Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. today announced that Windows XP® Starter Edition will be made available in India early next year. Windows XP Starter Edition is a low-cost introduction to the Microsoft Windows XP operating system, and is designed for first-time home PC users in developing technology markets. With this announcement, India becomes one of five countries (the others are: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Russia) chosen for the Starter Edition Pilot Program that Microsoft announced in August.
Microsoft has tailored Windows XP Starter Edition for first-time computer users. The software will be available in the Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, Russian and Hindi languages. A supplemental CD includes local-language instructional videos for first-time PC users. To further aid those users, a redesigned Help system, called My Support, includes a detailed Getting Started guide. The software also features country-specific images and screensavers with familiar landscapes, flags, and designs.
Windows XP Starter Edition Features
Windows XP Starter Edition features include the following:
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Localized and tailored support. Windows XP Starter Edition features a redesigned help system, called My Support, which includes a built-in, detailed Getting Started Guide. A supplemental CD that contains local language instructional videos designed specifically for first-time PC users is also included.
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Localized customization. Users can choose from country-specific wallpapers and screensavers with familiar landscapes, flags and geography-specific traditional designs.
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Preconfigured settings. The Starter Edition will help reduce confusion regarding setup options for entry-level users by preconfiguring advanced settings and enabling the Windows Firewall by default.
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Simplified task management. First-time home PC users can have up to three programs and three windows per program running concurrently. Further simplification of the operating system includes the 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.
Windows XP Starter Edition includes basic Windows XP features that allow users to take advantage of computing experiences popular with most first-time desktop PC users, such as the following:
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Internet connectivity. Simple to connect to the Internet and browse the Web.
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Software and hardware compatibility. The Starter Edition will be compatible with a wide range of Windows-based software applications and hardware devices, including printers, speakers and cameras.
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Windows user interface. The intuitive Windows user interface makes it easy for users to get up to speed quickly.
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Security. Windows XP Starter Edition users will be able to stay up to date and more secure with the latest security updates delivered in Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies.
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Digital photography. Users simply plug in a digital camera, and easy-to-use tools help them store photos, share photos with family and friends, post photos to a Web site, or even make their own prints with one of the many printers currently supported by Windows XP.
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Digital music and video. The Starter Edition includes Windows Media® Player 9 Series, which allows users to listen to music and watch videos.
Windows XP Starter Edition Availability
Starting in October 2004, Windows XP Starter Edition will ship on new, low-cost desktop PCs available through PC original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Microsoft OEM distributors in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and, beginning in 2005, Russia and India. Language versions will be available in Thai, Malay, Indonesian, Russian and Hindi.
