MS, Intel challenged over Windows 8 tablet prices

The message from Taiwan's computer manufacturers: lower the price of Windows 8 tablet components and software or the devices will be so expensive that consumers won't want them.

Claiming that both Microsoft and Intel have rejected calls to drop their prices, Asian moles say that means Windows 8 tablets could cost as much as $899 (£586) before sales tax when they go on sale later this year, DigiTimes reports.

Punters won't put up with that price, they say.

Big business may be less concerned, if it can see a benefit in buying in tablets in bulk, possibly to replace ageing Tablet PCs. But even corporates may favour ARM-based kit for its - so far - superior performance:battery life ratio. Especially when it's so easy to run a Windows session in a terminal window.

And the manufacturers may be simply be attempting to wheedle MS and Intel into reducing prices. They admit that tablets could cost as little as $599 (£391), and that price point hasn't hindered the take up of the iPad. ®