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.'"

They need to drop the price of XP

[tritonman]

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

Re:The whole idea of upgrading PCs???

[Anonymous Coward]

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

still waiting

[TCFOO]

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.

Re:The whole idea of upgrading PCs???

[MightyYar]

Wooosh.

The math on this

[Butisol]

A slightly smaller number multiplied by zero still equals zero.

Re:i know whats coming next

[Anonymous Coward]

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!!

Re:Americans and EU should wait until

[Shados]

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?

Modding myself down

[sm62704]

(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!

Re:Americans and EU should wait until

[Spudtrooper]

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

Re:i know whats coming next

[somersault]

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.

Re:The math on this

[EdgeyEdgey]

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