The approximate recommended retail price for Windows 8 in South Africa is R700, a Microsoft spokesperson recently told MyBroadband.
However, they emphasised that this was just an estimate and is highly dependent on a variety of external factors such as the exchange rate.
Microsoft wasn’t clear on whether this was for the standard or Pro retail version of Windows 8, but the R700 price point is in line with the US upgrade price that includes physical media.
Microsoft opened pre-orders for its Windows 8 operating system (OS) in the United States on Friday (12 October 2012), setting the introductory price for the upgrade version of the software at $70 for a DVD pack.
A digital download of the OS will cost $40 on launch day (26 October 2012), but the offer will expire at the end of January 2013.
OEM “system builder” versions of Windows 8 are available for pre-order on Newegg for $100 for the standard version of the OS, while the Pro version costs $140.
Newegg sells OEM versions of Windows 7 at prices starting from $100 for Home Premium to $190 for Windows 7 Ultimate.
In South Africa, Microsoft delivery service partners sell Windows 7 Home Premium for around R1,100 while Ultimate goes for R2,100.
Group lead for Windows at Microsoft SA, Colin Erasmus, explained earlier this year that South Africans would be able to buy the upgrade to Windows 8 from the Microsoft online store in US Dollars on launch day.
This lets users of Windows XP, Vista, or 7 upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99.
Another upgrade option of $14.99 is available to those who buy new PCs bundled with Windows 7 between 2 June 2012 and 31 January 2013.
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