The new XP OS, as yet unnamed, but a new ‘light’ addition to the Windows XP ‘family’, will be released in limited, selected markets later this year and will offer reduced functionality when compared with Windows XP Professional and Home editions, according to Microsoft Thailand Managing Director Andrew McBean.
Microsoft Developing New ‘Light’ Version of Windows XP
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Who knows, maybe it will be, similarly to Win98Lite, a bit faster and less resource-consuming, compared to WinXP.
Anyway, I read the article, and it doesn’t give out much.
“Mr McBean added that the first release would essentially be XP Home edition with some reduced functionality, although for future versions there would be a chance of additional or incremental development and innovation.”
That statement was the final proof that the word innovation has completely lost its meaning.
Seriously, why can’t they just offer the standard XP at a lower price? It’s not like it costs more money to produce it, quite the opposite, introducing yet another version will cost more money to maintain and distribute. An operating system isn’t a physical device. It doesn’t matter how many expensive parts you rip out of it, it will costs just as much to reproduce it.
Well, if this ‘reduced functionality’ means less bloat, then where do I sign up ?
Windows XP is little more for me than a platform to run my apps, so the less of it there is, the happier I am.
Well, if this ‘reduced functionality’ means less bloat, then where do I sign up ?
http://www.litepc.com/ for now…
Seriously, why can’t they just offer the standard XP at a lower price? It’s not like it costs more money to produce it, quite the opposite, introducing yet another version will cost more money to maintain and distribute. An operating system isn’t a physical device. It doesn’t matter how many expensive parts you rip out of it, it will costs just as much to reproduce it.
That’s why so many open source companies go out of business, lack of common business sense. Of course it does not cost much to reproduce a CD. It costs to DEVELOP it, and to maintain it. If we sold software by how much it cost to reproduce, all CDs would be <$5. Or are you suggesting that if Microsoft has made back their initial R&D investment, taht they should just drop the price? Both ideas are equally ridiculous. How is Microsoft supposed to pay to develop the next version?
I want the functionality, but I don’t want the bloat :S
So XP-lite gives me the functionality, but not the bloat
If it doesn’t include Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express, sign me up. I don’t use any of them (except for Windows Update). I hate that the File Explorer is integrated to Internet Explorer and I hate knowing that they are on my hard drive. BTW, I use Outlook 2000 for email and Mozilla Firebird for web browsing.
Of course, this is meant to counter recent cheap PC’s preloaded with Linux sold in Thailand. So, the Microsoft answer is: more expensive than Linux, and with fewer functions too! Of course, they have an excellent marketing department to sell the more (money) is less (functions) filosophy.. Keep up the good work Microsoft. I just remember a ‘call of duty’ quote: Never disturb an opponent while he is making a mistake (Napoleon). Sadly to say, this game has to be played under Windows 🙁
Simon
I think if they made a version that was basicly winXP pro with no apps on it. And then have the option to install some of the basic apps like notepad and paint it could be nice. I don’t have much of a problem with that they include, but things like messanger, the movie editor, outlook and such are pointless. They should be install later things, also don’t include WMP simple because in no time there is a new version of it out and you have to upgrade it after a install anyways. Explorer could stay, just let me be able to burry it, or remove programs from needing it, but that probably won’t happen. Theres nothing wrong with having Intertnet explorer in there is it only gets used when something requires using it. MS is right, you can’t rip IE out of windows without screwing things all up. But a simple version with the full OS features but not all the apps would be nice. Also if it was good an cheap. Then again XP pro has gotten pretty cheap and will be much cheaper when longhorn comes, but then who would run it over longhorn unless you wear a tinfoil hat.
Ummmm, I didn’t catch what it is that they plan to leave out? If they strip out very much more functionality from XP Home Edition, the only thing left will be the blue screen of death. My relatives will be sooooo upset when they discover that they can’t first use their mouse to get it.
That’s why so many open source companies go out of business, lack of common business sense.
Yeah, I bet it doesn’t have to do with the fact that few people care enough about their little distros to pay money for them. Do you think that microsoft would have made much money if there was freely available versions of windows for download as well?
Of course it does not cost much to reproduce a CD. It costs to DEVELOP it, and to maintain it.
Exactly my point. Making yet another windows distro would cost even to develop and maintain than using one that is allready used by the rest of the world.
Or are you suggesting that if Microsoft has made back their initial R&D
investment, taht they should just drop the price?
Yes, and then some. Seriously, how do you think that they can afford to loose so much money in other markets?
Their OS is overpriced, especially considering how many copies of it they sell. But they are still in a position where it’s possible for them to do so.
How do you think that they can afford to sell the OEM version a lot cheaper than the retail version?
It’s insane to charge the same price for their products all over the world since it costs practically nothing to reproduce it. The “light” edition costs just as much as the regular one to produce and reproduce, actually even more. Remember even though the price of the “light” edition may seem cheap to us, it is just as expensive as XP Home in those countries. Why shouldn’t they get the same functionality?
