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Microsoft: No Windows 8 Retail?

techs

techs

Lifer
http://www.slashgear.com/microsoft-windows-8-retail-may-be-axed-entirely-13238498/

Microsoft Windows 8 retail may be axed entirely

The latest Windows-related rumor might be a big one, depending on what you’re tempted to believe. According to Microsoft insiders Paul Thurrot and Mary Jo Foley, the company may be looking to drop the retail version of Windows 8 entirely. This would leave Windows 8 with just two versions: the $40 upgrade DVD and the Windows 8 System Builder Kit (OEM version).

With the Windows 8 OEM licensing rate starting at $60, this rumor is leading some to believe that Windows 8 might end up costing quite a bit less than Windows 7 did. Consider, for a moment, that the OEM version of Windows 7 only cost $134.99, while the retail version’s price tag came in at a whopping $299.99. It isn’t that hard to imagine that with a price of admission that high, at least a few customers shied away from picking up the retail version of Windows 7.

So, it might be that Microsoft is looking to scrap the retail version of Windows 8 altogether and give potential users a couple less expensive options.



So, the dumb fools who laid out 300 bucks for a "retail" Windows 7 are no longer going to have that opportunity with Windows 8?
Methinks I smell desperation in the air.
 
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Desperation and the realization they do not wish to support their new metro user interface.

They will receive too many phone calls from confused, semi-capable users.
 
Not sure where you get desperation from. Sounds like they're attempting a new strategy with distribution, desperation would be to get it out in as many outlets charging next to nothing for it.
 
hmmm... i wouldnt be surprised. and if this is true, what do you want to bet that they wont even sell win8 desktops? just tablets and phones. if you want win8 on your desktop or laptop, then you need to buy the upgrade dvd and suit yourself.
 
wirednuts said:
hmmm... i wouldnt be surprised. and if this is true, what do you want to bet that they wont even sell win8 desktops? just tablets and phones. if you want win8 on your desktop or laptop, then you need to buy the upgrade dvd and suit yourself.
Click to expand...

Not even MS is stupid enough to abandon the desktop market.
 
Skel said:
Not sure where you get desperation from. Sounds like they're attempting a new strategy with distribution, desperation would be to get it out in as many outlets charging next to nothing for it.
Click to expand...

They're a software company, they won't make money unless they charge something.

A decrease of 40% on an OEM version wreaks of desperation, btw. Consider too that the OEM version costs us ~$100 while laptop/desktop manufacturers pay ~$30 so that'll be even cheaper as well.
 
Sounds more like they're taking another idea from Apple and looking to increase digital distribution, lower the price of version upgrades, and decrease the time between major releases.

That should have the effect of decreasing piracy, lowering their overhead, and increasing revenue.
 
I'm wondering on how could Win8 not be a flop. If I'm an enthusiast and I don't even care what chance would it have with the masses.
 
Microsoft's pricing scheme was crazy IMO.

Example - someone has Win7 HP and wants the XP mode in Pro. In the UK, that upgrade through Microsoft costs as much as buying the OEM licence. £100 ($155 USD).
 
Skel said:
Not even MS is stupid enough to abandon the desktop market.
Click to expand...

They've already done that by forcing Desktop users to even look at Metro. I'd get Win8 if it wasn't some convoluted mess of switching back and forth between two GUI.

What they need to do is split the two products. Metro and Desktop.
 
pelov said:
They're a software company, they won't make money unless they charge something.

A decrease of 40% on an OEM version wreaks of desperation, btw. Consider too that the OEM version costs us ~$100 while laptop/desktop manufacturers pay ~$30 so that'll be even cheaper as well.
Click to expand...


Not sure I agree. Desperation would be them turning around and going the Android route “we’re giving this OS away for free in hopes to make our money on the back end”, not cutting the costs on a very risky direction change. If they cut the costs down to $25 bucks retail then I’d agree that’d be a desperate plead to get people to move to the OS.
 
