Slashdot Mirror


Microsoft Cuts Vista Price In 70 Countries

dforristall alerts us to an odd move by Microsoft: cutting the price of retail boxes of Vista in many markets. Analysts didn't see this one coming, and they are scratching their heads a bit over it; one called it "very unheard of." The price cuts vary by country — they're largest in the developing world where piracy levels are high — and they don't apply to OEM copies of Vista, which account for 90% of sales. "Gartner analyst Michael Silver said the move... is puzzling... [He] noted that the market for such upgrades is fairly limited. Those who bought XP in the fourth quarter of 2006 got a coupon for a free Vista upgrade, while most of those who have bought systems since then have gotten Vista. Machines purchased prior to 2006 probably aren't all that attractive as candidates for a Vista upgrade... 'The whole notion of upgrading PCs has sort of fallen by the wayside.'"

11 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. They need to drop the price of XP by tritonman · · Score: 5, Funny

    THey need to drop the price of XP so I can buy it to replace my copy of Vista.

  2. Re:The whole idea of upgrading PCs??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Speaking of your sig, that should be "Nazis" not "Nazi's".

  3. still waiting by TCFOO · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm still waiting for Microsoft to pay people to upgrade to Vista. Ever check the resource consumption on the display models, half the resources are being used just to display the desktop.

  4. Re:The whole idea of upgrading PCs??? by MightyYar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wooosh.

    --
    W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  5. The math on this by Butisol · · Score: 2, Funny

    A slightly smaller number multiplied by zero still equals zero.

    1. Re:The math on this by EdgeyEdgey · · Score: 2, Funny

      Jayne: 10 percent of nothing is -- let me do the math here -- nothing into nothing, carry the --

      --
      [Intentionally left blank]
  6. Re:i know whats coming next by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If it's realized, they will have a power the likes of which has never been seen before on earth, and money will be the least of their concerns.

    Pinky: What are we going to do tonight, Brain?
    Brain: The same thing we do every night, Pinky. TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!
  7. Re:Americans and EU should wait until by Shados · · Score: 2, Funny

    it makes sense on an economy of scale... people who make 50 cents an hour can't buy a 300$ OS. The thing thats unfair, is that its not completly why those price drops are there. It feels like its rewarding piracy to me.

    How can you then blame people for pirating software, when you show them that if they keep doing it, they'll get a 80% discount on legit copies?

  8. Modding myself down by sm62704 · · Score: 1, Funny

    (offtopic, checking "no karma bonus" box)

    No fair, you added two more people to your "foes" list making me not the only guy on it any more.

    Now my feelings are hurt!

    --
    mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
  9. Re:Americans and EU should wait until by Spudtrooper · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Chinese may get it for $5, but they also have to live in China.

  10. Re:i know whats coming next by somersault · · Score: 3, Funny

    It can't be that hard - today's chips are only fabbed using 2D construction, so you just need to get a magnifying glass and a light, and look for the reflections coming off the little door handle or knocker.

    --
    which is totally what she said