WESTHOUGHTON company dabs.com, the UK's largest IT and technology e-tailer experienced massive launch day orders for Microsoft XP.

On launch day last Thursday the company had already shipped out 917 units of Windows XP by 10.30am.

Jonathan Wall, sales and marketing director of dabs.com said: "These figures are absolutely amazing taking into account the current market place for IT sales."

"It would seem that not only have Microsoft got the product right but that consumers and businesses are ready for this new product and early indications are that this could be the kick start that the industry was hoping for in the run up to Christmas."