Image: Kin Cheung/Associated Press
China is banning the government's use of Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system, according to a notice posted on its website.
The Central Government Procurement Center is prohibiting government computers from installing Windows 8 or buying new devices with the software, Chinese news site Xinhua reports. The government posted the message announcing the change in policy late last week. The consumer Windows 8 market in China will not be affected.
Although details regarding the ban are vague, the government said it will only be purchasing energy-efficient IT products from now on, from desktop computers and laptops to tablets But the move is also said to protect computer security after Microsoft curtailed its support for Windows XP, which was largely used across the country.
Market firm StatCounter states that Windows XP systems make up 44% of desktops in China, while Windows 8 is only installed on 3.4% of computers.
The news comes as China emphasized to Microsoft that it should drop the price of its Windows products. Although Windows usage in China has been low, the Chinese government was a big customer for Microsoft.
Microsoft was reportedly surprised by the news. 'We have been and will continue to provide Windows 7 to government customers,' the company said in an email, according to PCWorld. 'At the same time, we are working on the Window 8 evaluation with relevant government agencies.'
Meanwhile, the company is gearing up for its 'small' Surface event in New York City on Tuesday, when it will likely launch its first Mini tablet to compete against both Apple and Amazon's small-screen tablets.
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