According to an Associated Press report, Microsoft will use a the letter “N” to designate Windows XP versions stripped of the company’s media player to comply with an antitrust judgment from the European Union.
The agreement with the EU came after antitrust regulators rejected Microsoft’s first choice, “Windows XP Reduced Media Edition,” on grounds it would discourage sales and mislead customers.
The player-free operating system will simply go by “Windows XP Home Edition N” and “Windows XP Professional Edition N” – the “N” standing for “not with media player.”