Win8 disruptive pricing: increase OEM prices, lower personal thresholds

At the same time that Windows 8 was released, Microsoft also adjusted the pricing strategy of its own Windows products. While simplifying the various system versions, Microsoft lowered the price of the professional version and lowered the threshold of genuine. At the same time, Microsoft also upgraded. The price of the OEM. Throughout the price of Microsoft's Windows, you can find that Windows 8 Professional is priced at $39.99 (248 yuan in China) and is the lowest generation in the professional version. Most importantly, pirated Windows 7 systems can also be upgraded directly to Windows 8 through purchase. Microsoft is lowering the threshold of genuine in disguise.

But at the same time, Microsoft has also raised the price of some OEMs. A number of OEMs have recently confirmed this to Netease Technology. The head of an OEM China region said that this will undoubtedly be passed on to consumers to buy PCs.

The lowest price in professional editions

Windows 8 is an important challenge for Microsoft. How to make more consumers use the new system quickly will become an important challenge for Microsoft in the mobile market.

Taking Windows XP as an example, the English version is priced at 1,700 yuan, the Chinese version is priced at 1,600 yuan, and the Windows 2000 professional version is also at 1200 yuan.

At the time of Microsoft's most successful Windows 7, Microsoft introduced the Home version to increase the popularity rate. The home version is priced at 699 yuan, but the price of the professional version is still more than 1,000 yuan. Many consumers are also dissatisfied with the lesser features of the Home version.

Until the recent release of Windows 8, the Home version was cancelled, and the Chinese version that was previously released has no special pricing. At present, Windows 8 only has an RT version for the ARM architecture, and a standard version, a professional version, and an enterprise version. Except for the enterprise version that only registered business users can buy, the difference between the professional version and the standard version is whether it can be AppLocker, Group Policy, join Windows domain, file system encryption, boot from VHD, BitLocker and BitLocker To Go.

At the same time, Microsoft is no longer the entry-level standard version, but directly the professional version. On Microsoft's official website, there is only one version that users directly upgrade, which is the professional version of the 248 yuan upgrade.

On the other hand, Microsoft’s pioneering program for Chinese college students was once noticed in the Win7s, because college students can purchase the professional version of Windows 7 for 399 yuan. Above yuan.

But recently, Campus Pioneer official website launched the price of Windows 8 Professional. And 248 yuan is consistent with other consumers.

Piracy can be upgraded to increase the difficulty of piracy

After verification, users who use XP version can purchase and upgrade directly on the official website. Even if the existing system used by consumers is pirated, it can still pass. Upgrade Windows 8 "wash white”.

This is considered impossible, but the Windows 8 installation process indicates that the system does not have any process to detect if the existing system is genuine.

At the same time, Microsoft stopped selling CD-ROM versions of Windows 8 in China. There are two channels for user upgrades, namely online purchase upgrades and the purchase of a new computer with Win8 pre-installed.

In addition, there have been reports that Microsoft has enabled new technologies to prevent Windows 8, and the initial bulk license key is no longer used. So far, the phenomenon of mass piracy has not appeared.

Increasing OEM prices urge OEMs to adopt Win8

Early adopters of Windows 8 systems will find that this is a system that requires a lot of learning, and the current PCs have no touch screen, which greatly affects Win8. Popularization speed. Microsoft has also adjusted its strategy for OEMs.

A number of OEMs confirmed that Microsoft China has increased the system's OME license price, and this price increase is not low, close to the cost of 5% to 10% of PC.

In the face of such aggressive strategies, OEMs listed a number of unsystematic bare-metals around the end of October. Including HP, Lenovo, and Acer, some PCs that users bought at the time need to install the system themselves.

However, there are not many choices from OEMs. An OEM manufacturer said that the price upgraded by Microsoft will eventually be added to the total price of the PC.

For OEMs, Windows 8 is both an opportunity and a challenge. Because the touch screen panel is currently in a mixed supply, if the best accessories and operating system are equipped, the cost may be high, and such product consumers may not pay. But at the same time, if such products are more likely to be differentiated, if the consumer accepts, OEMs will set aside competitors.