Windows license price hikes could make PCs even more expensive, report says
Amid RAMageddon, a new report says PCs are facing further price hikes as Microsoft raises its Windows 11 licensing fees for PC makers.
Windows laptops are contending with an additional financial burden due to recent changes in licensing fees, according to a report by Taiwanese newspaper United Daily News (UDN). Microsoft has recently increased its Windows 11 licensing fees for device manufacturers, with the average rise reaching 7 percent to 10 percent since July.
This is significantly higher than the usual single-digit annual increases. The impact of these higher licensing fees is already being felt in the current prices of PCs, as most devices come with Windows 11 pre-installed. The news is particularly concerning, as this comes at a time when PC makers are already facing price hikes due to supply chain issues caused by the AI boom.
The shortage of RAM and SSD storage chips has forced companies like Dell, Framework, and Microsoft to raise laptop prices. Experts predict that the ongoing RAMageddon crisis will continue to worsen in the coming months and years.
Written by urgent.news from Mashable's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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