Microsoft Unveils 'XP Lite' System

BANGKOK, Thailand: -- U.S. software giant Microsoft on Wednesday announced details of a simplified version of its Windows XP operating system, which it said will begin shipping in Asia in October this year.

The software, officially called Windows XP Starter Edition, was described by the company as "a low-cost introduction to the Microsoft Windows XP operating system designed for first-time desktop PC users in developing countries."

Microsoft earlier this year acknowledged it was working on the project, but kept the details secret.

Industry analysts have described it as pre-emptive move to keep market share which might otherwise be taken away by Linux, another operating system that is available at low or no cost to computer vendors and users.

Linux is so-called open source software for which no licensing fee is charged in its basic form.

Although Microsoft still holds a commanding share of the PC desktop market, several major computers retailers in the past year have begun offering their hardware with Linux installed.

A news release from Microsoft said that the Starter Edition, already dubbed "XP Lite" by the computer press, will ship on new, low-cost desktop PCs available through PC original equipment manufacturers and Microsoft OEM distributors in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

It said two more countries in a five-country pilot program would be announced later this year "following final discussions with governments and partners."

The company said specific pricing information would be made available to vendors in the coming weeks.

Microsoft described as key features in the new software "localized and tailored support" _ primarily added help features, customized features liked country-specific wallpapers and screensavers, "preconfigured settings" for features that might confuse novice computer users, and "simplified task management."

The latter feature is the one immediately identifiable as a downgrade from the standard XP operating system. According to the announcement, "first-time home PC users can have up to three programs running concurrently," though it did not make clear if that was a limit that could be changed.

Other aspects which Microsoft described as "further simplification" include "display resolution set to 800x600 maximum and no support for PC-to-PC home networking, sharing printers across a network or more advanced features such as the ability to establish multiple user accounts on a single PC."

Features retained from the standard XP software include Internet connectivity, the inclusion of Windows Messenger and Windows Media Player 9, and digital photography support,.

The Microsoft announcement also said that Starter Edition will include "advanced security technologies delivered in Windows XP Service Pack 2."

--Agencies 2004-08-11

Forbes Magazine - August 11, 2004, 11:46 AM

The Thai version includes wallpaper photos of Bangkok's Grand Palace, a national landmark, and a white-sand beach in southern Thailand. One screensaver is a waving Thai flag.

The new software's "simplified task management" can run three programs concurrently, representing a downgrade from the standard XP system. A full XP version can run many more programs concurrently, depending on the amount of memory in a computer.

Other downgrades include a lack of support for home networking and printer sharing and the absence of advanced features such as the ability to establish multiple user accounts on a single PC, the company said.

Great new features:

......can [only] run three programs concurrently.....

......lack of support for home networking and printer sharing......

......[in]ability to establish multiple user accounts on a single PC......

You get what you pay for!

It may be short sighted if MS fails to include the system "Restoration" utility. That alone would be the singular feature to get most novices out of trouble.

There already exists a utility called XPLITE.

I have a trial copy of it. You can remove unwanted sections of XP to tailor it to your needs.

The full copy can remove outlook express and IE.

This is a much better way to go if you are not happy with XP

Where can I get a trial copy of this and/or better yet purchase a copy?

m.

You can go direct to www.litepc.com/xplite.html for more info and a trial download. You can also get it from majorgeeks.com

You will need the pro version if you want to say goodbye to IE and outlook express. By the way all changes are reversible.

Uh, I'm refering to the new Microsoft Windows XP Lite edition, designed for use in Thailand and ULTRA cheap.

m.