Thinking of rushing to the sales to buy that computer? Think again

Thinking of braving the New Year sales to buy the PC that you denied yourself at Christmas? Don't: it may be worth hanging on a few months longer.

The reason is that sometime between April and June the software giant Microsoft plans to launch yet another version of its Windows operating system, provisionally (if unimaginatively) named "Windows98". And if you want it on your machine then, you'll have to pay for it.

The news is another example of the relentless updating typical of the computer industry, which could put the fashion world to shame.

Most notably, computer companies never seem to be able to time anything to coincide with Christmas. Last year Intel, which makes the chips that power most PCs, came under fire for delaying the launch of its MMX chip, especially able to handle the "multimedia" requirements of many games programs, until January.

At the time, the editor of Computer Life magazine, Jan Howells, said: "I think people will be really annoyed. Intel plan a massive advertising campaign and Joe Public is going to say: `Why wasn't I told about this before Christmas?'."

Microsoft is planning a blitz later this year - though the price of the software has not been decided. But a spokesman yesterday did say that there will be no free upgrades: if your PC does not have Windows98 you will have to buy it.

The new product will integrate many pieces of software presently separate - such as the Windows95 operating system and Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser for surfing Web sites. Indeed, testers who have tried Windows98 say that it seems to make every document or program resemble an extension of the Internet. For example, if a word-processing document contains a Web address (such as www.independent.co.uk) then clicking on it will launch IE and connect you to that site.