EU regulators nix Microsoft suggestions, pick "Windows XP N".

Byline: Brier Dudley

Mar. 29--How does Microsoft Windows XP NIWMP grab you?

It didn't do much for European regulators, either.

That was one of nine names they rejected for the special version of Windows that will be sold in Europe without Windows Media Player bundled in the system. Instead, after surveying consumers, the European Union decided the product must be called Windows XP Home N or Windows XP Professional N, depending on the version.

"We were disappointed they rejected all nine names that we proposed," spokeswoman Stacy Drake said.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, decided last year that Microsoft …