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I picked up a bunch of 2nd hand stuff to build a PC for my 7yr old son (Shuttle S77R5, i3 2120, 8GB, GTX 760, 128Gb mSATA and 500Gb HD). Total cost around $200 AUD. Only component left to buy is the OS.

When did purchasing the Windows operating system become so expensive? I was expecting to pay $80-$100 like I had a couple of years ago, now its almost double that. Microsoft are charging $179. Real / legit stores are charging $148. At the same store I can get an Intel stick PC with Windows 10 for $149.

I don't want to pay the cost of the PC for the Operating System, but I also don't want to use one of the dodgy / semi legit websites like Play Asia. Does anyone have any other options?

I suppose they're pricing it that way to make people feel good/bad about doing/not getting the free upgrade.

Wait Play-asia is dodgy? I've ordered a bunch of games and peripherals (fight sticks) from them and never had any trouble.

Some of that is your exchange rate: the list US$119 is more like AUS$155, so at $149 you're actually getting a bit of a deal. 

That said, yesterday Fry's was offering 10 Home for "free" as one of their promo code deals, so I assume MS is doing some kind of "contra-revenue" push with their larger distributors to keep sales up. Keep looking; you should be able to find something better than list (particularly if you look for bundles with hardware). 

It's roughly the same price as Win7 and Win8 was.

However - the aussy dollar is **** so that's probably why. It's about $100 usd on amazon, same as ever.

jihadjoe wrote:

Wait Play-asia is dodgy? I've ordered a bunch of games and peripherals (fight sticks) from them and never had any trouble.

Hardware wise they seem OK, but software (especially Microsoft) has always been touch and go. The way Play Asia sells the software breaks Microsoft's EULA. The software seems to install and work correctly, but I know a couple of people who couldn't upgrade to Windows 10 because their license was invalid.
I don't want to purchase a license and then be block from the next release of Windows 10.

TwoEars wrote:

It's roughly the same price as Win7 and Win8 was.

However - the aussy dollar is **** so that's probably why. It's about $100 usd on amazon, same as ever.

This is probably the reason, the last time I bought an OS was probably 2014, more like 1:1 rather than 1.0:0.76.

UberGerbil wrote:

you should be able to find something better than list (particularly if you look for bundles with hardware). 

ha ha ha, those sort of bundles don't exist in Australia.

Option 1: Use Linux instead
Option 2: https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/

Shambles wrote:

Option 1: Use Linux instead
Option 2: https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/

It might be time to look into Steam OS.

I can't speak to Australian prices, but the US prices--$100 for OEM and $130 retail-box--are in line with what it's been since at least XP. Manufacturers have always gotten a sweetheart deal--free in the case of sub-$250 Win8.1/10 devices. Or perhaps more accurately, individuals have always gotten gouged to make the bulk license deals look more favorable. This pricing game is common in industries where the overwhelming number of sales occur through a middleman.

If Play-Asia is problematic I'd be curious to know about that, too. They have the last of the V8 Interceptors non-Lux K70 RGBs and I've thought about getting one.

Windows 10 SKUs are going at the same rates that Windows 8/8.1 went back with their depute.

Microsoft used to charge more for their Vista and 7 SKUs back in the day. Hell, XP Pro and Home retail SKUs used to cost more back in the day.

dragmor wrote:

Shambles wrote:

Option 1: Use Linux instead
Option 2: https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/

It might be time to look into Steam OS.

Don't use SteamOS, any modern Distro will work. I'm using Manjaro Linux which is a non-expert version of Arch.
https://manjaro.org/

Checked this out yet?
https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/accessi ... s10upgrade

Just buy an older windows 7 key and upgrade it maybe?

https://www.kinguin.net/category/19429/ ... l-oem-key/

paypal..  $30..

marvelous wrote:

https://www.kinguin.net/category/19429/windows-10-professional-oem-key/

paypal..  $30..

...and this is supposed to be a step up from Play Asia?

To the OP: Yeah, blame the strength of the USD vs. AUD... the exchange rate is near the worst it has been (for you) in the past half decade.

just brew it! wrote:

marvelous wrote:

https://www.kinguin.net/category/19429/windows-10-professional-oem-key/

paypal..  $30..

...and this is supposed to be a step up from Play Asia?

To the OP: Yeah, blame the strength of the USD vs. AUD... the exchange rate is near the worst it has been (for you) in the past half decade.

I'm just trying to help 

You can still upgrade Windows 7/8.1 to 10 for free using the screen reader loophole. Legal versions of 7 and 8 are easy and cheap to find. It'll take a little extra time to install/patch/upgrade, but what's more valuable: your time or your money? That's for you to decide.

Personally I'm not going to bother. When Windows 7 support ends in 2020 I'll be ready to build a whole new computer from scratch anyway. Locking it in for my current rig probably won't transfer to a complete rebuild of everything.

Never really figured out why anyone would go for a retail key over an OEM key.

