The leading PC manufacturers are,

The leading PC manufacturers are, it seems, only just discovering what has been obvious for years: that they will be far worse off as a result of the US government's anti-trust action. Microsoft is being compelled to offer the same prices to the top 20 PC manufacturers, which means the ones who had special deals must now pay more. IBM's comments are awaited with interest. It complained bitterly during the trial that Microsoft had tripled the price it paid for Windows. It ended up paying about $27 a copy when the average for the biggest buyers was about $42-44. The pay-back for IBM's testimony looks like being an increase to about $46-$48 a copy. Many smaller PC manufacturers will, of course, end up paying less for Windows. However, nobody cares what small PC manufacturers say.