Windows to the power of N

One of the stipulations of the EU's punishment of Microsoft for its anti-competitive behaviour is that must offer a version of Windows without bundling Windows Media Player.

Microsoft being Microsoft and not actually accepting it has doing anything wrong cheekily suggested calling it, among other things, Windows XP Reduced Media Edition. The EU was having none of it and came up with the uninspired but less offputting Windows XP N.

Will consumers bother seeking it out or even notice that there are two editions on the shelves? Probably not - most people get their Windows with a new computer and it's the last thing you'd pay attention to while deliberating over more important things such as RAM or hard drive.