Windows 8 Pricing vs. Chrome OS (Free) and Mac OS X (Just $30)

The Windows 8 SKU (stock keeping unit) prices will most probably be one of the last details that Microsoft will share with the public, save perhaps for the retail boxes, if the company’s history of Windows releases is to be taken into account.

It will certainly be interesting to see the pricing strategy for the next version of Windows, especially in the context of the new rival products from Apple and Google.

When Windows 7’s pricing strategy was still a mystery, I was ready to bet that the Redmond company would ask less money for the new platform, compared to Windows Vista. And I was right, somewhat.

At $119.99 for the upgrade and $199.99 for the full version, Windows 7 Home Premium was indeed cheaper than Vista Home Premium - $159.99 for the upgrade when it launched, and $239.99 for the full OS.

Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate editions featured price tags of $199.99 and $219.99 for the upgrade licenses and $299.99 and $319.99 respectively for the retail variants. In all fairness, Home Premium is THE SKU for end users, and its price is the one that users care most about.

The operating system landscape today is a tad different than it was at the end of 2009, when Windows 7 shipped.

A key change on the platform market is the introduction of Chrome OS, a free and open source operating system from Google.

Source: Windows 8 Pricing vs. Chrome OS (Free) and Mac OS X (Just $30) - Softpedia
 
Except that you need to already have a computer running Snow Leopard to be running Lion....where you could upgrade to Windows 7/8 from 2000, XP and Vista. This means even people with there Core 2 Duo macs purchased in 2007 who may not have upgraded to Snow Leopard will need to do so first in order to gain access to the mac app store where they can then upgrade to OSX 10.7
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601 x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio Z Series Signature Edition VPCZ11DGX
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 540M 2.53Ghz
    Motherboard
    Sony
    Memory
    4 Gigs of DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 300M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3in 1600x900
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    RAID 0
    64gb SSD + 128gb SSD
That article is so slanted I'm surprised it hasn't fallen over.

Admittedly, I'm not exactly partisan, although I do use Linux, I am definitely a Windows man, and honestly wouldn't touch an Apple product with a bargepole. So maybe I'm being a bit biased towards Windows, but this is the way I see it.

Chrome OS will only ship on OEM "Chromebooks". Ie netbooks. Therefore to look at the Windows upgrade pricing structure in comparison is a bit silly. The only fair comparison would be to compare it to OEM machines form Dell, HP etc. where you get Windows at a knock down rate anyway. Now if Chromebooks ship for considerably less than Netbooks of the same spec with Windows 7/8 preinstalled, then they may have a point. Comparing it to the upgrade license however, is just silly.

Mac users pay a premium for their machines. It's no secret that Apple typically charge up to 40% more than you would be able to get a PC with the same specs running Windows for. Therefore the only logical assumption is that you must be paying more for the OS. In that case, getting upgrades for $30 suddenly makes the high initial cost somewhat worth it. In this case you can compare the upgrade edition, and yes OSX is alot cheaper, but then Windows users paid ALOT less for their OEM Windows than Mac users did for what is effectively OEM OSX. This one is probably a draw,
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built
    CPU
    2nd Gen Intel Core i5 2500k
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z86a-d3-b3
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333Mhz Crucial DIMM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTX 460 (Gygabite OC)
    Sound Card
    Realtek On board sound
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer Al1980 + Generic non brand Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1280*1024 + 1366*768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Sata III Cavier Green
    500GB SATA II WD Caviar Blue
    160GB SATA II Hitachi
    PSU
    Corsair Extreme
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF-X
    Cooling
    HAF-X cooling (1 exhaust, 1 front, 1 side, 1 top fan)
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    12.5 Mb/s down 1.2 (ish) M/b up (ADSL2+)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Many people probably can find windows 8 at just $30. Students got Windows 7 professional for that price I think. Also, with there were many deals when windows 7 first came out. It wouldn't be surprising that many people will NOT pay more than $100 for their upgrades.

There's also the issue with how much of an upgrade Snow Leopard really is. The interface remains the same, while Windows 8 gets a brand new "start menu" for tablets and also probably will end up with a new aero.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 L501X
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 460M
    Memory
    4 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 420M with Optimus (Intel HD Graphics)
    Keyboard
    Backlit Keyboard
Many people probably can find windows 8 at just $30. Students got Windows 7 professional for that price I think. Also, with there were many deals when windows 7 first came out. It wouldn't be surprising that many people will NOT pay more than $100 for their upgrades.

There's also the issue with how much of an upgrade Snow Leopard really is. The interface remains the same, while Windows 8 gets a brand new "start menu" for tablets and also probably will end up with a new aero.


Well with Windows 8 every machine (well at least desktops) will be able to handle Aero since its been included in the Standard VGA Driver in Windows 8.