Jaskalas said:
They've already done that by forcing Desktop users to even look at Metro. I'd get Win8 if it wasn't some convoluted mess of switching back and forth between two GUI.

What they need to do is split the two products. Metro and Desktop.
Click to expand...

So everyone can say that MS is always FAIL on the tablet front? MS only has a chance with this by unifying the desktop and the tablet, allowing a user to intergrade the tablet with their work life. Other than that they're just begging the Apple fanboys to kill them with FUD.
 
Skel said:
Not sure I agree. Desperation would be them turning around and going the Android route “we’re giving this OS away for free in hopes to make our money on the back end”, not cutting the costs on a very risky direction change. If they cut the costs down to $25 bucks retail then I’d agree that’d be a desperate plead to get people to move to the OS.
Click to expand...

Most licenses MS sells are OEM and mainly because it's pre-built. Consider most licenses are laptops anyway, over 2/3's. Decreasing that price by 40% to you isn't desperation but a measly $25 on the retail products they sell at higher prices anyway and far less volume is?

Does not compute.
 
Are there people actually thinking of buying it?

I probably wouldn't consider it for $5....heck make it Free.

Give me one reason to upgrade from Win7
 
pelov said:
Most licenses MS sells are OEM and mainly because it's pre-built. Consider most licenses are laptops anyway, over 2/3's. Decreasing that price by 40% to you isn't desperation but a measly $25 on the retail products they sell at higher prices anyway and far less volume is?

Does not compute.
Click to expand...

That's a really good point, and I didn't really think it through. My point was if MS was really desperate they'd get it in as many channels as they could for as cheap as possible.
 
Jaskalas said:
They've already done that by forcing Desktop users to even look at Metro. I'd get Win8 if it wasn't some convoluted mess of switching back and forth between two GUI.

What they need to do is split the two products. Metro and Desktop.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping there's a simple button option for the classic desktop.
 
And you don't see a 40% decrease on nearly all of their licensing money from Windows 8 as cheap as possible?

You need to take a step back and think this through a bit better.

Enthusiast community hates Metro and win8.
Most reviewers don't understand what the benefits of win8 are and generally dislike it.

Microsoft releases an "app store," tied around a different operating system (Metro, as it doesn't behave with the regular desktop) that works much better on a touch device held sideways wide screen resolution and a new tablet that just happens to be 16x9 and works beautifully with Metro.

The 40% decrease is a desperate act by MS to get enthusiasts and system builders to upgrade from win7 on the desktop/laptop and OEMs on board, knowing full well that win8 offers nothing for your average desktop user already on win7. 40% cheaper means OEMs are more likely to buy it and means more devices that otherwise would have skipped win8 entirely are sold on a platform that the operating system was never really intended for.
 
Vdubchaos said:
Are there people actually thinking of buying it?

I probably wouldn't consider it for $5....heck make it Free.

Give me one reason to upgrade from Win7
Click to expand...

If you're happy with Windows 7 there really is no reason yo upgrade unless you like living on the bleeding edge. It's $40 to upgrade anyway so it's not a bad deal anyway
 
Vdubchaos said:
Are there people actually thinking of buying it?

I probably wouldn't consider it for $5....heck make it Free.

Give me one reason to upgrade from Win7
Click to expand...

Dominato3r said:
If you're happy with Windows 7 there really is no reason yo upgrade unless you like living on the bleeding edge. It's $40 to upgrade anyway so it's not a bad deal anyway
Click to expand...

If upgrading to Windows 8 will disable your Windows 7 key, meaning you can't go back, then thats a reason NOT to buy it.
 
Dominato3r said:
If you're happy with Windows 7 there really is no reason yo upgrade unless you like living on the bleeding edge. It's $40 to upgrade anyway so it's not a bad deal anyway
Click to expand...

Too bad for MS Win 7 is too good of a product to upgrade from even if Win 8 is free. Besides I also don't want experience the usual teething problems with OS upgrades.
 
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