Windows 10 Laptops Start At $149

Microsoft is reportedly planning to sell two new Windows 10 laptop models for as little as $149. It's seen as yet another attempt to combat the boom in low-cost machines such as Google's Chromebook.

The report comes from Digitimes, an industry journal for the electronics business in Asia. It's usually reputable as it has sources from manufacturers of components for computers and other devices who naturally have advance notice of machines that are in the works. (Source: digitimes.com)

Both laptops will have 11.6 inch screens, which are very small for 'fully featured' computers. That's only a little bigger than the most expensive tablet computers and is a size more commonly associated with low-spec models known as netbooks.

Laptops May Have Limited Power

The two models will each use the Intel Bay Trail-T CR processor, which is specially designed to power cheaper laptops. It means the laptops will likely struggle with intensive tasks such as gaming or processing video files, but should be acceptable for people who have more basic needs such as web browsing and document editing, particularly if they don't need to run multiple applications at once.

The trade-off is that this lower-powered processor means battery life should be much longer than with other laptops, though the specific details for these models aren't confirmed.

Separate Models For Consumers & Business

While Microsoft is behind the two laptops, they'll actually each be produced by a different Chinese manufacturer. One is aimed at the general consumer market and will cost around $149. The other, which may have higher specifications, is aimed at schools and small businesses and will cost $179. It's not yet confirmed if the two models will ship worldwide or if they'll be aimed solely at buyers in China. (Source: techworm.net)

While many computers are available at this price, they tend to run non-Windows operating systems, such as Google's Chrome-OS or other Linux-based systems. The nearest price to these systems is the $199 HP Stream 11, though it should be noted that the Stream (as well as Google's Chromebooks) largely rely on having an Internet connection to use online apps, plus the machine has very limited storage at 32GB.

What's Your Opinion?

Would you be interested in a $149 Windows 10 laptop if one was available in your area? Do you think Microsoft is making a smart move to target the ultra-budget market? Or is there too much risk that the cheap machines will perform so poorly that they compromise the Windows brand.