It's Not Just RAM: Windows Licenses Are Also Pushing Up PC Prices (cnet.com)
- Reference: 0184982036
- News link: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/08/15/0635210/its-not-just-ram-windows-licenses-are-also-pushing-up-pc-prices
- Source link: https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/windows-licenses-rising-pc-prices/
> Several sites that closely follow Microsoft news, including [2]Windows Central and [3]Windows Latest , have published articles citing a [4]report from Taiwan's Economic Daily News that claims some PC manufacturers are seeing a 7% to 10% increase in the cost of Windows 11 licenses...
>
> Because they buy licenses in bulk, they get a sizeable discount over what a consumer would pay for a new copy of Windows 11. But given the existing cost pressures from other components, a big Windows 11 price hike could lead them to pass on some of the added cost to PC buyers. According to the EDN story, PC makers could raise prices by about 5% over the next quarter due to the reported Windows price hike. .. A translated version of the Economic Daily News article contains information from an unnamed PC brand executive. It says that while Microsoft typically raises licensing costs every year by single-digit percentages, that hike has reached 7% to 10% this year, a significant increase.
"A representative for Microsoft declined to comment on the report," according to the article.
But it also notes that [5]three weeks ago laptop maker Framework blamed price hikes and [6]reconfigurations for some of their models on processor, memory, storage, "and other silicon costs — but also "an increase in Windows license costs."
Thanks to Slashdot reader [7]joshuark for sharing the article.
[1] https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/windows-licenses-rising-pc-prices/
[2] https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/amid-ram-price-hikes-microsoft-reportedly-raises-windows-license-cost-forcing-oems-to-hike-prices-even-further-on-hardware
[3] https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/12/windows-11-pcs-are-about-to-get-more-expensive-and-windows-10-holdouts-have-one-more-reason-to-stay/
[4] https://money.udn.com/money/story/5612/9680882
[5] https://frame.work/blog/updates-on-memory-pricing-and-navigating-the-volatile-memory-market
[6] https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/framework-rising-laptop-prices-preorder-configuration-ram-memory/
[7] https://www.slashdot.org/~joshuark
Most people don't need Windows (Score:4, Interesting)
They should wipe the drive and install Mint, and take MS up on their promise for a refund, as stated in their license agreement between them and the purchaser.
Re: (Score:2)
Have you ever tried to get a Windows refund? Virtually impossible. The problem with the PC price going up is that the OEM bundles it, so unless you're on eBay and there's a windows/no-windows competitive marketplace you're going to have to suck up the OEM pricing.
Big Picture Costs. (Score:4, Insightful)
> Have you ever tried to get a Windows refund? Virtually impossible. The problem with the PC price going up is that the OEM bundles it, so unless you're on eBay and there's a windows/no-windows competitive marketplace you're going to have to suck up the OEM pricing.
It appears that Microsoft normally increases the license cost every year. I'm guessing this particular increase will amount to a 1-2% impact in the big picture, since most consumers don't go home with only an OS license and no hardware.
No. I'm not justifying Microsofts increased greed. Just questioning the clickbait hype around manufactured MSRP 'panic'.
Meanwhile, RAM prices could increase by 1-2% by the end of this fucking sentence. Because a cat can play Beethoven reggae better than you ever could, and you had no idea how bad you needed cats playing Beethoven reggae.
Re: (Score:2)
Except it's not MS's offer for anything other than a license you purchased directly from MS. To refund an OEM license you effectively are at the sole mercy of the OEM. Most will not offer you a refund of the license and you rejecting the EULA will result in you needing to return the device. They will cite something like being unable to provide support or warranty for a product when using non Windows. This isn't a problem for most of us, but it's a big problem for the average consumer to buy a device cut off
Re: (Score:2)
That's complete bullshit. I have been using it as my daily driver for years as have a number of people I know who aren't particularly technical. Unless your jam is just computer gaming or you have an application that you MUST use that only runs on Windows, Linux will do pretty much anything Windows can without the licensing merry-go-round.
Re: (Score:2)
Or just ask for the hardware to be delivered without ANY operating system and spend the 5 minutes to pop in a USB thumb drive and install whatever you'd like.
Or buy a Mac.
Or build your own system from scratch.
Or.....
There's plenty of choices out there.
Re: (Score:2)
Have you ever considered that if people actually wanted to use that crap... you wouldn't have to tell them.
