Report: Microsoft Set To Reveal Windows 7 Pricing

Microsoft has already shared pricing information with OEMs and retailers under non-disclosure agreements, according to a recent TechARP blog post.

A Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment on the report, saying only that Microsoft "has not yet disclosed retail pricing for Windows 7."

Customers were befuddled by the many different versions of Windows Vista, but Microsoft says it has endeavored to make things easier with Windows 7 SKUs.

Windows 7 will come in six different flavors, but Microsoft says two versions -- Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional -- will fit the needs of the majority of customers and will be the only ones sold through retail.

Windows 7 pricing will be closely watched by the large segment of the industry that skipped Vista in order to wait for Windows 7. In the past several quarters, Microsoft's traditionally strong Windows Client division has been growing progressively weaker, in part due to the surging popularity of netbooks, many of which run cheaper versions of Windows.

Windows 7 development has been a breeze compared to that of Vista, and Microsoft has committed to releasing Windows 7 in time for the holiday season. But if that feel-good story is to continue, Microsoft will have to price Windows 7 carefully, or recession-weary consumers and businesses could choose to further delay their OS upgrades.