Microsoft China and six PC manufacturers yesterday launched the Go 2000 program to provide Windows 2000-ready PCs in the mainland.
The manufacturers include Compaq, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and the two mainland computer-makers Founder and Legend.
Windows 2000-ready PCs come installed with the Chinese version of Windows NT workstation 4.0 operating system which, according to Microsoft, is the best path for upgrades to Windows 2000.
The majority of mainland businesses still rely on Windows 95 or Windows 98 as their main desktop operating system.
'Within the next 12 to 18 months, we see a radical shift to Windows NT or Windows 2000 and we want to be proactive to work with that change,' said Microsoft worldwide OEM (original equipment manufacturer) sales and marketing general manager John Jenkins.
'[Microsoft is] not trying to wean anyone off Windows 95 or 98. Windows 95 and 98 are for consumer PC users and Windows NT and 2000 are for business PC users,' he said.
