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OEM Last modified: Wednesday, January 16, 2008
(pronounced as separate letters) Short for original equipment manufacturer, which is a misleading term for a company that has a special relationship with computer producers. OEMs are manufacturers who resell another company's product under their own name and branding. While an OEM is similar to a VAR (value-added reseller), it refers specifically to the act of a company rebranding a product to its own name and offering its own warranty, support and licensing of the product. The term is really a misnomer because OEMs are not the original manufacturers; they are the customizers. Contrast with IHV (Independent Hardware Vendor).
Burning Questions: The Perils of Non-Retail Drives Some drives have trusted brand names you've seen on a store shelf near you, like Sony, Pioneer, or Lite-On; other drives may be offered by companies that are equally familiar, but that don't typically sell their drives at retail. Buying OEM versions of Windows Vista: The Facts Microsoft licenses OEM software to "system builders" which the license defines as "an original equipment manufacturer, or an assembler, reassembler, or installer of software on computer systems". When asked, Microsoft says that OEM software is not intended to be installed by end users. Is It Legal To Buy OEM Software? In most cases like this, no. According to the Software & Information Industry Association Anti-Piracy FAQ, OEM software is illegal when not used in accordance with the software license. PracticallyNetworked.com PracticallyNetworked.com provides easy-to-understand help for small-network builders. The site contains how-to information for setting up and debugging home-office and small-business networks. Users can also find extensive troubleshooting information, tips on getting applications to work through firewalls, product reviews on network hardware and software, and more. Webopedia's Quick Reference Section Use this Webopedia reference section for information on common Internet and computer facts and occurrences.	Related Categories Hardware Hardware Companies Software Related Terms application barebones computer hardware IHV license RMA VAR