Microsoft is reportedly considering upward adjusting licensing fees for OEM versions of Windows 8, and with Intel reluctant to lower quotes for processors for use in ultrabooks, the situation is expected to render it difficult for vendors and ODMs to decrease production costs to meet Intel's goal for ultrabooks to account for 40% of consumer notebooks sold in 2012, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers.
Both Microsoft and Intel have declined to comment about the market rumors.
Meanwhile, Intel has also been working on reducing the bill of materials (BOM) for second-generation ultrabooks by suggestion different combinations of hardware components such as hybrid hard drives, new chassis materials, batteries, touchscreen panel designs and connectors; however, without counting tax and expenses for marketing, Intel's processor platform remains the component with the highest cost in the BOM.
Article translated by Joseph Tsai
