> the major cost center for PCs is hardware, not software Microsoft has increased the cost of Windows licences while the cost of hardware components has decrea

> the major cost center for PCs is hardware, not software Microsoft has increased the cost of Windows licences while the cost of hardware components has decreased. The result is that the "free" copy of Windows that comes with pre-built PCs takes an increasing slice of the costs. If a hardware manufacturer can sidestep the OS cost while providing its customers with a functional computer then it gives them a huge competitive advantage.