Windows 7: OEMs pay Microsoft about $50 for each copy of Windows

Microsoft has revealed that, for a $1000 PC, it has always charged the OEM about $50, or five percent, for Windows.

Full Story: OEMs pay Microsoft about $50 for each copy of Windows - Ars Technica

I don't see anything wrong with that. Microsoft is a business trying to make money as well. What I have a problem with is the OEMs charging you additional money for a disc that contains the OS you already paid for once you purchased the PC.

I don't mind if the computer doesn't come with the physical disc....but I do mind when you don't have the ability to create the installable media.

I don't mean the restore media...that's all well and good to have. I mean a legit, OS only disc to install just the OS, not their preinstalled crap.

I like the actual install disc as well. But I guess that since we are only paying around 1/2 the actual price of an OEM license for Windows...the OEM can decide to not provide it to you.

What the OEM is actually doing is trying to lock in a customer to OEM provided maintenance. I loathe the practice.

+1 Antman, it's downright disgusting and should be illegal.

It's hard to believe when you purchase a new computer you are somehow inadertently paying them to install malware on your new Operating system.

I guess those OEM computer hotlines make it all worth while for some people.

Of course the reason they don't provide you with an Op system CD is so you can only reinstall the Op system from the mirror copy on your harddrive which is...once again...full of malware.

These types of things made me decide long ago, to build my own computers and purchase my own malware free operating systems, life is so much easer now.

Not totally related, but since we are addressing bad practices -

I will not work on a machine with AOL software installed. Period.

If the victim convinces me to uninstall AOL for him/her, I will only do a wipe and clean install. I don't care. I will not diagnose anything after AOL is detected. Period.

Period.

This gives some idea of the money oem's can make from the pre installed trials:

avast! blog » Why is avast! not pre-installed on my new computer?

Antman I couldn't agree with you more. Never had an aol account, and removing their attempts at software make my brain hurt 15 years later.