Windows XP Reduced Media Edition coming to Europe soon

Microsoft has been ordered by European regulators to ship Windows XP without Windows Media Player pre-installed. Users will be able to get the software separately, for free.

This means that a fresh install of Windows XP “reduced” won’t be able to play audio CDs or MP3 files.

Of course, Microsoft will not offer this package elsewhere in the world. They will probably not drop the price on the “reduced” version.