Tim Smith wrote:
In article <a_-dnRB4R5xX7xHYnZ2dnUVZ_qfinZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxx>,
Maverick <Sun@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
So how come Windows prices have decreased or remained steady from
release to release going back at least to 3.x?
Are you nuts? The prices have increased!
Windows OS retail prices:
Windows 95: ~$200, ~$90 upgrade
Windows 98: $209, $109 upgrade
Windows ME: same as 98
Windows NT Workstation: $319
Windows XP Home: $199, $99 upgrade
Windows XP Pro: $299, $199 upgrade
Vista Basic: $199, $100 upgrade
Vista Home Premium: $239, $159 upgrade
Vista Business: $299, $199 upgrade
Vista Ultimate: $399, $259 upgrade
I can't find what the price for 3.1 was, but I recall paying something
near $100 for an upgrade version, so it was probably in line with the
others.
From PC World [Magazine} Oct 1994, Windwos pricess (from a random advertiser):
3.1 ....... - £39 = ($61-$64) $59
3.1 upgrade - £41 = ($64-$67) $62 [1]
3.11 ....... - £89 = ($140-$146) $134
3.11 upgrade - £42 = ($66-$69) $63
NT ....... - £264 = ($414-433) $396
NT 3.1 upgde - £227 = ($356-$372) $341
Exchange rates are £1.00 = ($1.57-$1.64) $1.50 where the bracketed rates are
the inter-bank rate range as given by http://www.oanda.com/convert/fxhistory
for the GBP USD exchange rate for October 1994. $1.50 is a conservative
guestimate of the "tourist" rate which is worse than the bank rate.
[1] Mefinx there was a misprint here, but another advertiser also has
upgrade more expensive!
As a comparison, hardware (same adverstiser, same exchange rates):
17" CRT - £629 = ($988-$1032) $944
20" CRT - £1229 = ($1930-$2016) $1844
From a supplier advertising, on the web today:
17" TFT - £120 = ($235) $228
20" TRT - £280 = ($549) $532
(exchange rate based on [what I think is inter-bank] rate of about 1.96 as
of yesterday, guestimate of $1.90 tourist rate.)
Based on raw figures, excluding inflation, improved monitors are 1/3 to 1/4
the cost in Oct 1994. On that basis, if Windwos also contributes the same
amount of the final cost of a machine as it did in Oct 1994, it should cost
around 7/24 of £227, or £77 ($146) for the equivalent of NT.
Assuming 20" TFT represents the same improvement over 17" CRT, the price
should be about 1/2 1994 figure, ie £132 ($251).
What's the c
The home Windows versions have all been close to $200 retail, and the
non-home Windows version have all been close to $300, except for Vista
Ultimate. And note that this is ignoring inflation. With inflation,
the price has come down.
Except crossing the pond...I doubt if Vista home will be just over £100 (at
current exchange of £1.00 ~= $1.96), and the non-home versions around £150.
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