Microsoft Plans Big Windows XP Launch

Microsoft will put an estimated $400 million behind its marketing push for Windows XP, which will launch on Oct. 25.

In a written statement, the company vowed that XP would be the “biggest Windows marketing event in Microsoft history –doubling the investment of the Windows 95 launch in the first four months of product availability alone.” Microsoft put $200 million behind the much-hyped Windows 95 release. Subsequent Windows releases have received much more subdued backing.

The effort coincides with Microsoft’s $500 million marketing push for its Xbox game console.