Gold Shield Computers Recommends These Retailers
3/7/10
PCProgramsWholesale.com Review
Posted: 07 Mar 2010 03:02 AM PST
In
this review, I am going to be looking at a site called PC Programs
Wholesale. PC Programs Wholesale is a website were you can purchase
software licenses at a discounted price. Some of the products they
carry are: Avast! Professional, AVG Internet Security, BitDefender
Internet Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, McAfee Total
Protection, Microsoft Office/XP/Vista/7/Server, Symantec Norton
Antivirus and ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall.
Upon checking the price of the antivirus products, some very similar to
what I pay though my wholesaler. However some of the products such as
Microsoft Office is more than
50% cheaper than what I can get them for though my technician only sources.
What is even more useful to me as a computer technician are the costs
of the Windows operating systems since I sell a whole lot more of them.
Just about all of them are around $50 cheaper than what I can get them
for via my suppliers, so the prices on this site are really good.
I asked one of the co-founders of the site ,”James”, who is also a Technibble forum member
and a Computer Technician, how they are so cheap. He said that they buy
their licenses in large quantities directly from Microsoft which makes
them eligible for some deep discounts. These licenses are sold as
Medialess License Kits where you will just get license key without a
COD sticker or a CD. The owner tells me that these licenses are full
retail and not OEM, Volume License, Academic, Upgrades or any other
special situation licences so you should be able to sell them on as you
please. The co-owner went on to say this in the forums:
Ok let me work out some fears you all might have.
1. “Why is it so cheap?” Because we buy in HUGE bulk, and we get discounts, and take very little profit
2. “Why are there no stickers?” Because in the format we get them in
(because we buy huge bulk) we get HUGE amount of keys in an excel file.
A small group of Technicians on the Technibble forums have been asking some other questions
such as how can they prove that they own a legitimate copy of Windows
without the COD sticker. One of the technicians did a little digging
and found this in Microsofts terms:
16. PROOF OF LICENSE.
a. Genuine Proof of License. If you acquired the software on a disc or
other media, your proof of license is the genuine Microsoft certificate
of authenticity label with the accompanying genuine product key, and
your proof of purchase. If
you purchased and downloaded the software online, your proof of license
is the genuine Microsoft product key for the software which you
received with your purchase, and your proof of purchase from an
authorized electronic supplier of genuine Microsoft software. Proof of
purchase may be subject to verification by your merchant’s records.
Basically what this means is that a sale without the COA sticker is
legal as on as you have a receipt, the reseller has a record of your
purchase and the reseller is authorized to distribute Microsoft
software.
Of course, this wouldnt be much of a review unless I tested the
actual product myself so I was given a copy of Microsoft Office license
to test. When I ran it, it had no problems installing and activating. I
also installed the “Office Genuine Advantage” update and made sure that
it phoned home to Microsoft in order to check it. OGA also considers
this software as a legitimate copy.
To further investigate, I asked a Technibble member who has purchased from them from the past how everything went and he said:
I order the licenses and within 18 hours I have a
license key. I have ordered about 20 licenses from them so far for
various applications and every one has worked and activated with no
issues. I am not sure how they are getting licenses so cheap, they must
be buying in a very large quantity or have a hookup at M$. Either way
every key we have plugged in (win 7 home premium, windows 7 pro, office
2007 home and student, office 2007 pro, server 2008, server 2008 R2,
everything is coming back as 100% activated and everything passes
microsofts legitimacy tests.
It looks like a pretty good place to buy cheap licenses if you have
no issues with not having a COD sticker. If you have any further
questions about the licensing, James is available either via Live Chat
on his site (if hes online) or via email.
Site: http://www.PCProgramsWholesale.com
3/4/10
Three sweet software deals
Bleh. Enough with the hardware. Yesterday's quad-core desktop sold out quicker than a congressman in an election year. (Hi-yo!)
Today I've got three, three, three
deals for the price of one. And because they're all software, and all
downloadable, there's no sellout risk. (They do have time limits,
though, so get clickin' on the ones you want.)
This year's MacHeist bundle is another great deal for Mac users and a boon for charities.
(Credit:
MacHeist)
1. MacHeist nanoBundle 2
It's the return of one of my all-time favorite deals! For just $19.95
you get seven great Mac apps, which have a combined value of $260. Even
better, 25 percent of the proceeds goes to your choice of 11 terrific
charities.
There is one caveat: You initially get just five of
the apps; only after MacHeist sells a certain number of additional
bundles are the sixth and seventh made available. And because the
promotion ends in about a week, there's a chance those two extras might
never get unlocked.
Still, savings and philanthropy in one fell
swoop -- I love it! (Now how about a Windows version, guys? Seriously,
I'll help out!)
UniWar for iPhone and iPod Touch: Normally $5, free today.
(Credit:
Javaground, USA)
2. UniWar for iPhone/iPod
Normally $4.99, this StarCraft-style strategy game lets you compete
online with other live opponents. And because it's a turn-based game,
you can play more or less at your own pace. UniWar is today's offer
from Free App a Day, meaning it's available--you guessed it--today only.
3. WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe
Every few months, Digiarty Software gives away one of its premium
titles. From now until March 15, you can score WinX HD Video Converter
Deluxe absolutely free. Regular price: 50 smackers.
This utility
can convert just about any video format to just about any other video
format, and it has built-in profiles for everything from BlackBerry to
Zune.
To get it, click the big orange "Get It Now for Free"
button, write down the license code at the bottom of the following
page, then go back to the previous page and click "Free Download."
Install the software and enter the code when you get to the
registration screen. (Let's see who's first to come whining to the
comments page that "this software isn't free!" because they didn't
follow the directions. :)
Good stuff, no? Take that, lousy sold-out hardware!
Find more deals, coupon codes, and bargains on CNET's Shopper.com.
2/17/2010|
![]() |
Get
a quad-core desktop PC for $348![]() |
|
|
The sellout risk is high on this refurbished,
space-saving desktop, which packs a blazingly fast processor, a huge
hard drive, and Windows 7.
About The
Cheapskate
The best things
in tech are cheap. "The Cheapskate" scours the Web for great deals on
PCs, phones, gadgets, and much more. Disclosure: Deals found on the
Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration and other terms
determined by sellers. Find more on our The
Cheapskate Blog, Twitter: twitter.com/cheapskateblog
and RSS.
|
|
|
|
![]() |
Get
a Blu-ray/VHS combo player for $139.99![]() |
|
|
The Panasonic DMP-BD70V doesn't record like your
old VCR, but it can play your old tapes. It's also a nicely equipped
Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player.
About The
Cheapskate
The best things
in tech are cheap. "The Cheapskate" scours the Web for great deals on
PCs, phones, gadgets, and much more. Disclosure: Deals found on the
Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration and other terms
determined by sellers. Find more on our The
Cheapskate Blog, Twitter: twitter.com/cheapskateblog
and RSS.
|
|
|