Acer: Vista forces Windows price hike
updated 09:30 am EDT, Fri October 27, 2006
Acer and Vista Price Hike
Acer senior corporate VP Jim Wong has openly challenged Microsoft's pricing for the Home editions of Windows Vista, according to a report by PCPro. The executive notes that many of the most frequently promoted features of Vista, such as the Aero Glass 3D-accelerated interface and Media Center software, are conspicuously absent from Home Basic, pushing buyers towards the more expensive -- and for Microsoft, more lucrative -- Home Premium.
"Right at the beginning they started talking about the experience of [Vista Home] Premium. Premium is the real Vista," Wong says.
Critics have already attacked Microsoft for raising the effective price, but Wong observes that there will be a tangible impact for system builders, who will have to absorb the cost into their system prices. "We have to pay more but users are not going to pay more," he says, citing a 10% increase in the license price that translates to a 1-2% spike in the system price. British PC maker Evesham and others have echoed these remarks and don't plan to ship any systems with Vista Home Basic.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2000
Vista extortion-well duh
Maybe, just maybe Acer and other PC mfg's will get a clue and realize M$ is not their friend. Can we finally see PCs ship with Linux - or, heaven forbid, give customers a choice?...
"Would you like your PC with Linux or Windows sir?"
"What's the difference?"
"Well, if we do the install for you, Linux will take 10 minutes and we'll charge you $20 service. If we do the Windows install for you, it will take 1 hour and the price is $199 + $80 service, and you'll have to get an internet connection before 30 days is up, and be connected to the internet all the time so M$ can monitor your system to guarantee your software is 'Genuine Windows'."
"Hmmm, I'll have to think about that... Why is Windows so expensive?"
"That's the Microsoft tax."
"Doesn't e v e r y b o d y use Windows?"
"Not anymore."