UK PC vendors say they expect to be able to deliver pre-installed Windows NT 4.0 on systems by as early as mid-September as reports grow that Microsoft is targeting an end-of-July deadline for final bug squashing. That would give Microsoft a six-week opportunity to flow the product into the distribution channel and stamp disks.

"We're waiting on NT 4.0 because we think it's going to be the answer for a lot of key clients that are running [Windows] 3.11," said one vendor who requested anonymity. "I don't think the ramp is going to be spectacular but it should mean the final stage of what has been a long, long evaluation cycle. Microsoft itself is pushing this to corporates far harder than Windows 95."

Separately, Compaq said that it will not pre-install NT 4.0 on systems but give buyers OS options on a disk. A spokesman said that corporate customers preferred the option as it gave more freedom to select configurations.

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