CoreDownload Blog

Microsoft announced that it will offer important discounts to cheap laptop manufacturers. This comes because Microsoft realized the threat from Linux on the low-budget laptop market.

The giant will charge PC manufacturers just $26 to have Windows XP Home Edition preloaded on low-cost machines sold in emerging markets, and $32 for those sold in the developed markets. The manufacturers can get $10 off those prices, if they qualify for Microsoft’s market development scheme.

The discount is limited to machines with display no larger than 10.2 in (excluding touchscreens), and with hard disks no larger than 80GB.