Windows 8 banned from China's govt purchase list

(ECNS) -- The Chinese government has excluded the latest Microsoft operating system, Windows 8, from its purchase list for computers, according to an online statement released by the central government procurement center.

All desktops, laptops and tablet computers to be purchased by state organs must be installed with operating systems other than Windows 8, said the statement released on Friday.

The statement, about supplementary purchases of office electronics, only targets computers used by government offices.

Analysts said the new rule will have little impact on Chinese manufacturers, but will be a blow to Microsoft, which is heavily marketing Windows 8.

Xinhua News agency said it is a move to ensure computer security after the shutdown of Windows XP.

Microsoft ended its support for the 13-year-old Windows XP on April 8 and advised users to upgrade to Windows 8 or get a new PC if necessary. About 70 percent of Chinese personal computers, even in critical sectors like telecommunications, are still running Windows XP.

Zhang Feng, chief engineer at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said last month, "The ministry will beef up support for the development of such an OS."

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