REDMOND, Wash., April 3, 2001 — On the heels of Bill Gates’ keynote call for quality at this week’s Windows® Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2001, leading retailers are lining up in support of the Microsoft Designed for Windows XP Logo program. This new program will bring hardware and software quality standards under a single logo, making it easier for customers to recognize products that are designed to deliver the best computing experiences with the Microsoft® Windows XP operating system.
“The Designed for Windows XP Logo Program will ensure that Windows XP users have the best PC experience ever,”
said Jim Allchin, group vice president of the Platforms Group at Microsoft Corp.
“Through this unprecedented level of collaboration with our industry partners, we have created a program that truly raises the bar and will deliver the highest quality products that will unlock the potential of the PC for end users. The combination of new systems, devices and applications bearing this logo and the underlying quality of Windows XP will result in the best user experience.”
“Our customers expect a great experience with the products we offer, and the Designed for Windows XP Logo program will help us and our customers identify the products that can deliver on this promise,”
said Mike Ryan, vice president of merchandising, Circuit City Stores Inc.
“Circuit City supports the Designed for Windows XP Logo program and will make it a part of our buying criteria.”
“The Designed for Windows XP Logo program will be a win for customers, our vendors and Best Buy,”
said Dave Morrish, senior vice president of merchandising, Best Buy Co., Inc.
“We expect to sell more logo-emblazoned products, which will increase our customers’ satisfaction and lower our return rates.”
In addition to Best Buy and Circuit City, other leading channel retailers, including CompUSA Inc., Office Depot Inc., RadioShack and Staples Inc., will join in support of improving quality and plan to make the Windows XP logo a buying criterion for retail merchandise beginning with the 2001 holiday season.
Companies interested in joining the Designed for Windows XP Logo program or in reviewing draft logo requirements and learning about the benefits associated with the program should visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/partners/ .
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