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MS, EU Agree on Name for Windows Sans Media Player

Posted by timothy on from the first-name-seemed-honest-enough-to-me dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft has agreed with European Union antitrust regulators on a new name for Windows software sold in Europe. Officials at the U.S. software giant said they had accepted the European Union's offer to call the European version of Windows sold without Media Player "Windows XP Home Edition N" - with "N" standing for "not with media player." Microsoft's "XP Professional Edition" will also include the "N" for versions sold without the media player. The prior name for the OS was Windows XP Reduced Media Edition." News.com also mentions the choice.

10 of 468 comments (clear)

  1. Great! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now when can we get Windows XP Reduced Internet Explorer edition?

  2. What the left hand takes away... by Sanity · · Score: 5, Informative
    Isn't it amazing that just as one part of the EU is recognising and addressing the dangers of Microsoft's monopoly, others within the EU are pushing for software patents which would allow Microsoft to create not just one monopoly, but thousands?

    What is even more amazing is that Microsoft's lobbyists seem to be having an impact on some of our so-called representatives in the European Parliament.

    Take, for example, Spain's Manuel Medina MEP, who appears to have bought completely into their propaganda. In a recent article he writes:

    In the United Stated, computer patents have on the one hand allowed to innovation to thrive in this area and on the other hand make Bill Gates the richest man in the world.
    He goes on to tell us that software authors (of whom he claims there are few in the EU, presumably because we haven't had the benefit of software patents) support patents, while only those self-interested "network users" oppose the directive.

    If you live in Spain and care about this issue I ask you to contact Mr Medina and politely provide him with some counter-arguments to this pro-software patent FUD. His contact info is:

    email: mmedina [at] europarl.eu.int fax Bruselas: +32 (0)2 284 9882 fax Estrasburgo: +33 (0)3 88 17 9882 mail: Europe Parlament , Rue Wiertz ASP 11G351 B-1047 BRUSELAS
    1. Re:What the left hand takes away... by FidelCatsro · · Score: 5, Informative

      I must also urge any other people in the EU to also write to their local MEP about this issue. They do listen if we should loudly enough.
      Oh and please point out the Lies Mr Medina is spouting to them , FUD propigates through ignorance , Whilst i am synical at heart I do belive some of the MEP may have the brains to realise they do not want to cripple local industrys .
      The MS decision on the windows media player free Windows version shows us that the EU does at times have the brains to strike against abusive monopolys and has yet become totaly polouted by bribes(or as they call it lobbying) .

      --
      The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
    2. Re:What the left hand takes away... by Tim+C · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That has nothing to do with the article. Furthermore, software patents would not allow only MS, but any company (and technically individual) to gain "thousands of monopolies".

      The software patent issue is far, far larger and more important than some "M$ versus teh world!" issue; please don't denigrate it to such.

      --
      It's official. Most of you are morons.
  3. Windows XP Home Edition say what? by frovingslosh · · Score: 5, Funny
    "Windows XP Home Edition N"

    As a black man I find this use of the N word extremely offensive.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  4. Before all the dumb comments start again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There are allready some comments and there will be many more in the line of "and Joe Sixpack will not buy it".

    This might of course be true, but that's not what this case is about. This is about PC vendors being able to sell a fullblown XP PC without windows media player, but with an other media installed that takes it place.

    For example, some PC vendor could strike a deal with Apple to sell a PC and an ipod bundle and have itunes and quicktime included in XP and not the windows media player.

  5. Windows XP ProN? by davisk · · Score: 5, Funny

    That, is marketing genius.

    1. Re:Windows XP ProN? by deblau · · Score: 5, Funny

      Which is all the more ironic, because it comes without a media player.

      --
      This post expresses my opinion, not that of my employer. And yes, IAAL.
  6. Re:What about Win XP 64 ? by 0x461FAB0BD7D2 · · Score: 5, Funny

    For now, yes, until they can figure out how to sell Windows XP N64 without Nintendo finding out.

  7. Re:How about by werewolf1031 · · Score: 5, Funny

    So um, the OS is the car, the radio is Media Player (or viable substitute thereof, eg. Pioneer), the gas is the file format (but it's common to all cars??), the road is the Internet...

    No wait, the GPS anti-theft is the Internet...

    I mean... wait, Microsoft has a proprietary gasoline format that won't run in other stereos?!

    Ok, so if I buy a car from Microsoft and replace the stereo with a Mac, I can't run Linux on it? And I have to pay Ford to drive it on their roads?? And I have to be digitally signed to be the car's driver?!

    I'm lost...