It’s meant to be an interface for thin-clients… Look for Terminal Services to be a real BIG deal in the next couple years…. You heard it here first. ;->
All I need from an operatind system is a base to run other applications from. I have been wanting a “lite” version of windows for a long time. Myabe this will mean less default services in startup. I can’t wait to get my hands on and tweak this version of windows.
You can dl a calendar app for Moz at this address http://www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/
The term innovation lost meaning long ago…ever since the marketing department decided to start throwing it around.
In other news, you can actually remove Outlook, WMP, Windows Messenger etc. from Windows. It isn’t obvious, but a quick google search will explain how to do it and it’s much easier than you might expect. Of course it’s isn’t the same as Microsoft not bundling these seemingly irremovable features in the first place but at least you can eliminate them if you choose.
First they delay removing windows 98 support, and then they announce a new lite XP. Why? To try to capture the market of the 98 users who don’t want to or can’t move to XP, but would have to move to Linux.
I think that MS is scared that if they sell cheaper versions of the full XP then they might find their way into the full-priced markets, through parallel imports or by other means.
I find this comment from the article quite telling: “that because of the complexity of an operating system, reducing functionality was not a simple process.”
It demonstrates that XP is really just a confused monolith of Operating Systems and Application components. It shouldn’t be like that.
Don’t fool yourself. It is like that. XP Embedded demonstrated this, as did NT embedded before it. They already have the know-how to remove pieces from it easily, however whats most likely is that they remove things the user could remove themselves via sysoc.inf entries, etc.
If they *REALLY* wanted to, they could strip out explorer (albeit break alot of existing apps and some of their own), but the capability is definately there.
I suspect the cost to develop XP has already been covered, and to do what they’re proposing to do will be more than covered in a very short period of time. So, the bottom line is, if they customize it for Thailand, they make money without much effort. Maybe not as much money as they would have selling the regular version at full price, but money is money and what corporation can turn up a nose to that?
Microsoft is finding out (without realizing yet) how hard it is to keep a monopoly together. MSN…the Xbox…their plethora of products – plus their own OS cruft (98/NT4) [I mean cruft in the sense that it’s cruft to Microsoft in that it isn’t generating new revenue for them – I would HATE to upset my 98/NT4 friends ;-)]…
The a major point of XP was to unify the Windows family (9x/NT) into one thing (even thought they immediately watered down that goal with the Home/Pro branches). Now, they’re talking about creating XP”ME”. How about adding something like “set program access and defaults” to SP2 that allows you to remove the bloat yourself – without them having to create a whole new “version” of Windows? The funny thing is, while they have the headache of figuring out when to *really* cut off support for the 98ers, they are creating yet one more product that (potentially, someday) they’ll have to worry about ending support on, lest people become irrate.
Thanks for the info, but I have already been using the calendar for about 6 months.
PS: That’s what I like about this community — they are willing to help out when ever possible.
Thanks again!
Call me if it’s 5-150MB.
how light can xp be?
im no pro ms but for me its ok for ms to include any software in their os since its their product.
i always feel that 125(or 300) US is too featureless for a os worth 300 at retail.
if this is in linux case ISVs should file lawsuit against linux distributor for bundle eveything they can in a linux os?
(this is not even ‘full’ antitrust yet…)
watever…
Windows XP Lite! Now dewormed!
(I know somebody laughed…. )
Looks like we’ll get that win98 replacement after all. Seriously, Win 95 was about 100MB full install, Win98SE about 250MB, Win2000 was about 700MB, but WinXP was 1700MB! What gives. There’s A LOT of stuff MS could cut to make the XP kernel run on Win98 generation boxes just fine…look at Win2K… it runs just fine on 400-500MHZ boxes.
Seriously, MS is realizing they have to do something to move the masses off from Win98. It will definately reduce the number of viruses, worms, etc because MS can “lock down” more stuff and developers can depreciate some of the really buggy old stuff left “just because” for compatibility.
The more interesting goal would be the OSS reaction. Win98 is now offically dead…even MS is looking for a replacement. NOW is the perfect time for some of the Wine groups to get together and finish off Win98 level emulation once and for all. A really good version of Wine should be in every boxed distro!!! Even if they have to pay for them, get the Snaptech drivers on board and go after those Win98 leftovers, but you gotta support devices using native boxed win98 drivers…of course the technicals of 2.6 make it look a lot easier to do low level device emulation like what’s needed to build a win98 driver model into Linux. No, it’s not best, but in terms of compatiblity, win98 is the “grail” of computing right now as the lowest common denominator for software and devices!
