Despite Microsoft's repeated denials, the company will indeed release an interim version of Windows XP that will bridge the gap between the initial XP release and Windows Longhorn, which is currently due in late 2005 at the earliest. The interim XP version will ship as a new retail product that replaces existing retail boxed copies of XP and as a set of updates, called XP Reloaded, that existing XP users can install separately. According to sources I contacted this morning, XP Reloaded will include all the features from XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), which is due by midyear, as well as a host of other unique features, including Windows Media Player (WMP) 10. Other details about XP Reloaded are unknown at this time, although the update kit apparently will include a Web-based installer application that will let users choose optional features. Reports about an XP Version 2 release first cropped up more than a year ago, but Microsoft officials repeatedly denied that the company planned to issue such a release. In early 2004, when the company revealed the new security features that XP SP2 will include, the rumors resurfaced. But the XP Reloaded OS refresh will clearly include a lot more than security updates, possibly in a bid to revive consumer excitement about XP while Microsoft preps the ever-delayed Longhorn release.
End of Article
Shouldn't this have been released last year? Why wait 4 years to release a new version of Windows, only to release a major version of Windows a year later? Kinda inconvenient for the customer if you ask me. Releasing this in 2003 would have made much more sense.
Mike February 26, 2004
Yay! An upgrade to XP! This will keep me occupied throughout Longhorn Beta. Or not :P... But it's a nice idea for consumers.
petroid February 26, 2004
I must say - I'm a little sceptical about the idea of an OS refresh, unless it's going to be free that is.
Sure, it may re-envigorate excitement about XP - but it could take the edge off Longhorn excitement by re-strengthening the perception that Microsoft just want to grab money by constant upgrades close-together, for little extra value.
Mark Lomas February 26, 2004
IMO other than SP2, a really excellent 2004 version of Plus! free of shareware / trialware / heroinware and other disappointments would do as much as anything to revive interest [heroinware is when the first level of the game is free to get you hooked, but you have to pay to go beyond that].
Neat clocks, MSIE plug-ins, full games and a variety of truly different themes for starters. The first version of Plus! didn't have any new themes save for new wallpaper and slight colour changes. One look at theme-xp.org and you know Plus! was a comparitive rip-off.
Maybe it could include the digital Media Plus! that is currently available. It might also include the dancers and the aquarium. One thing it might also include is the TweakUI - only Microsoft should fix the couple bugs in Desktop manager. Desktop manager has a couple small bugs that should be fixed.
One neat thing might be a UI enhancement for Windows that **slide** in from the right or left etc. That was something I found that I really liked.
Another would be an egg timer or alarm clock - I'd like some cute ones.
Stephen February 26, 2004
I think this is a non-starter, You can download SP2, WMP10 and DirectX from the web, if you don;t have broadband then im sure there will be Free CDs available.
There may be enough to entice new people to XP but there will be nothing worth paying for if XP is already installed.
Mark Scott February 26, 2004
I'm wondering if it include the .Net framework.
Lynn Eriksen February 26, 2004
How much of this is actually factual? I mean, can one seriously think microsoft would dub something as important as an operating system (XP) as "reloaded?"
Come on guys.
I wouldnt be surprised if, however, microsoft does replace the gap between current OS and longhorn, but not with something this corny.
Well, question....(starting to buy some of this none sense)
Will Microsoft offer this freely to those who already have a license for XP...sort of as any other regular update?
anon February 26, 2004
Thanks for the report Paul. Any word on upgrade pricing? I'd really like to upgrade my XP home to XP reloaded Pro. Right now I can't switch to Pro without repurchasing it, which really sucks. I want to use pro so I can use MS's remote desktop software on the mac, which I hear is way better than VNC.
Cliff Stevens February 26, 2004
Thanks Paul! This is definitely a shocker, but I hope Microsoft finally pulls their straps up with the new "WindowsXP: Reloaded" :)
Noelino February 26, 2004
Could this contain WinXP Elements (WinXP x86-64)? It would make sense, considering what Intel said about having a full-blown MS 64-bit extended operating system by the end of '04...
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Mike February 26, 2004