Ever since Microsoft led the charge with Windows 95 the traditional way of software versioning using decimal numbers (i.e.: Windows 3.0, 3.1, etc.) went out the window. Microsoft felt the consumer needed an easier way to know what they were running and they supposed Windows 4.0 was too difficult to remember. It turns out this was simply marketing mumbo-jumbo because Windows 95 still carried a decimal version number of 4.00.950 and undoubtedly you’d be asked to provide this when communicating with your tech support department.

Although Microsoft abandoned the use of a model year with Windows XP it still rears it’s head in some versions of XP. Consider this screen capture of Windows XP Tablet Edition and remember that the model year was intended to avoid consumer confusion.

That’s right: Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Version 2002 Service Pack 2.

• So which is it? Version 2002 or 2005?
• Why didn’t the Version 2005 code supercede that from Version 2002?
• What is Service Pack 2 for? Version 2002 or 2005?
• Why isn’t it called Service Pack August 6, 2004?

I’m more confused than ever thanks to someone at Microsoft deciding how product names should be presented to consumers and clearly missing the point.

You may be wondering about the decimal equivalent of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Version 2002 Service Pack 2. Surely it’s a wicked amalgamation of decimal points and numbers. No, it’s quite simple:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

I’m thankful Microsoft dropped the model year for Windows Vista because, clearly, it wasn’t working.

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