Windows XP N available to OEMs

[Ian]

What is "Windows XP N" you may ask? The EU recently ordered Microsoft to release a version of Windows XP without the media player bundled, due to an antitrust ruling in March 2004. This ruling also cost Microsoft €497,000,000 in fines.

Amusingly, there appear to be very few OEMs offering PCs with this new Windows edition installed, as almost every customer wants a media player.

Other Sources

• News.com states that Fujitsu Siemens may install it on demand, to which no customers have currently requested.
• BetaNews also have some more information on the original ruling.