Microsoft charges tablet OEMs $80 or more for Windows RT?

Pretty close too but a tad less that Embedded 7 was. Which is way too expensive still. Embedded CE was like $3-$5 a seat, and was a very capable OS. Win7/8 embedded (RT) should be more like $25 at MOST.

If the RT's cost include the built in Office 15, that could be a steal.

It's not the full office 15, but its still better than nothing, and nice that the consumer doesn't have to pay extra to get it like Media Center.

I am writing off the PC market for Windows 8. Maybe we can now add the tablet market to that.

This tablet market is highly price competitive. How do they expect to survive if they charge an arm and a leg where Android costs nothing. Remember the failure of Xoom for $800 - now you can get it for $350, and the brand new superb Acer Iconia Tab A510 sells for $430.

I would think we are going to end up paying more for a Windows tablet versus the same hardware running Android. The OEM's are going want to get back some or all of that $85.

alphanumeric said:

I would think we are not going to end up paying more for a Windows tablet versus the same hardware running Android. The OEM's are going want to get back some or all of that $85.

Click to expand...

I have trouble following your logic. If the OEM wants to recover the $85 and add it to the price, then they are going to be $85 more expensive than the same tablet with Android.

I've seen some Windows 7 Tablet PCs that only cost 500 dollars that aren't obviously ARM processors. I would guess it would take some manufacturing efficiency and making the design cost effective as possible.

But 80 dollars a dent when you have a 500 dollar budget to build an ARM tablet. A better move would to take an initial loss on Microsoft's behalf for WinRT tablets.

whs said:

alphanumeric said:

I would think we are not going to end up paying more for a Windows tablet versus the same hardware running Android. The OEM's are going want to get back some or all of that $85.

Click to expand...

I have trouble following your logic. If the OEM wants to recover the $85 and add it to the price, then they are going to be $85 more expensive than the same tablet with Android.

Click to expand...

Sorry the "not" should not have been there, edited the original post. I started out on a different train of thought and screwed up when I edited it/retyped it. Missed it somehow, should make more sense now.

Hmm, OK. Now it makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.