Amid RAM price hikes, Microsoft reportedly raises Windows license cost, forcing OEMs to hike prices even further on hardware

OEMs: Sorry, best I can do is tripling the amount of pre-installed bloatware that I get kickbacks on, to not only offset the cost but raise profits more

Here in Brazil, a lot of vendors are offering laptops with linux, but they do this just to offer a lower price, and put the most weird distro possible, that no one knew existed, so everyone who buys have to install their own os. The bad thing about it is that it creates a really bad first impression about linux on common users, who mostly end up asking the tech person from the family to install windows for them

Edit: another random fun fact: in order to offer a lower price, some brands around here also ship laptops with freedos, don't ask me why.

The problem there is Windows still has negative cost for OEMs due to all the bloatware they bundle.

They get paid for that McAfee and Epic Games icon.

They used to have agreements to make it difficult to do so. I don’t know if that’s still the case but it’s pretty awful. I think OEMs had to pay licenses for every machine shipped regardless if it had a windows license.

The other issue is that oems have a large amount of compatibility and support built up over the years for windows. They also know their customers can deal with Microsoft for “support” and ignore driver and support costs for whatever distro of Linux they were to choose.

Sure an OEM could lead the way and show everyone else the path to freedom but think of the shareholders

The Framework laptops have been selling out with backlog orders now. But with new models recently out, all the Linux ones sold out well before the Windows ones.

I think it just kind of goes to say, if you know a bit about computers, Linux is a go-to. Of course those that are a bit tech-savvy as well would just get a Windows one, clear it off and install the distro of their choice. Plus once upgrade is done, my OS and files are all there like nothing happened. Things like setting up Windows again on a new device or new install is like a full day task.

they actually make money on many of those windows preinstalls due to all the bullshit they get paid to put on.

Yeah, and lemme pirate windows on it lmao.

That's twice as much as I was paying, I'm going to write a strongly worded email to that penguin guy

Flatpak and Snap be like: Yes, we'll double the RAM...

Linus better be watching it, or I'm switching to TempleOS

Bingo!

It was always believed that Windows OS was a "loss leader" for Microsoft.

Windows OS will never show a profit, when you take into account the development and testing time and effort. I mean, a one time purchase that's expected to be supported for years!?!

Side note: This also explains why Windows 11 is de-evolving into an AI generated, ad ridden, telemetry gathering, cesspool of an OS ("we gotta make money somehow - think of the share holders")

But, what Windows had done is create a platform for Microsoft to upsell (and vendor lock-in) profitable applications like Office, Outlook, Teams, etc.

However, that business model doesn't work anymore. As, all of Microsoft's products are now in the cloud. They're all subscription bases, which means predictable and indefinite revenue. User's don't need to be running on Windows - they just need a web-browser or thin-client. Microsoft already has people (brainwashed into) wanting Office - they don't need to _force _ people into trying Office.

tl;dr: Developing and supporting Windows OS is a financial drain for Microsoft, and they're doing everything they can to scuttle it.

been saying that was the goal for over a decade.

I don't know if that's the entire thing, but it is definitely part of it

The Tux trumpets are getting louder…

Blastbeat of millions of penguins stomping.

Ah, the famous SuSE songs, instant classics.

I've been hearing Linux music for the past 9 years lol it's incredible how much it's improved as a desktop OS over that time.

Somebody needs to finally compose a Linux install music that's even more memorable and awesome than the Windows XP install music

Bah gawd, that's Stone Cold's music!

This. Linux use on the USA is now over 10% in computers. And growing. I hope Europe follows the same path, but it is slow. Growing also. At home we all have ditched Windows years ago.

Let's be honest... people who can't figure out how to deal with Windows licenses wouldn't be able to deal with a switch to Linux either.

While I understand your sentiment about Windows, this is how you end up in a world filled with iPad kids who become adults who accept technology that they don't own.

And they'd get away with it too if it wasn't for those damn Linux distributions.

They literally said that's the plan. Consumers better fight back.

Sure in terms in computing power. But Microsoft still needs you to be able to access a windows device so that they can push you onto their subscriptions. I think in this case, they think people will just cough up the extra costs to get windows. Of course at one point even regular people will consider Linux. And that is when Microsoft will break.

Yes. Plenty of manufacturers do sell computers without windows.

Insert the Padme Anakin meme here.

Yes, that exact thing was the crux of a major lawsuit at one point.

If a company is doing it it's already is. But most are selling you windows compulsively.

Always was.... just had to find the seller who sells you the laptop without a prepurchased license/preinstalled windows. Sadly was always higher tier stuff that had a choice.

Every RAM stick I bought in the past 15 years is worth more per GB now than when I bought it... If you bought RAM in 2008 the same is true, I just didn't buy RAM at that point.

That LLM response from the search bar when you were just searching for a file? That's not free, we have to pay for that! If you didn't want it you shouldn't have accidentally triggered it by needing to search for a file. That's on you.

It's possible to get refunds for unused OEM Windows licenses in the EU.

https://en.refund4freedom.org/

I would love a tick box setup. Maybe 2 Linux distro options and a windows option for +$X or whatever so ur laptop can arrive ready to set up with the OS desired on it. Should lower cost for customers who don't need windows, and maybe people on the fence will decide window isn't worth however much more it cost to get and order the Linux version. The more units are sold with Linux the more incentive there will be to sort drivers for more hardware etc.

Yepppp.

Played around with all of them for a bit. Settled on Bazzite. Dead simple to install and use and it has t given me any issue at all.

Pop OS was kind of nice too, but it needs another year in the oven.

Volumes are going to be down, but they want the same revenue, so they increase unit price, comfy in the reality that it will still be, percentage wise, not worth it for most to care. Will it make it unaffordable for some? Probably not appreciably more than the hardware is doing all by itself.

So in short, it is just because they can.

They need the cash to fund their AI spending. There's no conspiracy.

It makes sense in terms of opportunism, greed, and for laying three groundwork for a future where you do not own your own computer but do everything in the cloud (because that is where the power is). Remember the whole "you will.own nothing and be happy" thing... so same argument as when businesses moved from self hosting on site. Short version, they want you with a subscription for everything and they can control everything you do.

Pretty much. If hardware is constant lly going up and consumers put up with it, why not get a slice of the pie? It's not like an OEM buyer will reconsider just because of a few bucks for Windows, if they were going to buy anyway.

try it for a month or two

By then the price of said Windows license would quadruple.

Even at that you can dual boot. You could ween yourself from one to the other to build a daily driver. As Linux has several windows emulators(heroic for example) that you can install and run all your fav window programs anyways.

Linux is like so zero risk it is ridiculous.

this is the next logical step. raise the 'price' of 'regular' windows and systems with windows...

so the subscription looks like a 'good' deal.

How did you get their secret plans for Windows 12?

Perfect analogy!

All of the AI Copilot ram.

They're doing it to cover the losses on the same AI investments that spiked RAM prices.

Someone has to pay for all that Microslop copilot bs and it's just not enough with the intended customers

As far as I know only Lenovo is offering to omit the Windows licence off some of their computers, but only if you buy online of course.

Dell might do a similar thing for enterprise customers, I actually don't know.

Not really. Most computers are sold off a shelf at a big box store, pre-configured and ready to go. The license for windows is flashed onto the hardware, so the staff doesn't really have a way to remove it from the computer.