"Microsoft has agreed to rename the new slimmed-down version of Windows it's preparing to release in Europe, after antitrust regulators there balked at the title," reports CNet.
"Microsoft announced last month that it intended to use the name 'Windows XP Reduced Media Edition' for the program, which has, by order of the European Commission, been stripped of the Media Player that's usually included.
"The commission was concerned the name would undermine its order by turning consumers off to the new version of Windows and prompting them to stay with the current version, according to reports. So Microsoft is ditching the name and is now busy coming up with a new one, Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake said Friday."
As the article notes: "the new version of Windows won't be able to do things such as play a CD or MP3 file or transfer music to a portable device -- at least not without additional software from another company."
Comment: Microsoft Windows Clueless European Dorks Edition would be a suitable and accurate name, but anything remotely accurate is unlikely to satisfy the sort of bureaucrats who came up with this pointless and stupid idea in the first place. Maybe Microsoft should hold a competition so users can make suggestions....