Aero even appears in Windows 8 Safe Mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601 x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio Z Series Signature Edition VPCZ11DGX
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 540M 2.53Ghz
    Motherboard
    Sony
    Memory
    4 Gigs of DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 300M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3in 1600x900
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    RAID 0
    64gb SSD + 128gb SSD
Windows 7 has $150 family packs (3 copies), I bought Windows 7 HP for $50 on the pre-release sale, students get it for $30.
Just saw Windows 7 HP on sale at the egg for $85.

The official Windows 7 HP price is $120, I think they will lower it a bit, maybe $100.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64/ Windows 7 Ult x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    76~2.0
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3570K 4.6GHz
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE GA-Z77X UD3H f18
    Memory
    8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 CORSAIR Vengeance CL8 1.5v
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X 1GB DDR5
    Sound Card
    Onboard VIA VT2021
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LCD Dell SP2208WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samaung 840Pro 128GB, Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 32mb, Seagate 1TB SATA2 7200rpm 32mb,
    PSU
    Corsair HX650W
    Case
    Cooler Master Storm Scout
    Cooling
    Corsair H80 w/Noctua NF P12 12cm fan, case fans 2X14cm
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave
    Mouse
    CM Sentinel
    Internet Speed
    Abysmal
    Browser
    Opera Next
    Other Info
    Dell Venue 8Pro: Baytrail Z3740D, 2GB Ram, 64GB HDD, 8" IPS Display 1280 x 800, Active Stylus.
    Haswell laptop: HP Envy 17t-j, i7-4700MQ, GeForce 740M 2GB DDR3, 17.3" Full HD 1920x1080, 16GB RAM, Samsung 840 Pro 128GB, 1TB Hitachi 7200 HDD,
    Desktop: eSATA ports,
    External eSATA Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm,
Well with Windows 8 every machine (well at least desktops) will be able to handle Aero since its been included in the Standard VGA Driver in Windows 8.

Aero even appears in Windows 8 Safe Mode.

Reason being aero is included in the base system video driver it doesnt require other drivers.
 

My Computer

Windows 7 has $150 family packs (3 copies)

If they lower a bit more that will be a nice purchase to legalize some of my rigs

Aero even appears in Windows 8 Safe Mode

Interesting thing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10.0.10122
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    My Build - Vorttex Ultimate
    CPU
    Core i7 @ 4500 MHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z87-Plus
    Memory
    32GB DDR3 @ 1822 MHz (OC)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon R9 280X 3GB @ 1180 / 6800 MHz
    Sound Card
    7.1 HDA
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD LG 22" + CRT LG 17"
    Screen Resolution
    1760 x 1320 / 1280 x 960
    Hard Drives
    1 x 240 GB SSD (System)
    3 x 500 GB HDD (Data/Media)
    1 x 2000 GB e-HDD (Backup)
    PSU
    ThermalTake 1000W PSU
    Case
    Corsair Carbide R300
    Cooling
    Corsair H60 (Push-Pull)
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60 Mbps (Down) 5 Mbps (Up)
    Browser
    IE, FF, Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2015
    Other Info
    Some wired stuff
I was one that took advantage of the special price for Windows 7, I think it was June or July when the offer was made, so on launch day all I paid for the full retail version of Windows 7 Home Premium was £44.97. If they do the same with Windows 8 fingers crossed I may be able to do the same, I'd then do a dual boot again with 7 & 8.;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 32 bit/ Windows 8.1 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Zoostorm/ Asus K55A Notebook
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 @ 2400 MHz
    Motherboard
    Foxconn 45CMX/45GMX/45CMX-K
    Memory
    2048 MB (2 x 1024 DDR2-SDRAM)/8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Corp 82945G Integrated Graphics Controller
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hanns.G HH221 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    ExcelStor (250GB)
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 (UK)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse
    Internet Speed
    Just under 4MB download it's ADSL.
    Other Info
    Epson Stylus SX415 All-in-one Printer,
    Seagate Expansion 500GB External Desktop Drive
ChromeOS is not free... End of discussion.
I seriously don't have the patience to make my point, which is already publicly known, by the way. ChromeOS=Chromebook, downloadable versions are NOT official, therefore ChromeOS is not free...

Now I will go to sleep because I have a 12 hour shift in the morning, and I had to work 6 hours today even though it was my day off. Yay for cheap labor :mad:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V3-531G
    CPU
    Intel B960 Sandy Bridge (2.2GHz, 2MB L3 cache)
    Motherboard
    Intel® HM77 Express
    Memory
    6GB (4+2) DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GeForce GT630M with 1GB dedicated VRAM + Intel HD
    Sound Card
    Integrated audio with 2xHigh Definition Dolby® v4 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" HD LED Acer CineCrystal™ (high-brightness 200-nit)
    Screen Resolution
    1.366 x 768 (WXGA)
    Hard Drives
    500GB SATA
    Keyboard
    Acer FineTip & MultiTouch Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    ADSL 5M
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