Microsoft is considering a u-turn in its Windows upgrade plan and releasing an update to XP before shipping its next generation operating system, Longhorn. The possible change of heart - Microsoft had previously sworn not to create any more versions of Windows before Longhorn - may indicate that the major product is further delayed. This could significantly benefit Linux in the enterprise.

The update to XP, Microsoft told US web site news.com, is called 'Windows XP Reloaded' internally. It seems that the software giant has decided it is too long to wait between the original XP, released in 2001, and the likely shipment date for Longhorn, now pegged at 2006. XP Reloaded would probably ship next year, after the XP Service Pack 2, a security-oriented update slated for mid-2004.

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