Windows 7 is just around the corner. As various sources put the news in, the next version of Microsoft’s coveted operating system is most probably going to release on this holiday season. Before the actual release, since MS already announced the SKUs, actual pricing of the various versions will be officially declared. Now the rumor mill has interesting information about this valuation but they are not exactly financially beneficial for customers.

According to the hearsay, Microsoft’s going to make Windows 7 pricier than both XP and Vista. It doesn’t take a genius’s mind to discover that a heftier sum won’t please the consumers, not in a present state of economic turmoil all over the world. Since the recent studies have shown that people are increasingly buying cheaper computers, a ridiculous pricing means yet another dent on their wallets. On the other hand, MS must think about the competition as well. Apple is on the brink of releasing their new iteration of Mac OS X (Snow Leopard) and possibly a cheaper version of MacBook (a netbook maybe?). Intel is also working hard on a netbook-0ptimized version of Linux called ‘Moblin’ and that’ll be free of cost. So, no one is going to welcome a bigger than ever price tag, even if the OS is superior in quality than the others.

If we look at the current pricing of both Mac OS X Leopard and Windows Vista Ultimate, we’ll find that the Microsoft offering is at least 2.5 times pricier than the first one. Even the Mac Box Set (consisting of Leopard, iWork’09 and iLife’09) is available at $150 less than Vista Ultimate.

Windows is still pricier than its Mac counterpart

Increasing the present value of $319.95 (Vista Ultimate) for Windows 7 Ultimate will be disastrous, only adding to the difference between the two main players in the market.

I’m not going to suggest an appropriate price here, Microsoft have their appointed people to do that. Just keep in mind the current economic situation and also consider the competition, the rest will fall in place.