I believe, if Microsoft removes Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and the Windows Media player files from Windows XP Lite and replaces them with Mozilla or Firebird with some other e-mail program, they replace Windows Media with Real Player or WinAmp instead of Windows Media Player, stops necessary services running like the Windows Messenger service, introduces the new SP2 enhancements like the firewall, Windows will probably become WAY more secure then it is now and cheaper too. Then, they can make an agreement with the OEMs, there will be PCs with XP Lite and PCs with the normal (or as you call it “bloated” XP). The XP lite could be available on the shelves too sooooo that could make everyone happy and since MS is has a bloated version of XP, (Home, Pro) when they include IE, Outlook Express, Windows Media Player, in the next “bloated” editions, they may also include Real Player, Mozilla etc so that users will have a choice between which programs to use. If they want Windows Media then they have it installed and it’s a click away. If they want Real Player or WinAmp, they have it installed again and it’s a click away. The very first time they launch a media files or HTML file, they can be asked which program should be used to load the file, example, Internet Explorer or Mozilla, WinAmp or Window Media Player etc and they can have the check box “Always use this program to load this type of file” I believe this will solve all these legal suits between companies, mostly the ones that sue MS such as Real Networks etc.
http://jdeboeck.msfnhosting.com/
A Windows XP Lite version is ofcourse a way to create an option for Windows 98(SE) users to upgrade without much pain and it could form a bulkhead against the inflow of GNU/Linux.
Everyone knows the bundled applications are just a very ornate icing on the Windows XP cake. A basic OS with the XP core codebase would not be less usefull than full blown XP. The main use of Windows is to run Win32 software and a “bare” OS could do it just fine.
There maybe another compelling reason for MS to consider the release of a basic OS. MS is still under Anti-trust investigation in the European Union. One of the proposed remedies in the EU is to fine MS mucho $ and to force MS to release XP without Mediaplayer.
Creating a basic OS could solve much of MSes anti-trust problems in one go. The cashcows for MS are the OS and Office sales. A basic OS could be cheaper and therefore less profitable, but MS could offset that by selling a expansion pack that would bring a reduced XP up to full blown status.
All the parties that complain about high pricing and lack of choice would have to acknowledge in this situation that MS is forthcoming to their gripes.
If they got rid of the registry I’d pay for MS software for the first time ever!
Hang on I take that back, I just remembered some other issues I have with Windows.
Note the source: Microsoft Thailand! (I didn’t even know that MS *had* a Thai division…). And it will be made available in “limited, selected markets”…I would seriously be surprised if this included North America or Western Europe.
This is really just an attempt to keep (especially) Asia from jumping to Linux, and lock them further into the MS money machine. NA/WE is already mostly locked in, so you won’t see the “lite” version of XP, unless you travel into Asia on a regular basis.
I think there’s a real need in today’s health concious society for a low fat, sugarfree alternative. I’m sure the new Lite version will be just as full of that crunchy goodness that we all know and love. Or am I missing something?
Appreciably, it’s not great to spend a tonne of money on XP and then sell it off cheap.
It is, however, even less intelligent to spend more R&D money to produce a cut down version of XP and then sell that for less. You’ve just spent more money for the same end effect.
The big question, is how XP sales would ramp if the price fell, due to people getting legal.
“…even less intelligent to spend more R&D money to produce a cut down version of XP and…”
What kind of R&D does it take to just not include everything you already have?
//begin cliche
And I’ve always wondered, just what the deal with Microsoft’s R&D is. I haven’t seen them create any new algorithms for anything, any new ways of thinking, any new paradigms for any area of CS. They’ve given us no advances in databases, servers, compilers, kernels, techniques for using or writing programs…
If they do real research, is it not getting into the products? Is the research just browsing through old literature of what’s already been done, or is their research just user testing of mouseover buttons?
//end cliche
What kind of R&D does it take to just not include everything you already have?
They need to design it, decide which parts should be there or not. They need to actually make the distro and it’s not as easy as just deleting some files. They need to do quality control <insert lame joke here>.
Also it needs to be packaged and distributed, they will need to educate support staff etc. etc.
It will cost them a lot of money in the end for something that isn’t really needed.
Again, the “cheap” version would probably costs as much for the people in thailand as XP home costs to people in the US. Then why should they get less functionality for the same price? Just because it’s cheap from the US economy perspective doesn’t make it cheap to them. That’s why the problem exists in the first place.
i’d be happy with more optional and less included stuff but i doubt that it’ll be less bloated then my win2k …
i don’t use explorer ( i mean the file explorer ) , i use total commander.
i don’t use iexplore , i use Firebird.
i don’t use outlook , i use thunderbird.
i don’t use msn , i use trilian.
i don’t use wordpad , i use abiword.
i don’t use paint , i use photoshop.
i USE notepad
hehe
i’d be happy with a completely naked win2k shell … but i strongly doubt that they’d ever release something like that …
Everyone seem to be cheering for less bloat. Truth of the matter, download one security patch and it will require IE, MSN, WMP, .NET, and everything else stripped out to begin with. Then guess what, back to square one. Bloat.
My ideal Windows OS is a prettified NT 4.0 with Fat32 and USB support.
My last post was reported for abuse? No seriously. NT 4.0 is the smallest footprint NT-based, Win32 OS that uses the current GUI paradigm. You can most definitely get a fresh install in under [nearly] 100 MBs. I’m still looking for the instructions on how to create an install of NT 4.0 on a Zip 100 disk. You can run nearly anything on it that you would Win2000 or XP. The only things that NT 4.0 is missing that would make me happy is USB support and support for Fat32 volumes.
currently bloated value proposition. If they are forced to reduce price, then they counter with reduced functionality; thus, implying the products worth is real…
Happy paying Mandrake user