Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mcnc!beguine!Robert.Berry
From: Robert.Berry@samba.acs.unc.edu (BBS Account)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Passing  GO, etc. (was Re: OEM)
Message-ID: <802@beguine.UUCP>
Date: 14 Aug 90 02:48:30 GMT
Sender: usenet@beguine.UUCP
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Sorry, Walt, I stand by my definition.  Where did I get it?

"The Winn Rosch Hardware Bible," p. 25: ". . . Original Equipment Manufacturers
or OEMs.  This meaningless term describes companies fabricating their products
from the products of other companies.  Some invest as little time and effort
as it takes to put a nameplate on a finished product produced by someone
else.  Others incorporate subassemblies into more powerfule products and 
submit them to thorough testing."

"The Computer Glossary," by Alan Freedman, p. 492: "An OEM is a manufacturer
that sells equipment to a reseller.  The term is also used to refer to the
reseller, as well.  OEM customers typically purchase hardware from a
manufacturer and resell it under their own brand names.  They may combine
units from several vendors as well as add software.  The terms OEM and
VAR are often used synonymously."

That's why my ATI VGA Wonder card is called the "OEM version," because it's
the version they sell to other companies (OEMs) who put their name on it.

Robert Berry / rrberry@unc.bitnet