Amazon halts orders for Windows XP

From...

By Douglas F. Gray

(IDG) -- Amazon.com on Tuesday closed the shutters on its page offering preorders for Microsoft's Windows XP operating system, admitting that it had made a mistake by taking the orders too far in advance.

Amazon began taking advance orders for the operating system on Monday, and in the process published pricing for the product even though Microsoft had not officially released that information. Amazon priced Windows XP Home Edition at $200 for the full version and $100 for an upgrade, while Windows XP Professional was listed for $300.

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"We made a mistake by taking preorders too early," Amazon spokeswoman Ling Hong said. Amazon will offer the software again closer to the announcement date, when Microsoft makes final pricing available, Hong said. "Those were preliminary prices," she added.

Those who preordered Windows XP may actually get a pricing break. If Microsoft's pricing ends up being higher than the Amazon price, customers who preordered the software will be charged the lower price, Hong said. If Microsoft's pricing turns out to be lower, users will pay Microsoft's price, she said.

Hong declined to say how many customers had preordered the software.