The newest version of the Windows operating system will at last consolidate two discreet software code bases currently being marketed by Microsoft. For Microsoft (Nasdaq: MFST - news), supporting two separate operating systems has been a costly hassle. The company devoted one staff to Windows NT code, which will become Windows XP, and another to Windows 95/98/ME. Microsoft will now be able to consolidate those two staffs. Essentially, that's the major impact of the arrival of Windows XP, formerly code-named Whistler, later this year. Other than that, this product appears to be a replacement product only, not a universal upgrade. This will be nothing like the instant revenue boost Microsoft got from Windows 95 when 40 million copies were sold out of the chute.
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