DigiTimes does not specifically mention Surface but there are not too many devices running Windows 8 which can be purchased for under $250. By reducing the licensing fee by $35 for machines that are at that price level Microsoft might make system builders a little more interested to include low cost Windows 8 machines in their lineup as they can sell at a higher margin or at a lower MSRP. Of course consumers would still have to buy them for those companies to make a profit and it seems very unlikely that a 10% price reduction will convince people they need a Surface or similar device when there are so many other alternatives available. It does make you wonder if you could get your hands on a Win8 license at a lower cost if you promise to install it on a cheap system.
"Microsoft plans to further decrease Windows 8.1 licensing rates for entry-level PCs priced below US$250 and tablets, from nearly US$50 currently to about US$15, according to Taiwan-based PC supply chain makers."
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Windows 9 will do for those
Windows 9 will do for those looking at Windows 8. I just look at every other release: XP, 7, and now waiting for 9, and give 10 a miss like Vista and Millenium
You couldnt pay me to use a
You couldnt pay me to use a TABLET os on a Desktop pc or any pc for that matter. Win 7 is the Golden Os. It works. Its actually well Made for the Desktop.
And best of all IT ISNT WINBLOWS 8. Complete and udder crap os like windows RT and surface first Gen.
It would be nice if they
It would be nice if they would at least cut the retail price for Windows by half. All their competitors are giving the OS away for free and it would also help a lot of people that are on windows XP that will soon be stranded.
I’m currently using an Asus
I’m currently using an Asus X200CA that i bought for $217 and came with the full version of Windows 8.1. It has every feature I could possibly want in a small “notebook”: touchscreen, Ethernet, Wi-fi, Bluetooth, chiclet keyboard, USB3.0, and HDMI out. With the dropping of the license fees it would be interesting to see if Asus could release the same thing for under $200.
I wanted to buy a Windows 8.1 tablet, but couldn’t find one in the same price range that had a USB port and SD memory card slot. Ended up buying this instead and got a whole lot more for the money.