Job Discussion Forums

[argonfly707]

Hi Guys,

I am curious as to where in Taichung I could find myself Windows XP in English. Either proffesional or home. Any help is appreciated.

Argon

[clark.w.griswald]

Just a word of warning on buying English software in Taiwan.

I once purchased what I believed to be an original version of Windows from the 3C chain store (the big yellow one) on the assumption that all would be legit.

I am fully aware that you can get knock-off versions at night markets for probably under NTD50, but I wanted to have the real product so was willing to pay the several thouand dollars that they were asking.

Upon taking my computer and software boxes etc home I discovered that I paid thousands of dollars for the OEM version of the software which is quite clearly marked as 'Not for retail sale'. This is also reinforced on the Microsoft website.

NB: For anyone who is not sure what OEM is, it is a full version of the software that licence holding stores can obtain and upload to new computers so that when you buy a new computer it already has windows installed. Smart huh!

Anyway, I went back to the store and argued for a couple of hours. The staff were telling me that the real version is about twice as much as the one that I purchased and that it is quite okay to buy and sell the OEM version (despite the obvious evidence on the packaging to the contrary).

I was finally put on the phone to Microsoft in Taiwan (I dialled myself so yes it was the real office!) and was told that Microsoft does permit the retail sale of the OEM product in Taiwan. I was told that it was a way that they could compete with fake products by offering a real version at a much lower price than the fully boxed version.

Under such terms the OEM has all the functions of the full boxed version with the exception of a world-wide guarantee. If there is a problem with the OEM version that you purchase then you will need to rely upon the original supplier for assistance. If you move cities or even leave the country then the OEM version will not be covered by any form of guarantee and in that regard it becomes pretty much an overpriced fake version.

So I had to accept that this is the way that things are done in Taiwan and that the store was within it's rights to sell me the product that I had purchased. I suggested that the store should really tell the consumer (particularly foreign consumers) this and give them the choice for the higher priced full product. The store agreed and ended up fully refunding my money in return for the software, even though the software remained installed on my computer.

Full credit to the manager at 3C (Taipei city - Xinyi Rd/Guangfu South Road) as he spoke quite reasonable English and was a very reasonable person to deal with. He was quite clearly in the right and this foreigner was in the wrong but he appreciated my point of view, and we seldom see this sort of profesionalism in Taiwan. I would recommned that you buy from 3C.

[TaoyuanSteve]

It's a bit hit or miss locating English versions of software here. I don't live in Taizhong, but I know they have a Nova computer mall. Go there and go around to all the systems and software guys and ask if they have, or know anyone who has, English windows. You probably can locate it in a big place like that. When I was looking in Taoyuan, I managed to find an OEM copy in a store after searching quite a few other places with no luck. Some places will be willing to order one in for you, if you cannot locate a copy in-store.

[argonfly707]

Thanks for the help guys. I tried 3C in Feng Yuan but they did not have it. So this weekend I am going to Taichung and checking out NOVA hopefully they will have it.

Argon