Cost of Information (COI) (Score:2)
Microchips, the internet and information have transformed the economy for fifty years through cheaper information.
[1]https://www.scry.llc/2025/09/1... [scry.llc]
Cost Of Information: Assume the declining cost of information (COI) has driven economic activity for fifty years. Then the stagnation or increase of COI could be disasterous for the economy. The preceding graph shows an inflection point in Internet user growth, implying that Internet growth is slowing and will soon stagnate.
[1] https://www.scry.llc/2025/09/16/cost-of-information/
That's called "inflation" (Score:2)
This is what inflation looks like in a single product category.
Something happens to break the former equilibrium; in this case, a few things happened - Covid, then LLMs, and now rapid changes in international commerce stability. This causes uncertainty, disruption and shortages, all of which spikes prices.
Then the opportunists see an opportunity. (And to be fair, prices are going up on everyone, even opportunists.) Prices are already going up and the bulk of buyers have no good reason to be knowledgeable
Re: (Score:2)
> This is what inflation looks like in a single product category.
When AI becomes Good E. Nuff, AI Agent For Hire and dismisses human employment completely, it will be very hard to argue "single" categories being impacted. Forget the timeless mantra of "Just go re-educate yourself and find another job." That advice is dead in the era of AI replacing the human brain.
> Buckle up, this is going to be "normal" for a long time.
Nothing, is "normal" anymore. Not even when we have a Revolution. And it's going to take a lot more than a buckle for people to accept that. We won't even know how to define "inflation" in the era of 25% g
Re: (Score:2)
> This is what inflation looks like in a single product category.
Well, yes, increases in prices are to be expected year over year due to inflation in general (and not just because it is software), but this year the increases were reportedly in the 7-10% range, which is somewhat higher than in some previous years with somewhat equivalent inflation numbers. And for manufacturers, who only pay $50-80/device, that is not a huge increase, but when your margins are being cut all across the board due to other cost increases, every dollar increase in your licensing costs makes
coud? (Score:2)
> Because they buy licenses in bulk, they get a sizeable discount over what a consumer would pay for a new copy of Windows 11. But given the existing cost pressures from other components, a big Windows 11 price hike could lead them to pass on some of the added cost to PC buyers.
no, it should be:
> Because they buy licenses in bulk, they get a sizeable discount over what a consumer would pay for a new copy of Windows 11. But given the existing cost pressures from other components, a big Windows 11 price hike will lead them to pass on some of the added cost to PC buyers.
one more:could? (Score:2)
...
and people complain about the "Apple Tax" (Score:2)
But at least you know who sets the price on Apple products, no hiding behind third parties, bulk licenses, collaborative marketing, etc, etc, etc.
Rising tide lifts all boats (Score:2)
Everybody has an excuse to raise prices so they do. That's the mechanism. Anyone claiming to give a better reason is full of shit.
Won't someone think of the children (Score:1)
The OEM price of Windows going up could raise a computer price like 2... maybe even 3$!
Let's add a little more FUD to that article before you post it next time.
Re: (Score:3)
> Let's add a little more FUD to that article before you post it next time.
In the article it says Windows retail is $139 for Home and $200 for Pro. Math says the increase is $14-$19 for retail. I am not sure that tracks with your $2-$3 estimate.
Yeah, nah. (Score:2)
Since the TFS doesn't mention how much they actually cost and just gives the percentage increase (I wonder whyâ¦.) I had to RTFA.
An extra ten bucks for the Windows license pales in comparison to RAM prices tripling .
Re: (Score:2)
> Since the TFS doesn't mention how much they actually cost and just gives the percentage increase (I wonder whyâ¦.) I had to RTFA.
The article says Windows 11 Home is $139 and Pro is $200 currently. A 10% increase would mean prices of $153 and $220..
A great strategy for increasing profits (Score:2)
If people don't like your product, sales are down, and there's negative press almost daily describing it as bloated, convoluted, and filled with ads, just increase the price in order to make up the difference.
I'm sure it'll work great, and I can't see how this could possibly backfire spectacularly.
*gets popcorn*
All Components (Score:2)
Whether it's market forces, tariffs, or anything else, all components of PCs have dramatically risen in price.
RAM prices have shown the fastest and most dramatic price increases by several orders of magnitude.
Oh no (Score:5, Insightful)
Our forced AI roll out abusing our Monopoly is not working to generate money, wont somebody please think of Microslop?