Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): Some Trouble With Windows RT?

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) can’t seem to catch much of a break when it comes to Windows RT, its “light” version of the Windows 8 operating system. While the company is putting forth a good amount of effort to sell the full version of Windows 8 across various devices, the tablet-only OS has been meeting some significant resistance, even from longtime loyal OEMs, in that Microsoft seems to be leaning toward having to make some moves in the market to manipulate demand. But with Windows 8 rolled out already, should Microsoft even bother with RT at this point? Should it instead just shut it down or revamp it into another tool?

Well whatever, it seems that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has had some trouble getting Windows RT to be used  in heavy numbers, and it appears that instead of perhaps scrapping or dialing down the OS altogether, there is a rumor floating that Microsoft  is planning to slash the price of Windows RT in the hopes of attracting more interest from OEMs to work with the system. However, Microsoft might have hurt itself in the first place by providing some level of exclusivity with RT in that not every OEM was provided the opportunity to work with it when it first released. There is no word whether this will be extended to all OEMs and there is no word how much of a price cut it will be.

But at least one OEM is already expressing public disinterest in the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows RT system, and that is Acer, which was asked about its involvement with RT in terms of putting out tablets PCs in the near-term. Acer said recently in an interview that it had no plans to introduce an RT-based tablet, and instead says it plans to do what other OEMs are doing, which is taking the full Windows 8 experience to smaller 7- and 8-inch tablets instead of using RT like was intended.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) seemed to have full intention of having Windows RT be used for smaller tablets because it was cheaper and could help Redmond compete with the Nexus 7, Kindle Fire and others. But apparently the difference between RT and full 8 is significant enough that the OEMs seem to be willing to pay a little bit more to integrate 8 and still sell smaller tablets at competitive price points.

In that vein, do you think it makes sense for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) to continue to push Windows RT, or should it focus its energy on Windows 8 for all tablets? Give us your feedback in the comments section below.

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