alt Hacker NewsYou can get a new Windows 11 laptop on Amazon for ~$200. If they're paying retail cost ($140) for the license, over half that is going to Microsoft. I think most people would much rather buy the equivalent Chromebook for $70. In fact, the equivalent Chromebook costs about the same.
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vel0city • today at 4:49 PM
Retail licenses are transferrable, OEM/OEI licenses aren't and are tied to that specific hardware.
Win 11 Pro OEI, $149
https://www.microcenter.com/product/643566/microsoft-windows...
Win 11 Pro Retail/FPP, $199
https://www.microcenter.com/product/669901/microsoft-windows...
I'm certain OEMs are getting volume discounts, and Microcenter is adding their own margin as well.
That’s not how OEM pricing works. Depending on the retail price and volume Microsoft will lower license cost close to $0. No large manufacturer is paying $140 to license Windows for a notebook selling $200. That’s the full retail price for a consumer building their own PC. That said usable Windows notebooks are usually a bit more than that these days. And just the RAM alone to run usable Windows 11 is pushing $70 now.