Windows 8 to raise notebook prices?

Posted on Tuesday, May 01 2012 @ 20:52 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck

Sources from the upstream supply chain told DigiTimes that Windows 8 will likely increase the cost of notebooks due to Microsoft's focus on touchscreen capabilities:

Notebook brand vendors originally expected ultrabooks and Windows 8 to help start a new wave of PC replacement in the second half of 2012, but are reportedly facing great pressure as Windows 8's touchscreen design as well as the software itself may increase the cost of products and push their end prices out of the mainstream level, thus reducing consumer demand, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

Since ultrabook prices are still unable to drop to a desirable level, while notebooks that feature Windows 8 are likely to increase in costs due to Microsoft greatly promoting the software's touchscreen capabilities, while the software will continue to remain at a high price , PC vendors are currently facing great pressure as strong demand may not emerge as they originally expected.

About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.

Loading Comments

Use Disqus to post new comments, the old comments are listed below.

Re: Windows 8 to raise notebook prices?
by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 02 2012 @ 12:42 CEST

Ridiculous. No one complains that we should give up touchscreens on phones or tablets because of cost, and those things get pretty cheap.
Moreover vendors have been introducing notebooks with touchscreens for a year, they just didn't warm up much because it didn't do much for the windows environment. So MS isn't the cause of the problem here. It is enabling a widespread (and hence CHEAP) technology to be used on a wider range of devices. Maybe it's time to ditch blu ray on mainstream devices and instead concentrate on good screens that people can use.

Share this story!