Microsoft to charge Europeans double for Windows 7

Prices new OS at 41% to 100% more than in the U.S., but leaves out browser

European customers will pay up to twice as much for Windows 7 compared to U.S. users, even though the new operating system will ship without a browser in Europe, according to Microsoft.

When the company launches Windows 7 on Oct. 22, it will price Windows 7 Home Premium, likely the most popular of the three editions available at retail, at €119.99 in the European Union (EU) and charge £79.99 in the U.K., an EU member that has retained its own currency. Those prices are the equivalent to $168.66 and $132.14 U.S., respectively, at Saturday's exchange rates.

More: http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9134914

Wait, so they are making us pay MORE for LESS? and also a version where we need to clean install for it to work.

The problem with this is, if customers are still beginners, how will they know how to install a web browser without access to download one?