No Windows 7 on current generation Atom N270/280 based netbooks?

Consumers looking forward to buying a Windows 7 netbook based on current generation hardware may be disappointed.  DigiTimes received word from industry sources that first-tier netbook vendors will not be switching over to Windows 7 at launch time or offering any upgrade solutions due to increased costs. The current price for an OEM version of Windows XP for the netbook costs US $20 to $30, but for Windows 7, it will cost around US $45 to $55.

Netbook vendors are not willing to increase the prices of their netbooks in exchange for a newer operating system due to the competitive nature of the market. They also believe that there is little incentive for an upgrade program to Windows 7 since many of their customers find that Windows XP can already suit their needs on the netbook. All hope is not lost yet. The first-tier vendors are still negotiating with Microsoft to lower the pricing for Windows 7.

The good news is that most netbook vendors are looking at adopting Windows 7 for their next generation Intel Atom N450 based netbooks, which are expected to be released some time before the end of the year.

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. Read the rest at windows7center.com.