Microsoft Caves: Comes out with XP 50% cheaper or lose Thai & other Countries business to Linux

[dmcowen674]

2-8-2004 Microsoft developing new 'light' version of Win XP to save Emerging Markets

Microsoft offered Windows XP Home and Office standard edition to those buying budget PCs under the project for 1,500 baht, which had been an unprecedented departure for the company that does its best to adhere to a global pricing model for its products.

Leading industry analyst Gartner predicted that Thailand's ICT PC project could have global ramifications, and it forecast that Microsoft was likely to change its global pricing policy and that this would lead to at least a 50 percent reduction in the price of Windows and Office suites in emerging markets.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Hmm, considering you can buy pirate copies for a couple of bucks I doubt $40 will make many converts except for governments and businesses trying to go legit. On the otherhand, I'm not sure any country in its right mind should trust MS products in the Bush Age.

Competition is good.

 

[0roo0roo]

i'm sure the piracy will drop by 0%.

 

[SuperTool]

Less bloated version of Windows would be good, and not just in emerging markets