Windows XP: The party's over - or is it?

by Stephen Withers

Wednesday, 25 June 2008

Page 1 of 2 ! Microsoft's rolling down the shutters on Windows XP next Monday, but if you're desperate for additional licences there will be ways and means. Furthermore, the company has said it will continue to provide security updates and other critical patches until April 2014. Despite hopes in some quarters for a last-minute reprieve, Microsoft has confirmed that it will stop selling Windows XP as a retail or OEM product on June 30, 2008. Authorised distributors will still be able to supply system builders with XP licences until January 31, 2009. System builders are typically local computer stores that assemble systems for customers, but the definition also covers the big manufacturers if they want to take advantage of the additional six months. And as previously reported, Microsoft is extending the life of XP Home and XP Starter for low-end systems such as the Asus Eee. Microsoft needs to provide an operating system for the ultra-low cost PC market, but Vista has too large a footprint for such hardware. The remaining option for users of mainstream PCs and notebooks is to buy new systems with Windows Vista Business or Ultimate, and then exercise the downgrade right to run XP Professional instead. This downgrade right also extends to organisations on Volume Licensing, which is particularly important to those planning to skip Vista and move straight from XP to Windows 7, which is expected in 2010. Microsoft senior vice president Bill Veghte reaffirmed this week that "our plan is to deliver Windows 7 approximately 3 years after the January 2007 general availability launch date of Windows Vista." None of this affects people who purchased XP as a full retail product, as they are free to move the licence to any replacement system they purchase. But most customers that aren't on Volume Licensing acquire OEM licences when they buy systems, and they are tied to the original hardware. What about support? Please turn to page 2. << First page <   1 2 Next page > Last page - Post your comment >>

 

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