Channel rejects stripped down Windows
...it is reported that Dell is refusing to ship the product and HP says it can’t see where the demand is... Alex Tatham, commercial director at Bell Microproducts, ... said: "A stripped down version without media player is only available on the OEM version and there is no price differential. So whilst we will offer it - we haven't got any in stock. As for licensing stock keeping units (SKUs) - I believe that there will be no SKU difference other than the media kit - and until there is a price difference - we won't be offering the product. I am expecting differing retail boxed SKUs - but can't see any evidence of this yet on their (Microsoft’s) most recent price list."
This ties in with HP saying that with no price difference there will be no incentive to buy Windows without Media Player.