Get a grip on yourself; the offer is not for the States. Microsoft has designs of selling low-down versions of Windows, Office and other software for $3 to people in developing nations. Now that’s a joke cause a good friend of yours in China can get you the pirated version of Windows Vista for a mere $1 from the streets. As it is they were able to sell only 244 copies as per the information disclosed by Windows Vista chief distributor in Beijing. The noble initiative is taken by none other that Bill Gates himself. It is his endeavor to introduce “products to those who have lacked access to personal computers, especially in developing nations.” His almost-free offer was announced in (ironically) Beijing on Thursday. On the flip side, this offer could also be a reaction to the fact that some governments are opting for Linux, a free operating system. This new program, called Microsoft Unlimited Potential, offers cheaper ($30) options than those given to countries like Malaysia and Thailand.

In all fairness we do not support piracy, but this offer seems just too funny when you compare the two options. According to what Microsoft had to say, the prices of the computer totally depended on the manufacturer and what hardware features were included. According to the trade gurus, basic machines with the $3 Microsoft pack of programs could be priced at $300 or less. The standard retail price of the software in the $3 bundle, including Windows XP Starter Edition and Office Home and Office 2007, would be about $150. “Microsoft is betting that at least some of the kids from developing nations will turn into buyers of more mainstream products later in life,” said Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies Associates, a research firm. “The theory is that if you get them young, you can keep them for life.”
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