This was especially true when it came Windows RT and lower end tablets. The high cost of Windows licensing forced many manufacturers to take a loss on their products or not use Windows. As the popularity of the OS began to falter we saw companies moving back to Android or even Chrome for their entry level products. We imagine that Microsoft did not want to lose to Google on two fronts so they had to make a decision. In the end they are probably going to lose a little money in an effort to bring back sales and adoption rates for Windows 8.x products.

This new change in pricing structure comes shortly after Microsoft cut the price of the Xbox One to match the price of the PS4. It shows an acceptance by Microsoft that their plans might be meeting with both consumer and OEM resistance. This could be good for consumers in the long run (and not just in savings). We all know that the dollar is king when it comes to corporate decisions. If sales are hurting enough it could motivate Microsoft to make changes in other areas of the company to regain consumer trust. Some of the most common ones that we have heard are; removing the requirement for the Kinect and lower the Xbox One price, allow for different install types in Windows 8 for tablets and desktops, allow better developer access to the desktop in Windows “RT”, and allow “modernUI” applications to run on the desktop in a windows.

Who knows, if sales fall enough some of these change could become reality.

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