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Windows XP N a Bust

Posted by Zonk on from the new-version-of-vanilla dept.

mushupork writes "CNN has an interesting article about the just-released Windows XP N. From the article: 'Computer distributors and manufacturers are so far showing little interest in the new product, which compels consumers to choose their media player and download it from the Internet.' Could this open some eyes and increase interest in alternative (Linux, Mac) offerings?" Similar to an earlier article about the same issue from the PC Makers end.

7 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. Why would it? by XanC · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Could this open some eyes and increase interest in alternative (Linux, Mac) offerings?

    Why would it? I think it'll open their eyes to how much "good" Microsoft's bundling does for them.

    1. Re:Why would it? by IHateSlashDot · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Exactly!

      "We'll continue to sell the old version because it's obviously better value for our customers,"

      The 'N' version was released due to a poorly thought out EU lawsuit. It turns out that no-one wants the new version of XP. They'd rather have the old one that the EU tried so hard to get rid of.

      Shows you how out of touch with reality the EU is.

      Sorry, you can't use this as a poster child for open source.

  2. Weren't OEM's B*tching About This w/r/t Browsers? by ewhac · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Hmm. Maybe the OEMs could -- gee, I don't know -- pre-install a media player of their choice. I seem to recall a big criminal lawsuit a while back when OEMs wanted to pre-install this newfangled thing called a Web browser, but Microsoft wouldn't let them.

    Did the OEMs suddenly lose all their imagination? Or are there not as many "partership" opportunities with media players?

    Schwab

    --
    Editor, A1-AAA AmeriCaptions
  3. Typical /. by fbg111 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Humpty-dumpty sat on a wall and had a great fall. Could this open some eyes and increase interest in alternative (Linux, Mac) offerings?

    --
    Flying is easy, just throw yourself at the ground and miss. -Douglas Adams
  4. Re:I doubt it by defkkon · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Now if you (a slashdot reader/poster) is saying this, imagine what the average joe user is thinking?

    I'm not surprised there is little interest in this. Many manufacturers realize what their customers care about - after all, that's why they're still in business.

    You ask the average person whether they want Windows XP with or without Media Player to allow a free choice, and they'll probably look at you like you have two heads.

    Why? They don't care! They hardly care what OS they have PERIOD. All they want is for their office applications to work, for their email application to work, and their web browser to work.

    Not only do they not care, but the moment they try to listen to an audio file or watch a video, they're going to be pissed that their computer "can't do it" out of the box.

  5. This really was a pointless act by the EU by cloudturtle · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm not one to back M$, especially around here, but this whole Windows N thing just seems stupid. The EU doesn't like Media Player being coupled with the OS, so they make MS release a version of the OS sans MP, BUT then they still allow the old version to be sold AND they are the same price.

    I don't know, maybe i have taken too many Econ classes, but this seems like it is a horribly inefficient punishment that will solve absolutely nothing -- hell it won't even give them those warm fuzzies you get from doing the right thing because it isn't the right thing.

    The bottom line is that no rational consumer -- TFA mentioned like 2 people that this would not apply to -- would buy this version of windows. Sorry EU but you really missed the boat (or chunnel as it may be) on this one.

  6. New meme? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny


    Humpty-dumpty sat on a wall and had a great fall. Could this open some eyes and increase interest in alternative (Linux, Mac) offerings?

    This could be the next slashdot meme.

    Step 1. Repeat the headline

    Step 2. Append "Could this open some eyes and increase interest in alternative (Linux, Mac) offerings?".

    Example: New Independent Lego Journal Launches. Could this open some eyes and increase interest in alternative (Linux, Mac) offerings?