'Windows XP Starter Edition' soon in 9 Indian languages: MS

Chennai, Jun 16 (UNI) Microsoft India will launch a 'Windows XP Starter Edition' in nine Indian languages in the next two months, a senior company official today said.

Talking to reporters here after launching the multi-lingual 'Windows XP Starter Edition' in Tamil Nadu, Microsoft India Windows Client Business Group Director Rishi Srivastava said the 'Starter Edition for India' was a unique offering created specially for first time PC users looking for a simple, easy to use and localised PC.

The PCs included a Tamil, English and Hindu language interface, allowing users to easily switch between the three languages depending on their requirements.

In addition, it contained extensive user training and support to help a first time user get familiar with the PC.

The 'Windows XP Starter Edition' would be available from HCL and Sahara Computers across 11 cities and towns in Tamil Nadu viz Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Erode, Salem, Tirupur, Tuticorin, Pondicherry, Karur and Pattukottai.

Priced at Rs 13,999, the company hoped the product would increase computer penetration in India which currently stood at seven per 1000 households.

The Windows Starter Edition PCs would also have an anti-virus product from QuickHeal and education content from Edurite.

The PC contains 12 instructional videos designed to help first time users, especially housewives, to learn to use a PC easily.

''Housewives need no longer depend on husbands or children to operate the PC as the training video will help them to learn the operation,'' Mr Srivatsava said.

UNI GV AJ GM 1812