Windows "Starter Edition"

Looks like Microsoft has released a new version of XP aimed at Thailand and Malaysia.  It's called Windows "Starter Edition" and costs about $38.  It seems odd that MSFT's response to piracy in some countries is to lower the price, but in other countries they use litigation (it doesn't seem so odd I guess when you look at the differences in said countries legal systems).  I'd say pressure put on by Linux had something to do with this also.
--jeremy