Special demands for cheap XP

Microsoft is gaining territory on the low-budget market. The software company is starting to add restrictions concerning the usage of Windows XP. Low priced laptops may only be bundled with Windows XP Home Edition when the screen has a resolution of up to 10,2 inch, 1 GB memory max, and a hard disk smaller than 80 GB.

With these restrictions Microsoft wants to prevent having the 'normal' notebooks bundled with Windows XP. The Redmond company wants these laptops to be installed with Windows Vista. Manufacturers that pass the requirements pay 26 dollar for a license in upcoming lands, and 32 dollar in the Western world.

ASUS Eee-PC: running Windows XP Home Edition