Microsoft to cut Windows RT cost for vendors, says report

M$ would have to start paying OEMs to use RT at this stage in the game to get any sales of Windows Surface RT in the market place.
 

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Short of getting one free or almost free, I'm not interested in a Surface tablet or even a Surface Pro. Give me my little Windows 7 netbook any day over a tablet of any variety.
 

My Computer

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    Windows 7 x64
Good.

Whatever gave them the idea that for some reason, they (and OEMs) can charge 500+ dollars for something that will and should be compared to an ipad or android phablet without realizing that there isn't even NO WHERE near a decent app marketplace of comparable platforms, is beyond me. Windows RT I thought would start at 300 dollars, Windows 8 tablet PCs would start at 500 and up. Although honestly, I think Microsoft is restricting Windows RT use WAY too much. There could have been a WHOLE new opening for a whole new possible market (maybe a niche market) of Windows RT based PCs with ARM processors. Acer's absurd android AIO device is an example where RT is meant to be on, except with ARM.

So theoretically, a typical user that does a lot of web browsing and some Office work (I'm thinking age demographic of 45+) would be the best target of RT. BUT, not everyone wants to use a tablet for that, that's where the touch AIO form factor comes in, equipped with an ARM processor. It'd be theoretically less expensive as well for basic computing needs that isn't mobile.

But RT's future is questionable altogether, because honestly, Intel's upcoming crop of CPUs are promising 9.5 hours of battery life, with an i7. Yes, not an Atom, but an i7. BALLS. :shock:
Intel Teases 9.5-Hour Battery Life From Haswell-Based Core i7

With that, there isn't an excuse for Windows RT and ARM, that is if unless ARM is less expensive considerably. But since a Haswell based tablet PC has over 9 hours of battery, can use WinRT apps as well as Win32 apps unlike ARM...ehhh...

I want to see AMD APU based tablet PCs though.
 

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    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    ASUS
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    AMD FX 8320
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    Crosshair V Formula-Z
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Wow, I never thought this would happen but I actually agree with a lot of what you posted there Cokie. :) The price for RT devices does seem to be too high compared to the alternatives, and at present there doesn't seem to be all that much incentive to buying one. I'd also like to see some AMD APU based tablets. Microsoft did it with the XboxOne, so maybe they will do an AMD Surface. I might actually buy one of those if they did. It should be cheaper that the current Intel powered version. Nothing against the current Intel powered version, it has nice specs, but a high price tag to go with it. Too pricey for me. IMHO its too good for what it is. I personally don't need all that computing power in that type of device. Not for what I'd use a tablet for anyway.
 

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Hmmm...


Cokie
#2

500-800 will be the preferable one. It's a reachable price for a lot of people and a tablet of that price will have features to suit a user.

SIW2
#18

MS will have nothing sub 300.

And that is where the action will be.


Cokie
#22
I doubt the sub 300 level is where it's at.

Cokie
But RT's future is questionable altogether, because honestly, Intel's upcoming crop of CPUs are promising 9.5 hours of battery life, with an i7

If they can get those cheap enough......
 
Last edited:

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    PC/Desktop
Wow, I never thought this would happen but I actually agree with a lot of what you posted there Cokie. :) The price for RT devices does seem to be too high compared to the alternatives, and at present there doesn't seem to be all that much incentive to buying one. I'd also like to see some AMD APU based tablets. Microsoft did it with the XboxOne, so maybe they will do an AMD Surface. I might actually buy one of those if they did. It should be cheaper that the current Intel powered version. Nothing against the current Intel powered version, it has nice specs, but a high price tag to go with it. Too pricey for me. IMHO its too good for what it is. I personally don't need all that computing power in that type of device. Not for what I'd use a tablet for anyway.
See, it's not so hard to agree with me! :p

Dell for example cut the price of their XPS 10 for about 350 dollars on amazon.com, down from 600. To me, that's WAY too much to sell an RT tablet at 600 when you can get an Acer Iconia tablet PC with an Atom processor for about 500. A 600 dollar Windows RT tablet has no selling point quite honestly, only other than Office and web browsing and some light USB usage, compared to an Atom powered tablet that is either a 100 dollars more than that, or even less than that.

And yes, if Microsoft released the Surface Pro II with an 11.6 inch screen with an AMD APU, wow! I personally don't have a need right now for a tablet PC, but if that were released I would tell Microsoft to shut the hell up and take all the money I have, RIGHT NOW. AMD APU's are SO FAR SUPERIOR than Intel counterparts graphics wise. First thing comes to mind, light PC gaming for sure. Second thing, GPU powered Desktop apps like AutoCAD and Photoshop, two programs I want to use on a tablet PC for sure. Just overall, all the WinRT apps of Windows 8 are GPU accelerated, so a better GPU equates to a better experience overall.

Seriously, I'd LOVE to Steam on a tablet PC from time to time. Screw little arcade racing games on the ipad or from the Xbox on Windows collection, I'll play Dirt 3 on my Windows tablet! But in all honesty, some games on Windows Phone 8 are so graphically intense (Modern Combat 4 for example) that if they were ported over to Windows 8, they'd be real amazing too graphically.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Hmmm...


Cokie
#2

500-800 will be the preferable one. It's a reachable price for a lot of people and a tablet of that price will have features to suit a user.

SIW2
#18

MS will have nothing sub 300.

And that is where the action will be.


Cokie
#22
I doubt the sub 300 level is where it's at.

Cokie
But RT's future is questionable altogether, because honestly, Intel's upcoming crop of CPUs are promising 9.5 hours of battery life, with an i7

If they can get those cheap enough......
Under 300 dollars for a tablet basically means crapdroid internet device. It's not computing, it's consumption. But hey, if OEMs think that can bring in sales using Windows 8 or RT, the hell with it. Although I'd imagine Windows RT will be on such a device since by default it's geared to be mostly internet consumption than anything else.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Now, if Microsoft could bundle Office 2013 Home and Student onto Windows 8 PCs....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
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