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Our good friend Microsoft and HCL Infosystems from India have decided to join forces in an attempt to deliver the world’s cheapest laptops running Windows XP. True, such a thing already exists in many versions, and one is the ultra-portable and ultra-cute Asus EeePC, which can run not only Windows XP, but Linux as well. Still Microsoft has decided to venture into this as of yet unexploited market, perhaps in hopes of conquering another niche.

The system that MS and HCL will jointly develop is going to be called the MiLeap H Series, and will run Windows XP Home for the low low price of only 17,000 Indian rupees (about $425 USD). It is said to be “broadband ready” (whatever that means), has a 30GB hard drive, and of course, a cheap market price, as earlier pointed out.

This move could just be an afterthought to Microsoft’s recent move to prolong Windows XP on low-cost machines, but no one can stop them from doing what they want to do, and I think it would be interesting to see what kind of computer will result from this team-up.

Do you think Microsoft could be on its way to becoming a vertical like its rival Apple, who develops its own software and loads it onto its own hardware as well? That’s a possibility. But knowing Microsoft, I’d bet not.

Read [Yahoo News]