duane that one's coming out of Latin America (Montivedo), the payment though goes back to the same third party in Moscow. Definetly sus.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Jerry38018
..... but I got some e-mail, and you may have gotten the same, and one of the offers is this one: ........Is this a legit offer? Sounds like something is not right, since even OEM XP has to be registered, and it is one to a unit.

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Good rule of thumb for you. All spam is a scam\ripoff\con or any other synonym you wish to use. Strictly speaking when you open spam and don't get infected with a virus\trojan\worm consider yourself lucky. If your shopping on line for software in the future shop a a site that you know to be legitimate.

To put it in a nutshell its not official Microsoft authorised software if it indeed arrives at all.