Windows Vista to debut at bargain price?

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft, Commercial

Windows Vista to debut at bargain price?

by Jordan Running Sep 5th 2005

VistaKnowledge.com is reporting that when Windows Vista hits store shelves it will have a price tag of just $99, and just over half that for OEMs. As far as I can tell this is completely unconfirmed, but the article claims that Microsoft is going with a lower price to curb piracy and encourage XP hangers-on to upgrade, which may be a necessary strategy since Microsoft has yet to show us many compelling reasons to switch to its shiny new baby.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Brian Stucki said 8:43PM on 9-05-2005

I'll believe it when it happens. Maybe this was leaked as a temporary fix for the negative press that has come from little else to get excited for.

AFD said 11:44PM on 9-05-2005

They can give it away for free, for all I care. When they stop wasting their resources catering to the music and video industry, and spend their time creating new and innovative ideas for the consumer - then I'll be willing to consider buying their products again.

Zelidar said 1:28AM on 9-06-2005

I agree with AFD and, anyway, what is the real price of a Ms OS update? Basically it is Cost/buyers and when you got 90% of the PCs worldwide I'd be surprised the result to be above $10. In the end the price they choose is what WE can afford, not what we should pay.

Nicole Simon said 8:06AM on 9-06-2005

You mean "has to remove features which are brought to us as shiny new features".

I will only update to Vista, if I can turn off the embedded digital rights management, because it claims to be something which it is not. It is not there to ensure digital rights but a special view on digital rights from industry standpoint.

Which they can do of course. They are free to iomplement what they think to be best.

And I am free to choose what I think is best for me. In this case: Not many reasons for, but absolut big reasons against a windows vista.

JinFX said 12:48PM on 9-06-2005

I'd be surprised the result to be above $10.

Posted at 1:23 AM ET on Sep 6, 2005 by Zelidar 1 star

thats funny cuz all legit games (and a lot of software) r just under 10$US in China

J.T. Mill said 6:24PM on 9-06-2005

I can see them doing this in a heart beat. Microsoft is pulling out all the stops to make this version of Windows "revolutionary" (unless of course you've ever used a mac). Making a low price would help people like me who are simply wondering how long they can hold onto XP and also those schools and businesses that are still on 98. I can also see Microsoft doing a pricing strategy similar to the Xbox 360. Maybe they'll make a version of Vista that's expensive with all the features and another cheapo version with similar limitations to the 3rd world county version of Windows.

Featured Time Waster

Civiballs is a beautiful, soothing physics puzzle Time Waster

I have an absolute weakness for physics games, and while Civiballs isn't the strongest physics-based game, what it lacks in the physics department it makes up for a few times over in style and fun.

In Civiballs, you are presented with a few colored balls, and your goal is to get those balls into the same-colored urn on the level. The "civi" part of Civiballs is that there are 3 sets of levels to play, each representing a different civilization. While the civilization doesn't affect gameplay, the artwork for each level is beautifully themed to it's appropriate era.

To play the game, you are given only one tool - a sword with which to cut the chains that are holding the balls. The puzzle part of the game is in figuring out what order, and with what timing to cut each chain. Do it right, and all the right balls end up in the right urns, with no stray balls entering an urn (a no-no). Do it wrong, and you get to start over again.

Civiballs is not terribly deep on gameplay; the entire game can be completed in about 15 minutes. But if you enjoy this type of game, it will be a very enjoyable 15 minutes.

View more Time Wasters