Windows 8 ban may open doors in China

With Microsoft Inc's Windows 8 now banned from being installed on Chinese government computers, domestic operating system developers are seeking niches in the world's biggest personal computer market.

The country's relatively large OS developers, including China Standard Software Co and National Fundamental Software of China Ltd, have fresh opportunities, but their products face long and tough tests.

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Last week, Windows 8 was banned from all desktops, laptops and tablet PCs purchased by State organs. The announcement made by the Central Government Procurement Center did not make it clear whether other Windows products were prohibited as well.

China's ambitious OS makers, which are developing products based on the openly sourced Linux system, took immediate action in response to the government ban.

"There are differences between Windows and Linux, but we are trying to make consumers feel it's almost the same when using our products," CSS said in a statement.

The company is a joint venture of China Electronics Corp and China Electronic Technology Group Corp, two State-owned enterprises.

CSS said its Neokylin Linux OS is "a safe and controlled product that meets the security demands for government, defense and other confidential fields".

Another OS designer, NFS, which is affiliated with the Software Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is marketing its products featuring "high security and special design for Chinese consumers".

"Domestic OS can support basic functions like processing text and pictures, playing music and videos and providing Internet services, although the user experience is not as good as Windows," said Ding Liping, a researcher with the institute.