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To: John J. Frawley who wrote (2868)	3/11/1999 9:11:00 PM
From: John J. Frawley	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6180

Reuters - Microsoft aims new operating system at China's masses In follow up to my post from earlier today.... SHENZHEN, China -- Microsoft Corp chairman Bill Gates unveiled on Wednesday a new operating system designed to bring Internet access to Chinese homes at less than one-fifth the price of a personal computer. Microsoft's Venus operating system would allow Chinese electronics firms to combine a web browser, low-end personal computer (PC) and video compact disc (VCD) player in a single box attached to a television for people who cannot afford a PC, Gates said. ''Our goal is a very aggressive goal, and that is to introduce millions and millions of people to computers and to the Internet,'' he told a news conference in China's southern city of Shenzhen. The U.S. software maker looked at China's mature consumer appliance market, the incredible popularity of VCDs, the low market penetration of PCs, and the willingness of Chinese parents to invest in their children's education, and found a niche for the Venus system, he said. ''We wanted a product with learning capabilities, as well as VCD capabilities,'' Gates said. ''The VCD is a phenomenal product here in China.'' Statistics published in state newspapers show China has 40 million VCD players and 320 million television sets. This compares with about 11 million PCs installed nationwide and two million Internet users. Venus, a version of Microsoft's Windows CE and Web TV products tailored for the Chinese market, was expected to be ready for release by the second half of this year, Gates said. In one demonstration, a Microsoft researcher used a prototype Venus device to write a Chinese document, run money-management and drawing programmes, play games and log on to Microsoft's home page on the Internet, all at speeds comparable to a PC. Nine electronics firms have expressed interest in developing Venus devices, including Taiwan's Acer Inc, Philips Consumer Electronics of the Netherlands, and China's Legend Group Co, Stone Electronics, BBK Electronics Co Ltd and Haier Group Co, a Microsoft statement said. ''Set-top boxes and low-end PCs are nothing new,'' said one official of U.S. microchip maker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), which aims to supply chips for Venus devices. ''The real attractiveness is low entry cost,'' AMD Asia-Pacific marketing manager Shane Rigby told Reuters. Rigby said he had seen estimated prices for Venus products as low as 1,500 yuan ($181), compared with 10,000 yuan for a domestically made PC with a 350 megahertz processor. ''It's more than just home entertainment,'' he said. ''It's driven by requests for information. People really need information here.'' mercurycenter.com Can anyone tell me if this post is in violation of any copyright laws? John F.