Success For Microsoft With Windows Me

Sales Exceed Expectations as Christmas Retail Season Revs Up

Auckland, New Zealand - Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - Microsoft's new consumer operating system, Windows® Millennium Edition, has achieved outstanding sales in the first eight weeks since its launch. The success reinforces the fact that Microsoft has achieved new levels of acceptance in the consumer market. "In the first two weeks alone, we sold in excess of 18,000 box licenses of Windows Me and momentum is still growing as the Christmas season gets into full swing," says Peter Kingsley, consumer marketing manager at Microsoft New Zealand.

"Our success is due to the extensive research that went into the product design which focused on delivering against the needs of a home PC customer. That effort is now paying off. Customer demand is steadily increasing as the consumer market finds out more and more about what Windows Me offers". "We're excited that sales are going so well. The sales success validates our customer focused approach to software design and importantly offers our key retail partners a strong product to sell for the critical holiday season."

Andrew Thompson, General Manager Computers at Harvey Norman, says sales of Windows Millennium have exceeded expectations and consumers are delighted with the operating system.

"Windows Me is one of the most popular operating systems we have ever stocked. Sales are very strong and it isn't even the peak of the Christmas season yet," he says. "It is obviously hitting the mark with consumers and meeting their expectations. Customers are giving us some great feedback and we're looking forward to even more interest as the holiday season approaches."

Because Windows Me integrates so well with other devices, the operating system offers consumers a way to increase the pleasure they get from all their home entertainment options. Creating home movies, manipulating photography collections, archiving music, accessing streaming media - Windows Me makes it all easier than ever and this versatility is proving a big attraction.

"Windows Me allows consumers a simple and effective means of getting value out of the new devices that are now commonly available. Digital cameras and video cameras, music, games, streaming media - Windows Me enhances these entertainment options by giving the user a much better experience with them," says Kingsley. "The fact that Windows Me has built-in protection through its System File Protect and System Restore features also gives consumers more confidence to explore new ways of doing things, knowing they won't destroy their PC set up in the process. In a market that has a relatively low level of technological expertise, these features are critical," he says.

Windows Me Pricing The recommended retail price for Windows Me is $449 for the full-package product and $229 for a version upgrade from Windows 95. Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition users may upgrade for the special price of $129 until January 15 2001, after which the $229 price applies. Windows Me is available from Noel Leeming, Harvey Norman, Whitcoulls, Bond & Bond, Dick Smith Electronics and other authorised Microsoft resellers. Company Background Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.

If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft New Zealand Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/nz/ on Microsoft's corporate information pages.

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