Media player-less Windows finally named

NEWS

Microsoft will rename a product it was ordered by the European Commission to offer — a version of Windows with its media player removed.

The product, which Microsoft had wanted to be called Windows XP Reduced Media Edition, will now be known as either Windows XP Home Edition N or Windows XP Professional Edition N.

Earlier this year, Microsoft said it was working with the commission on naming options after antitrust regulators balked at the "reduced media" name. Microsoft said the name was selected by European regulators over nine other alternatives proposed by the software maker.

"We have some misgivings about the chosen name as we fear it may cause confusion," Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake said on Monday. "We will adopt the commission's name in order to move forward and accelerate the pace of the implementation process."

Among other options Microsoft suggested were Windows XP Not Incorporating Windows Media Player, Windows XP/N and Windows XP/B.

In addition to challenging the name of the new Windows version, the commission has expressed concern about the degree to which Microsoft has complied with its order requiring the company to license Windows communications protocols to rivals.

Talkback

How about Windows XP Home/Pro "-MP" (seems logical really.. don't know about "N"!

via Facebook 29 March, 2005 10:11
Reply

hows about we just CAN M$ Corp full stop ..

end the whole worlds problem with a ripoff company

via Facebook 29 March, 2005 11:06
Reply

How's about Windows XPurgated?

It seems the separation of media player is really tinkering at the dges of a more level playing field if that's the EC's objective.

A Windows XP Basic version would be better with ALL apllications which are not strict OS separated out for a Pro bundle including IE and MediaPlayer - with APIs to the OS and its access utilities like DUN et al which are the same for MS internal and competitive developers - as was done with IBM to create the plug compatible market.

Its only what has been done to ensure more access to telecomms post monopoly already, and MS can then compete on the merits of its applications against other developers, which I'm sure it won't mind given the resources it has to do this..

And this action misses the strategic objective of pervasive computing by a mile, or is that 1.61 Kilometres?

The EC should have gone for a clear separation of OS and application - with equal open access to uitilities and programming tools. We also need apps like Office and its competitors to run on Linux and Windows to get the playing field level. Office on the Mac is excellent - with the usual reservations of over specification.

Such competition will yield the pricing, performance and refinement to move the industry forward to more pervasive computing devices accessible to the mass market to achieve national/EC wide pervasive network computing nirvana.

We won't get there locked into the current "DellDows" © solutions of vanilla PC hardware plus Windows architecture, both requiring continual matching upgardes. The current route is a dead end requiring substantial evolution and porting of technology to new platforms and delivery models to reach pervasive useable by all status - and get away from hardware, software and communications selling, to service delivery of value added applications for the rest of us...

............how long, has this been going on????

Just what I think.

Brian Catt
01932 772731

via Facebook 29 March, 2005 13:42
Reply

To the ECs credit they've barely given Microsoft an inch in this case even if their threats of daily fines have gone unfulfilled.

via Facebook 29 March, 2005 16:24
Reply

How about Microsoft XP LMMS - (Less Microsoft More Secure)

via Facebook 30 March, 2005 05:25
Reply

Windows XP Professional Edition N.

Do they even realize that shortens to: WinXP ProN?!

(Of course, one has to be geeky enough to know, and admit to knowing, what "pron" means...)

via Facebook 30 March, 2005 20:37
Reply

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