OEM or full retail of Win7 OS?

I'm in Australia and am considering buying Parallels Desktop in order to run some Windows-only software on my MacBook Pro. I can buy a new OEM Win7 Pro DVD or pay three-four times as much for a full retail version of the same software. Note that here in Australia Windows OS software is far more expensive than in the US. Can I use new (ie, never before installed) OEM OS software to run Windows in a VM under Parallels? If so, are there any disadvantages in taking this course?

Note that, according to Microsoft, OEM will work OK. See here

same link again...
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...arallels/8d5ce135-ef6d-4e51-af22-f2d49f821245

If I can't use OEM, can I acquire full retail Windows OS disk directly from US suppliers and use that? Alternatively, can I somehow buy Windows from Parallels at the US price (I'm aware that presently Parallels advertises sales of Windows OS to customers only in US and Canada)?

The cost of the full version of Windows OS here in Australia is the main reason I have not yet committed to buying Parallels. In fact it would be cheaper for me here to buy a new Win7 notebook than use Parallels with full retail price Win7 OS on my Mac. I'd rather use Parallels but hate being ripped off.

 

You can use OEM - there is no problem with this solution.

 

Thanks

Thanks for that, it's a considerable cash saving for me. May I suggest that you include this information in your FAQ, perhaps under the question "Is OEM software for the OS usable with Parallels?".

 

The limitation of the OEM is that you cannot transfer/move this license to another physical machine.

If there is any reference to OEM software in any FAQ it should be also explicit that bringing a Windows installation with OEM license via Parallels Transporter is not possible.

 

Usually OEM licenses are already preinstalled to PC you are buying. Microsoft does not retail OEM licenses and i believe we cannot include this info to any FAQ.

 

Microsoft's 'Get Genuine' Kits are OEM versions of Windows and Office that serve to legalize pirated copies. These are OEM licenses. And are a perfect legitimate way of acquiring a Windows license at a lower cost separated from the computer.

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/antipiracy/pages/get_genuine_kit.aspx