MICROSOFT announced last week that is has chosen a release name for its long-awaited upgrade to the Windows operating system.
Code-named 'Chicago' during development, the new operating system will be sold under the name Windows 95 and is expected to be available by 1995, later than the original release date set for no later than November of this year.
Paul Maritz, Microsoft's senior vice-president for the company's systems division, said this delay was a result of Microsoft's efforts to ensure that the product was ready for market and that Microsoft wanted to ensure that Windows 95 'is a worthy and easy successor to Windows 3.1'.
Microsoft's testing programme has included installing the software on thousands of computers to allow for extensive beta testing.
Locally, a traditional Chinese version of Windows 95, developed in Taiwan, is expected to ship within three months of the release of the English version. A simplified Chinese version should ship within six months, although Microsoft representatives in Hong Kong were unable to comment about the localisation plans for the simplified version.
According to Mr Maritz, the new name has been selected to help ensure product clarity for users. Mr Maritz said research shows that many home users have difficulty understanding what software is installed on their personal computers and that few know what the latest version of Windows is today.