Despite claims that Microsoft is planning to offer discounts on Windows 8 OEM prices over in Taiwan, disties and resellers have said that they have not seen the same happening in the UK.
However, they have hinted that if the rumours are correct, there could be a knock on effect on UK sales later on in the year.
The comments come as DigiTimes reported that Microsoft would lower OEM licensing costs by offering a discount of $20 for 11.6-inch and below notebooks that are equipped with touch screens.
Sources and vendors said this was because Windows had fallen short of expectations in driving demand mainly because its notebooks and tablets were too expensive
For below 10.8-inch notebooks, tablets and hybrids, Microsoft is said to offer the $20 discount plus free Office 2013 software, from the beginning of April, while retail prices for 11.6-inch touchscreen Windows 8 notebooks were expected to be reduced beginning June to reflect the discount.
However, a big distie who works closely with Microsoft in the UK said that it had not seen evidence of this.
“We haven’t heard of any reductions but we can confirm that these are failing to shift,” he told ChannelEye.
“I suppose if the news is coming from the Far East we can expect to see similar announcements in the next few weeks/months.
“These sources are rarely wrong and it would make sense given the way these products are failing to fly off the shelves.”
One reseller was less convinced, telling ChannelEye: “Sales are slow but I don’t think they are at a pace to send Microsoft into a price slashing frenzy just yet.
“It’s invested a lot of money in these products as well as us, its resellers, so it’s going to hold out. Of course that puts pressure on us to sell, but c’est la vie.”
