Ballmer: Windows XP may be ready to go

C|Net | at | by Mike

Microsoft's new Windows XP operating system will be ready for production as early as Friday, said Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, sounding optimistic about an on-schedule launch despite the company's ongoing antitrust case. "Our job now is to get Windows XP done," Ballmer told a news conference at a technology meeting on Monday. "With a little bit of luck, we should have it ready by Friday." If Microsoft's programmers are able to ship the final code to manufacturers by Friday, that would put the software giant on track to release Windows XP as planned in October. Microsoft last week told PC manufacturers to expect final XP code around Aug. 22.