Digit Technology Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Buying WD HardDisk

The Sorcerer · 12-03-2009, 03:00 AM

Silver cover= static bags= OEM drives
Retail=box+ some other packaging= retail packs
Both are legal to be sold as per manufacturer's policy and have standard 5 year warranty but OEM are cheaper by default. Other than that, I haven't seen much difference- even the model numbers are same. All shopkeepers are supposed to give you the bill for legal reasons. The warranty is usually is on the serial number and the status can be checked from WD's site. If they cant find the serial number, they ask for a copy of the bill. In this day of age anyone who is even atleast 10 standard pass from a decent background knows that you have to take a proper bill since you are paying for it- to the government as vat and other tax and to the company since the warranty is included in it and its for consumers to be on a safe side if some conflict happens. Both retail AND OEM get a copy of the bill- no but no if.
I never had an issue with WD so far and my 500GB seagate drives was replaced 8 times in a row. Its a no brainer to check which person uses what power supply. As I observed based on hard drives Sata drives are more sensitive to voltage ripple against IDE drives which has a great shell life.

12-03-2009, 03:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
The Sorcerer Wise Old Owl Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,726	Re: Buying WD HardDisk - Advise needed. Silver cover= static bags= OEM drives Retail=box+ some other packaging= retail packs Both are legal to be sold as per manufacturer's policy and have standard 5 year warranty but OEM are cheaper by default. Other than that, I haven't seen much difference- even the model numbers are same. All shopkeepers are supposed to give you the bill for legal reasons. The warranty is usually is on the serial number and the status can be checked from WD's site. If they cant find the serial number, they ask for a copy of the bill. In this day of age anyone who is even atleast 10 standard pass from a decent background knows that you have to take a proper bill since you are paying for it- to the government as vat and other tax and to the company since the warranty is included in it and its for consumers to be on a safe side if some conflict happens. Both retail AND OEM get a copy of the bill- no but no if. I never had an issue with WD so far and my 500GB seagate drives was replaced 8 times in a row. Its a no brainer to check which person uses what power supply. As I observed based on hard drives Sata drives are more sensitive to voltage ripple against IDE drives which has a great shell life.