Microsoft desperately wants to get Windows 8.1 in the hands of millions, even if it means cutting some of the costs on the shoulders of OEMs. Just recently, the software giant confirmed that Windows with Bing is real, and it should allow for cheaper devices going forward.
You won't be able to purchase Windows 8.1 with Bing as a standalone operating system to install on your current system. It is only available for OEMs looking to provide something affordable for the general public. From what we understand, Windows 8.1 with Bing will be preloaded on new tablets and PCs, many of which includes a full year subscription of Microsoft Office 365, or a complete version of Office.
"This new edition will only be available preloaded on devices from our hardware partners. Some of these devices, in particular tablets, will also come with Office or a one-year subscription to Office 365.
The end result is that more people-across consumer and commercial-will have access to an even broader selection of new devices with all the awesomeness that Windows 8.1 provides, and get Office too, all at a really affordable price. Additionally, as reach expands, the opportunity for developers and their apps also increases," says Microsoft in a blog post.
Windows 8.1 with Bing will come with Bing as the default search engine and Internet Explorer as the default web browser. OEMs will not be able to replace Bing with Google search, or install a secondary web browser such as Firefox or Google Chrome and set it as the default.
However, users will still have the option to set their favorite web browser as default, the same can be said for their favorite search engine. Still, we expect many users who purchase one of these machines to work with what they have been given, without even considering the fact they can change to something different.
This move by Microsoft is not only a ploy to get Windows 8.1 into the hands of many, but could also be a plan to keep Google services from dominating the Windows environment, and get Microsoft services into as many hands as possible.
With this plan and the proposed return of the Start Menu, Microsoft is well on its way to reinvent itself and the Windows platform.
