JUN. 22 7:58 A.M. ET In Microsoft's new operating system -- Windows XP N -- the "N" stands for "Not with Media Player." But it might as well stand for "No Thanks."

PC makers and distributors are holding back from buying the new version of Windows XP that Europe's competition commissioner ordered Microsoft Corp. to offer as part of the punishment in the software maker's long antitrust battle with the European Union.

Windows XP N was released to distributors last Wednesday in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish, and will be available to the public in the next few weeks. Versions in 10 additional languages will be released in July.