I second giving linux a whirl. Paying as much for the OS as you did for the hardware is silly.

LostCat wrote:

Never really figured out why anyone would go for a retail key over an OEM key.

Guaranteed transportability of the OS to a new build. So far, Microsoft allows for that with OEM keys, but does have the right (in the EULA) to prevent it.

eBay?

odizzido wrote:

I second giving linux a whirl. Paying as much for the OS as you did for the hardware is silly.

I would explore this possibility only if his kid is not into commercially produced PC games. If he'd be perfectly happy exploring the Open Source games available in the Ubuntu repository and/or playing the Steam games that do have Linux support, then yeah this is worth pursuing.

Captain Ned wrote:

LostCat wrote:

Never really figured out why anyone would go for a retail key over an OEM key.

Guaranteed transportability of the OS to a new build.  So far, Microsoft allows for that with OEM keys, but does have the right (in the EULA) to prevent it.

Yep technically with an OEM key it is locked to that motherboard and if you change mobos you need to buy a new key.  In reality it seems like you can transfer the OEM key to a new motherboard in the vast majority of cases though.  At worst you may have to call Microsoft to do it and have them "release" the key so it can be used again.  That is assuming your OEM key is legit of course.  If it's a dodgy pirated key there is a greater chance of Microsoft not allowing you to do that.

Captain Ned wrote:

Guaranteed transportability of the OS to a new build.  So far, Microsoft allows for that with OEM keys, but does have the right (in the EULA) to prevent it.

I suppose, though I've never had issues moving any of my keys to new machines except with that Windows 7 Family Pack 3 license deal...I've not yet had a reason to get concerned about that.

Captain Ned wrote:

LostCat wrote:

Never really figured out why anyone would go for a retail key over an OEM key.

Guaranteed transportability of the OS to a new build.  So far, Microsoft allows for that with OEM keys, but does have the right (in the EULA) to prevent it.

but I thought you could do that with Windows 10 now as long as you bind your license to your Microsoft account?

whm1974 wrote:

Don't use SteamOS, any modern Distro will work. I'm using Manjaro Linux which is a non-expert version of Arch.
https://manjaro.org/

Ubuntu 16.04 doesn't like something (maybe the mSata drive), but Ubuntu 14.04 detects everything properly.

kvndoom wrote:

You can still upgrade Windows 7/8.1 to 10 for free using the screen reader loophole.  Legal versions of 7 and 8 are easy and cheap to find.  It'll take a little extra time to install/patch/upgrade, but what's more valuable: your time or your money?  That's for you to decide.

In regards to OEM licences, Microsoft in Oz seems way more strict that in the USA, I've been blocked more than once from moving the OEM version of Windows and/or Office to different machines.
In regards to OS version, I'd like to get a common platform for all of my devices / PC's and Windows 10 provided an easy path to a common OS. I'm stuck dealing multiple OS at work and I'm kind of over it. Having development PC's with 2000, XP, 7 and 8.1 (required to support our clients) has given me an appreciation for a common up to date platform.

Firestarter wrote:

but I thought you could do that with Windows 10 now as long as you bind your license to your Microsoft account?

Do people actually use a Microsoft account? I've only ever used local accounts.
Also how do you sell / give away the PC and OS when your done with it? Can you transfer the license back to the PC? or to another Microsoft account?

dragmor wrote:

Do people actually use a Microsoft account? I've only ever used local accounts.

I do. I run Windows 10 Pro on a number of systems and it is nice to have all the instances in sync. Same thing for macOS/iOS. I'm so used to it now it would be odd to go back to a disconnected existence.

Captain Ned wrote:

LostCat wrote:

Never really figured out why anyone would go for a retail key over an OEM key.

Guaranteed transportability of the OS to a new build.  So far, Microsoft allows for that with OEM keys, but does have the right (in the EULA) to prevent it.

If the OEM key costs 1/6th of retail though, I might not be inclined to care.
I'd be happy to pay $30 now, and perhaps another $30 in a few years than $120-200 outright.

jihadjoe wrote:

If the OEM key costs 1/6th of retail though, I might not be inclined to care. I'd be happy to pay $30 now, and perhaps another $30 in a few years than $120-200 outright.

nope...it's more like a full version copy for the cost of an upgrade.  
Though these full version prices seem pretty decent unless you need Pro, so I guess it's not really necessary anymore.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... isNodeId=1

LostCat wrote:

jihadjoe wrote:

If the OEM key costs 1/6th of retail though, I might not be inclined to care. I'd be happy to pay $30 now, and perhaps another $30 in a few years than $120-200 outright.

nope...it's more like a full version copy for the cost of an upgrade.  
Though these full version prices seem pretty decent unless you need Pro, so I guess it's not really necessary anymore.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... isNodeId=1

FWIW the full version can be found for about $10 cheaper on Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, and Microcenter as well.  BHPhotoVideo doesn't have sales tax the last time I bought something from them either (unless you live in NY)