Microsoft charging $85 per Windows RT tablet: Report

If you waiting for cheap Windows RT tablets, you are in for a disappointment. Reports indicate that Microsoft is charging tablet OEMs $85 per operating system install, which is likely to drive up the overall cost of any Windows RT based offerings.

The $85 price-tag means that the operating system will be one of the costliest components in any Windows tablet, comparable to, and maybe even exceeding, the cost of the most expensive hardware components like the screen. Contrast this with Android tablet manufactures who either don't pay anything at all or pay between $10 and $20, in case there are any patent licensing agreements.

According to VR-Zone, which got this figure from multiple OEMs at the recently concluded Computex, the first set of Windows RT tablets could be priced between $549 and $799. At this price, the Windows RT tablets will be costlier than the latest generation iPad, which significantly diminishes their power to attract anyone but the Windows faithful.

Taiwanese manufacturers Acer and Asus were among the first manufacturers to showcase their Windows 8 based tablets at the Computex. Both the companies announced two tablets each - Acer Iconia 510, Iconia W700, Asus Tablet 600 and Asus Tablet 810. There is currently no word on the exact market availability of these devices.