Microsoft Announces Promotional Pricing for Windows Millennium Edition Upgrade
The following announcement first appeared on the
Windows Me on PressPass
Web site.
Aug. 1, 2000: Microsoft has announced a limited-time promotional price
of $59.95 for the Windows® Millennium Edition (Windows Me)
operating system. The special price is available for Microsoft® Windows 98
or Windows 98 Second Edition customers who wish to upgrade their system to the
forthcoming Windows Me, the latest operating system designed specifically for
the home user.
The promotionally priced product, which will be available in retail stores from
September 14 through January 15, 2001, will make it more affordable for Windows
98 and Windows 98 Second Edition users to update their systems with the most
recent consumer operating system enhancements. Windows Me improves the
home-computing experience by delivering enhancements in the areas of PC health,
digital media, home networking, and the online experience.
"With Windows Me, we're thrilled to be delivering a great upgrade to our
Windows 9x customers. The improvements in digital media, home networking, PC
health, and online experience will make Windows Me the most compelling
operating system yet for home users," said John Frederiksen, general
manager of the PC Experience Solution Group at Microsoft. "We are excited
to offer additional value to our loyal Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition
customers through this special promotion."
PC Health, Digital Media, Home Networking, and Online Experience Enhancements
Enhancements to the home-computing experience are focused in the following areas:
- PC health. Windows Me provides an easier, more intuitive, and stable
computing experience. New features include System Restore, which, in the event
of a malfunction, enables users to roll back their PC software configuration to
a date or time when it was working properly; System File Protection, which
prevents the accidental or unauthorized overwriting of critical system files;
and AutoUpdate, which can automatically download important Microsoft updates
without user intervention. In addition, Windows Me, combined with
"fast-boot"-optimized PC hardware, will provide home users with
faster access to information, communications and entertainment at any time.
- Digital media. Windows Me provides advancements in Windows Image
Acquisition, which helps users transfer digital images from digital cameras,
scanners, and other WIA-compliant devices; Windows Movie Maker, which provides
users with the tools to digitally edit, save, and share home videos; Windows
Media™ Player 7, which offers one powerful, easy-to-use location where
users can find, organize, and play digital media; and Voice Chat, the
DirectPlay® application programming interface feature that allows PC gamers
to talk with one another across the Internet during gameplay.
- Home networking. Windows Me further enables the "connected
home" through the Home Networking Wizard, a feature that helps users
quickly and easily find shared resources and connect them; improved Internet
Connection Sharing technology; simplified USB networking; and the first
implementation of Universal Plug and Play technology in a Microsoft product.
Universal Plug and Play is an architecture that enables devices within a home
or office to communicate and share resources simply and automatically.
- Online experience. Windows Me provides the best Internet experience
for home users by providing enhanced features for browsing the Internet,
shopping online, sending and receiving e-mail, playing games online, doing
basic Web publishing, and chatting or conferencing with friends and family.
Windows Me includes Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 technologies, which add
print-preview functionality, core reliability and performance enhancements to
improve the home Internet experience.
Windows Me Pricing and Availability
Windows Me will be available in retail stores on September 14, 2000. Windows Me
also will be available preinstalled on new PCs. The estimated retail price for
Windows Me is the same as for Windows 98: $209 (U.S.) for the full-package
product and $109 (U.S.) for a version upgrade from Windows 95. For a limited
time, Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition users may upgrade for the
special $59.95 price, after which the $109 price prevails. Parties interested
in learning the estimated retail price in local currency for other countries
should contact their local Microsoft subsidiary.
The limited-time upgrade price described on this page may not be available in
all countries. Check with your local Microsoft office for details.
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