What's New in Windows XP

A first look at pricing, versions, and add-ins

On Friday, August 24, 2001, Microsoft released the final (Gold Code) of Windows XP to manufacturing. There was some amount of fanfare with helicopters hovering above as Bill Gates formally released the product and handed commemorative briefcases containing the gold master CDs to representatives of various computer manufacturers.

Now a week later, details about the impending retail release are emerging. The pricing seems close to the rates 'leaked' by Amazon.com in late-July 2001. A new copy of Windows XP Home Edition will cost about $199.99. An upgrade (Windows 98/98SE/ME only) costs $99.99. Windows XP Professional Edition will cost $299.99 for the full version and $199.99 for the upgrade (Windows 98/ 98SE/ ME/ NT4/ 2000/ XP Home Edition only). As we went to press, details were trickling in that XP price wars had begun with some retailers offering prices slightly below Microsoft's list price. If you like statistics, XP Home is $10 more expensive than Windows 9x. Yet, the full version of XP Pro is less expensive than Win 2k Pro but the XP upgrade price is the same as the Win2K Pro upgrade price.

In a bid to cut confusion about the version number, Microsoft has announced it as Build 2600; not anything else. Win XP will be available to all Beta testers as time-limited trials on CD-ROM sans documentation. Active testers will get a special complimentary boxed edition, just like the retail pack, in September 2001. Besides, downloadable trials will be available by 21st September on the MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network) Web site. Microsoft changed the Product Activation mechanism so new keys are needed.

The MSDN trial versions will be available as Win XP Home Edition (180 day "beta" version), Win XP Pro (120 Day Evaluation version), Win XP Customer Support & Diagnostics, Win XP Pro Developer edition, Win XP Pro 64 Bit (180 day "beta" version), and Win XP Pro 64 Bit Developer Edition. The two versions supposedly in 'Beta' are the same as the final code; only the license agreement (EULA) is in 'beta'!

Related Reading:

1. Research done at C & K Management Limited Labs

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