Print - Microsoft to Begin Selling Windows XP K and KN Editions in South Korea This Week

As it did so infamously in Europe with its so-called Windows XP N Editions, Microsoft will launch new XP versions in South Korea this week to comply with an antitrust ruling there. The company will ship two new versions each of XP Home and XP Professional Editions: XP KN, which won't include Windows Media Player (WMP) and Windows Messenger, and XP K, which will include the software and also offer links with which users can download rival IM applications. PC makers in South Korea will choose which version to supply to consumers.

These latest XP versions arrive after the Seoul High Court rejected Microsoft's request to suspend the antitrust ruling. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) fined Microsoft about $34 million in December, ruling that the company's bundling of Microsoft's media player and IM solution in XP violated that country's antitrust laws.

Unlike in Europe, the XP K and KN Editions will replace, not augment, the original XP versions. That is, Microsoft will no longer sell the original versions of XP Home and XP Professional in Korea--just the new versions. In Europe, however, consumers can choose between the original XP versions and the newer XP N Editions, the latter of which don't include WMP. Consumers have overwhelmingly ignored the XP N Editions in Europe.

It's about time a country stood up to Microsoft's illegal and abusive monopoly. Remember, the company didn't become a success on its own merits; it cheated every step of the way. People don't choose to use Windows, they're force to tolerate it when it comes installed on their PCs.

"People don't choose to use Windows, they're force to tolerate it when it comes installed on their PCs." Yeah, just like I'm forced to put up with your rants when I read the news on this site...

So... In winXP K... the only difference is there are links to AIM in the desktop???

I originally thought this was a bit unfair on the consumer as it'd be them who has to stump up for the bandwidth costs to download the missing components... but then I figured you'd do this anyway as the versions you get on the CD's are always several versions out of date. Hmmm...

If the EU was really trying to deal with MS's monopolistic practices, they would have done the same thing that South Korea did and only sell XP-N. In the mean time, does anyone really care. I don't like Messenger - so I use Trillian. I don't like IE - so I use Firefox. The consumer still has a choice. Having one product baked in to the OS does not negate consumer choice.

Demo of Spaces and Expose running concurrently, providing the ultimate window management experience that Windows will never provide: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1254656550190215821

"The consumer still has a choice. Having one product baked in to the OS does not negate consumer choice." Yes it does if you're artifically not allowed to remove it or uninstall it. Are you the type of fanboi who defended Microsoft FORCING Messenger on every single startup of XP? I mean, I'm trying to set up workstations for our office, and I have to deal with Microsoft forcing an IM client and not providing a way to disable it or uninstall it without hacking their broken, ancient registry? It's why we moved to OS X, among other reasons. A clean, modern operating system that doesn't use the registry and doesn't need antivirus, antispyware, firewall, and registry cleaner software. Wanna know how we install Office 2004 on the Mac? We just drag and drop the folder from the CD. You guys have to deal with "installers" and "uninstallers" and a Start menu that has programs that aren't actually programs but are shortcuts to the programs and can get out of sync and blah blah blah. It's an interface disaster!

Windows is inherently more vulnerable to malware than OS X because of the registry (which Vista still uses): http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisemac/archives/2006/08/is_windows_inhe.html

This is the last time I'm throwing peanuts at the troll. /shakes head Is there NO WAY to contact the people who run this site and get this L Ron Hubbard style wacko offa here? I'm so bloody tired of having to sift through all of his rubbish just to read replys that are actually RELEVANT to the topic.

Bonch, in most communities there are free crisis centers you can call and they will assist you in getting the mental health care you w desire. If you can't afford it, they can help you find free services. Please don't take this the wrong way. I've worked in the industry and I know a cry for help when I hear one. Get help. Don't put it off thinking you can deal with the voices in your head as they will only get worse. We're pulling for you, buddy!

" about time a country stood up to Microsoft's illegal and abusive monopoly. Remember, the company didn't become a success on its own merits; it cheated every step of the way. People don't choose to use Windows, they're force to tolerate it when it comes installed on their PCs. " so i guess it would be about time a country stood up to Appple's illegal and abusive monopoly. Remember, the company didn't become a success on its own merits; it cheated every step of the way. People don't choose to use itunes when they purchase an ipod, they're force to tolerate it when it comes as the only music service that works well with the device. oh did I just repeated what you said about MS but in appletalk? goes to prove how hypocritical MS bashers are.