C'mon Down to Crazy Stevie's! Prices So High They're INSAAAAAAAAANE!

November 14, 2008 at 9:54 am PT

Amid the fast-deteriorating economy, Microsoft (MSFT) opened its first online shop in the U.S.–a digital storefront through which customers can purchase first-party software, hardware, and videogames directly from the company.

Although, I’m not quite certain why anyone would, given the prices.

The Microsoft Store charges $319.95 for Windows Vista Ultimate, an OS you can purchase from Amazon (AMZN) for $249.99. It charges $149.95 for Microsoft Office. You can find that at Amazon for substantially less, as well–$92.50. On Amazon, a full version of Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with SP2 will set you back $179.99. At the Microsoft Store it will…well, actually, it seems you can’t buy it at the Microsoft Store. Go figure.

But if you could, you’d almost certainly pay a premium for it. So, really, why bother?

And beyond that, why bother to launch an overpriced online software store in the middle of a nasty recession?

Tagged with: Amazon, hardware, John Paczkowski, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Store, online, OS, recession, software, videogame, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows XP Home Edition

comments so far. Add yours.

Sam Harrison

microsoft exists in its own reality distortion field, that’s why 90% of its products are fiber (painful but pass)
gary cotugno

Um… I get it, that he is bashing Microsoft, but really, he should know that Microsoft has been trying to phase out Windows XP for 2 years now. It has only been extended to Corporate Sales for System “Downgrades” so, needless to say that XP is not available from them. They have stopped shipping it to retail sellers some time ago. So why would he bash them for it NOT being on their web sight???
Should you really be doing reviews if your only intention is to bash a company, and overlook glaring facts you should be aware of?
gary cotugno

Oh, one other thing…Do you know of any Manufacturer that you go to the source directly, for the cheapest prices? Off hand, I can’t think of any manufacturer that the soruce prices are lower than Wholesale…But… thus the names, MSRP, and Wholesale, or discount… Are they advertising Microsoft Discount Store????