Microsoft's much-anticipated Windows XP operating system, seen as a catalyst for igniting PC sales, will launch in Australia on October 25th.
A delivery date for the software upgrade to Windows 95, 98, Me and 2000 has been a moving target in recent weeks, with Microsoft shifting the release of final - or gold - code to PC manufacturers three times. Gold masters are used to make copies for sale at retail or on new PCs.
As recently as Friday, Microsoft told PC makers that Windows XP would go on sale Oct. 29, according to sources close to the companies. A week earlier, the company warned that if it missed a July 25 target for delivering gold code, it could push Windows XP's launch to the first quarter.
Instead, Microsoft delayed gold code delivery until Aug. 25 and revealed the late-October availability date.
"We were expecting a six-month delay, and we're so ecstatic about the one-month delay, we hardly heard the rest of the call," said one source.
That reaction underscores the importance of Windows XP to computer manufacturers, which are looking for any means possible to ignite PC sales.
Still, the news is not all good for computer makers. As recently as a month ago, Microsoft told PC manufacturers that they would receive gold code in June, allowing them to begin selling Windows XP systems during the latter portion of Amercia's back-to-school selling season - the second-busiest sales period of the year.
"There is no question that it's tough missing back-to-school, particularly given the grim sales climate," said IDC analyst Roger Kay.
Microsoft says Windows XP will be the company's biggest product launch ever - doubling the amount Microsoft spent on promoting Windows 95 during the first four months of availability.
Windows XP will be available in two editions: Home and Professional. The Home version, for consumers, is the upgrade from Windows 98 and Me. The Professional version is the upgrade from Windows NT and 2000. Both versions are built on Windows NT/2000 code, which offers better memory protection than earlier consumer versions of Windows, making it more crash-resistant.
As with the release of Windows 2000, it's predicted many companies will likely wait until Microsoft issues the first Windows XP service pack - a collection of bug fixes - before making a switch.
You have to wonder why MS are releasing their third operating system in just 12 months. And that they are using the instability Windows 98/ME as a selling point.
XP will require at least a 700 MHz PIII with 128 MB of RAM. Double the RAM if you want to run more than one application at a time - hence why PC manufactuers are hoping for a new bout of PC sales.
The last big surge in PC sales was sparked by the world wide web, something very new for most users with some very interesting and compelling features. XP has none of that. It is essentially an upgrade, and an expensive one at that.