Windows tablets for under $100 USD to arrive later this year

Earlier this week, at Microsoft's 2014 Worldwide Partner Conference held in Washington D.C., Kevin Turner revealed that sub-$100 USD Windows tablets will be commercially available later this year. Microsoft's Chief Operating Officer mentioned that manufacturers will get Windows for free when they load it on tablets smaller than 9 inches.

Turner said that Microsoft's Chinese partners announced no less than 31 new tablets for buyers on a tight budget the same week when Windows licensing fees for small form factor devices were eliminated. He also made it clear that Microsoft will increase its focus on the low-end market. "As a company we’ve been embracing several hard decisions. One of the one we’ve talked about... was zero-royalty 9-inch devices. That was not an easy choice, but it was a necessary choice." he said.

In addition to $99 USD low-end Windows 8 tablets, a $199 USD laptop made by HP and called Stream will also hit the market in an attempt to gain market share currently being held by the popular Chrome OS-powered Chromebooks.