M$: OEM Windows is only 5% of PC cost.

[heruamon]

M$ is really gearing up for Windows 7 launch with PR likes this.  So, basically, if you look a computer on average, M$ is saying it only takes 5% on average...when you consider that the OS is the most important aspect of a computer, it's hardly hard to argue with this point.  It's going to be interesting to see what computer makers have to say about it.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/16/microsoft-says-oems-pay-about-50-for-windows-on-a-1-000-pc/#comments

Microsoft says OEMs pay about $50 for Windows on a $1,000 PC

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 16th 2009 at 7:07PM

There's been no shortage of rumors and speculation about how much Microsoft charges OEMs for a copy of Windows over the years, but Microsoft itself has stayed fairly mum on the matter -- until this week, that is. Speaking at the Jefferies Annual Technology Conference, Microsoft exec Charles Songhurst revealed for the first time that the company has "always charged about $50" for a copy of Windows on the average $1,000 PC, or about 5% of the total cost. Songhurst also seems to imply that Microsoft is looking to get about 5% across the board for Windows, meaning that it can rake in some impressive profits on high-end PCs while still being able to offer Windows on the cheap for netbooks or $300 desktops. Songhurst even went so far as to say that cheap PCs are a net benefit for Microsoft so long as they are "not cannibalistic to the total PC demand," and he and unsurprisingly further went on to extol the virtues of Windows 7, saying that it is a "compellingly good product," and that "when Windows is executing well, Microsoft is in good shape."