Windows 8 touchscreen devices to be priced higher, Dell says

22.05.2012
Touchscreen laptops and tablets with the upcoming Windows 8 OS will be priced higher than their non-touchscreen counterparts, Dell's CEO said on Tuesday.

Dell will offer a full complement of Windows 8 products when Microsoft launches its new OS, CEO Michael Dell said during the company's quarterly earnings call. The touchscreen Windows 8 products will occupy higher price bands, which could mean higher profit margins for Dell, he said.

"Unlike other Windows transitions, this is a transition where you are going to need a new PC," Michael Dell said, adding that touch capabilities could drive more people to buy Windows 8 tablets and PCs.

Microsoft hasn't provided a release date for Windows 8 but analysts expect its release later this year. Lenovo has said it will sell a ThinkPad tablet with Windows 8 when the OS is launched.

Despite excitement around the touch interface, however, the upgrade cycle to Windows 8 won't match that of Windows 7, especially in the enterprise, Dell said.

"Corporations are still adopting Windows 7, so we don't think there will be a massive adoption of Windows 8 early on," he said. It also remains to be seen if buyers will prefer tablets over PCs, he said.