Windows Vista PCs 20 percent more expensive

According to iSuppli, an average desktop PC running Windows XP contains components that collectively cost PC OEMs slightly more than US$500. For an average PC running Vista, the cost will jump to slightly more than US$600, a 20% increase. Because this figure represents the cost of the components and not the actual price of the PC, users will pay significantly more than US$600 to buy a Vista-ready machine due to the PC makers' added margins.

Although Microsoft has stated that 512MB of DRAM will be sufficient to run Vista, iSuppli believes at least 1GB will be required for optimal performance and for headroom for upgrades. This will amount to a doubling in memory costs per PC, according to iSuppli.