Microsoft's Windows XP launch parties here Wednesday night could be classified as the ultimate non-event, but the grin on Bill Gates face never wavered. There were no crowds gathered outside NYC stores, as there were for Windows 95's midnight release. Midtown store CompUSA even changed its "Midnight Madness" party to a 9:30-10:15 p.m. time slot at the last minute. "Store managers knew that we weren't going to get crowds," said a CompUSA security guard. "They figured we had a better shot staying open a bit past our usual operating hours. The word is that people would come for the chance to win prizes and see Gates, not because they were crazed about getting their hands on XP."
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