Microsoft?s newest operating system, Vista, has again suffered another setback, with its predecessor Windows XP being chosen by the Beijing Organizing Committee to run the Olympic Games? vital PC-related tasks. Vista will only be used in Internet lounges set up for athletes.

?The Olympic Games require mature, stable technologies,? said Yang Yuanqing, chairman of Lenovo, during a briefing in Beijing, according to IDG.

?The Olympic Games aren?t a place to try new technologies because of the size and importance of the event. Everything must work smoothly.?

With the committee?s decision, Windows XP is expected to be used on systems involving games management, scheduling, and results and tabulations.

The Committee also opted not to use wireless networking equipment and technology, as the reliability and the security of wireless Internet made it too risky.

Leon Xie, director of Olympic technology and sponsorship at Lenovo said: ?There will be no wireless used among the core systems of the Olympic Games. All networking will take place over wire lines, including the backup system.?

To date, Lenovo, the official computing sponsor of the Games , reports that it has delivered 800 laptops, 700 servers, 12,000 desktop PCs and 2,000 printers for Olympic organizers, and another 5,000 PCs for the athletes? lounges and other hospitality and marketing purposes.

From VISTA.BLORGE