Exchange Rates Spell High Prices for Windows 7 In the EU

CWmike writes "European customers will pay up to twice as much for Windows 7 compared with US users, even though the new operating system will ship without a browser in Europe. Some of the money Microsoft stands to make on the European editions of Windows 7 comes from the weak dollar. Last week, for instance, the dollar fell against the euro the most in a month, hitting $1.41 per euro. For example, Windows 7 Professional, the key retail edition for businesses, will sport a price tag of 285 euros, or $400.60, and £189.99, or $313.84, at Saturday's exchange rate. In other words, EU customers will pay twice the $199.99 U.S. price; U.K. buyers will pay 57% more. And depending on your view on bundling IE, Europe's customers will be paying more for less, with Microsoft's decision to yank IE8 from Windows 7 in an effort to head off EU antitrust regulators, who may still force the company to take more drastic measures."

Comments

It's not only Europe

[Anonymous Coward]

In Australia, the price of Windows 7 is AU$200. The US equivalent is AU$60.
You do the math.

Yes, this is a big "f*** you" from Redmond.

AC

Re:It's not only Europe

[TheRaven64]

Or use something else. Seriously. Pirating Windows just helps Microsoft by promoting network effects, letting device and software makers get away with only supporting Windows and making the next version of Windows more attractive to buyers. If you think Windows is too expensive don't buy it. Either stick with the old version, or migrate to something else.

Been there, done that

[benbread]

Pretty much the entire rest of the world got fucked over with Vista pricing too.. Here's how Gates weasel'd out of it @1:08: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmd93lWbOsw

Re:Fine

[h4rm0ny]

It makes sense. They don't really lose anything as this is prior to you actually being able to buy it. Microsoft seem pretty confident that their new system is something to be proud of, so they get to show it off in the most ballsy way possible - by letting you actually have a copy and try it out for an entire year. The Vista criticism is now somewhat mitigated by people being able to get a copy of Windows 7 to install right now. Microsoft benefit from the "thousand eyes" testing principle of GNU/Linux. And when the time comes round that it is available to buy, you have an inducement in that its already installed and in use. There are also Advance Order deals available right now that let you buy it for half-price. Also, unlike the ridiculous number of different Vista versions there were, Windows 7 (ignoring server and mobile variants) comes in three flavours: Home, Professional and Ultimate which are easily differentiated by a short feature list of extras. Home Edition isn't the hamstrung version that it was with XP or Vista. It only lacks a couple of features that pros really would want, and Ultimate only adds things that really sound like the most exclusive features (e.g. the on and off-disk encryption utilities). So you aren't forced to buy some "deluxe" system just for basic features you'd expect.

I think Microsoft are being "generous" for very sound financial reasons. They reckon people will try this and actually want to buy it. I'm a Gentoo and Kubuntu user most of the time, but credit where its due.

Re:Not surprising

[beelsebob]

Not forgetting that the EU price includes sales tax, while the US one doesn't, lets add for example belgium's 21% sales tax -- that makes the US price actually â861. Still not a great deal in the EU, but not as royally shafted as you made it look.

Re:Fine

[jimicus]

Photography stuff is even worse. It's not unknown to find a DSLR will be priced at:

$799 = £899 = â950

Re:Biggest Shock Of All

[Skuto]

Windows pricing is exactly opposite as you describe, so you just reinforced the original posters point.