Microsoft To Sell Win XP Starter Edition In Russia

Garabito writes "Cnet reports that Microsoft plans to distribute in Russia the low-cost, stripped-down version of Windows XP, called 'Starter Edition.' This release of Windows is aimed at markets in developing nations, and is known for not allowing more than three applications to run at the same time and not being networking capable. This product will not be available on retail, but will be distributed by OEM vendors in new PCs, at an approximate price of US$36. On a side note, the article also states that the MS tax paid by vendors to Microsoft for Windows XP licenses is $70 or more."

Comments

The English Language

[Anonymous Coward]

The word is paid, not payed.

Piracy

[Nickolay Stelmashenk]

Being from the former Soviet Union myself, I can attest to the fact that piracy is very rampant, and that this "starter" edition will do little to combat it. People who just want the real thing will have to take five minutes of their time to visit their nearest street vendor and buy the full version for less than $2.

Re:Piracy

[ceeam]

Well, closer to $3 now due to inflation. ;)

Re:Piracy

[bircho]

Being from a "third world country", i can attest this isn't true only in Russia. But I think the biggest problem isn't bad people selling pirated CDs that people WANT to buy.

When you use indian workers to code something three times cheaper, then try to sell it in a country three times more expensive than it would cost if it was built there, something must be wrong.

US$30 is 5-10% of a programer's salary here. Piracy is a economical problem, not technical one.

Pro?? Um, right.

[No Such Agency]

If someone doesn't have the money for a nice computer with a legit copy of WinXP Pro and all the other goodies

Hell, I can't afford a copy of WinXP Pro. I have the XP Home that came OEM with my new machine. But I could afford to set up a network if I wanted. Cost of one: $400 CDN, cost of the other: $60 for a router and $40 for cables.

Re:Ridiculous

[Alioth]

Ummm... $36 is not 20% of your monthly income - it's just under 5% of your monthly income if your monthly income is $741. (36/741)*100.

Re:Microsoft Tax?

[ohsoot]

I bought my laptop (no OS or, more importantly, no stupid windows sticker on it) from here.

Re:Ridiculous

[Anonymous Coward]

The $741 are purchasing power parity. Things cost much less over there. Also they don't include tax. Most likely they get something like $250 so 20% is not that far off the mark.

Re:Seems reasonable to me.

[JanusFury]

I still don't understand what purpose is served by having two NIC cards and a hub if they don't have computers to connect them to.

Re:Ridiculous

[shutdown -p now]

In the town where I lived, a manager of a relatively small (~20 employees) private drugstore gets about $200 a month. This is considered pretty good.

XP "Tax"

[RzUpAnmsCwrds]

"the article also states that the MS tax payed by vendors to Microsoft for Windows XP licenses is $70 or more."

That figure is just plain wrong. On Pricewatch, an XP Home COA sells for $43, and I know for a fact that Dell or HP isn't paying as much for a COA as myself buying a single license on Pricewatch.

LOL.

[Anonymous Coward]

I never used a licensed Windows and won't use it. Because I can buy it here, in russia for 3 dollars.

Re:The Same Reason I bought an XBOX

[Frizzle Fry]

Drug dealers may also loose [sic] money when they try to get new customers.

Who are these drug dealers and how do I meet them? Thanks.