Microsoft tax
- noun
- Slang
:
impuesto de Microsoft
- Some users complain about the compulsory Microsoft tax on new computers sold with pre-installed Windows.
Examples
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Many businesses factor in the Microsoft tax when budgeting for their IT needs.
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He argued that open source alternatives could reduce the Microsoft tax faced by consumers.
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Many users feel they pay a Microsoft tax when upgrading their systems.
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The Microsoft tax is often criticized for its impact on small businesses.
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He argued that open source alternatives could reduce the Microsoft tax faced by consumers.
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Many businesses factor in the Microsoft tax when budgeting for their IT needs.
-
Some users complain about the compulsory Microsoft tax on new computers sold with pre-installed Windows.
How Expensive
- Informal
31
7.2
- Slang
74
4.3
31
5.5
39
1.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound pairs a well-known company name with the word 'tax', so a learner who knows both terms can plausibly infer it refers to an extra cost associated with Microsoft. However, the use of 'tax' is metaphorical rather than literal and the fuller connotation (perceived overpricing, lock-in or lack of alternatives) depends on background knowledge, so the relation is only partially predictable.
Etymology
Microsoft tax may come from a simple image: when you buy a new computer it already has Windows or other Microsoft programs on it, so you end up paying more like a tax. That's why people use this phrase to mean the 'extra cost' you pay for Microsoft products or upgrades.