I’m hearing a small amount of chatter that Microsoft is planning to dramatically reduce the price of Windows Vista next year to $99. I’ve done my best to track this story down, and as far as I can tell it’s not, shall we say, reality-based. One Web site (which I will not name or link to, because they have zero credibility in my opinion) wrote a speculative piece arguing that the price of Windows Vista should by $99, because anything else would be too much. Over the weekend, a relatively new blog focusing on Windows Vista wrote a similar story, which appears to be just a rewrite of the original, minus any proper sourcing. (I’m not linking to this source, either, until they establish some credibility.) Update: Looks like I got this backward. Vista Knowledge posted a blind story over the weekend, citing “word coming from Redmond.” Other sites seem to have picked up the unsourced story, often without attributing it properly. The editor of Vista Knowledge has posted in the comments, and we’ve exchanged some e-mail. Based on that exchange I’m willing to credit the story (but I’m still skeptical).
The original story shows up on Google News and a few other people pick it up. They link to one another, and a few of them embellish the story with details that appear to come out of thin air. Pretty soon you have a half-dozen sites all repeating a rumor that’s based on nothing. Seinfeld would be proud.
And really, is this news? Currently, an OEM copy of Windows XP Home Edition costs around $90. An upgrade version costs $99. If the rumor-mongers are true, the news here is that Microsoft doesn’t plan to increase prices for the most popular version of its operating system.
This rumor also ignores the biggest question of all: How many versions of Windows Vista will Microsoft sell? Currently, you and I can choose from at least four: Home Edition, Professional, Media Center (OEM only), and Tablet PC (with tablet hardware only). A few months back, eWeek reported on a speech by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at an analysts’ meeting. According to this story, Microsoft plans to introduce a number of new versions for Windows and Office next year, including an enterprise version of Windows Vista. Will all those versions cost $99? I don’t think so.
If anyone has heard this “Vista for $99” rumor from a credible source, with a plausible story behind it, please leave a comment.
Ed Bott 
Ed,
I’m taking a guess that my site is the second one you refer to (I haven’t linked to it here because you stated above you didn’t want to until I had ‘credibility’ – fair enough. I’ve abbreviated my name so you should be able to figure it out).
Anyway, firstly I’m not sure which article in particular stating Vista should be $99 you are referring to, as I’ve come across quite a few over the past few months (though, none stating that figure in particular – just the usual anti-MS stuff). Anyway, my article wasn’t as a result of any other.
Naturally, anything to do with pricing – especially when we are over a year away from release – is going to be speculation until MS themselves issue a press release. Indeed, the information I have might very well change over the coming months.
The information I have at the moment however is fairly credible, at least in as much as I know this price level is being discussed at Microsoft.
You are correct in saying that Vista won’t be priced at $99 across the board, if MS do indeed release several versions. To suggest otherwise would be crazy. It would have to be assumed therefore that the $99 version would be something like ‘Vista Lite’.
There are a number of larger and credible sources stating the same at the moment, though whether they are publishing the story as a result of mine I don’t know – I haven’t read anything as yet that adds to what I wrote.
Time will tell anyway…