Ballmer Says Microsoft Could Keep XP Going

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has said that while Windows XP currently has a firm end-of-life date, the company could re-think that if customers demand it.

During comments to a news conference at Louvain-La-Neuve University, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer held out some hope for folks who prefer Windows XP to Microsoft’s current desktop operating system, Windows Vista. Ballmer said the company currently plans to phase out Windows XP as of June 30th, but may re-evaluate that position if customers demand it.

“If customer feedback varies we can always wake up smarter but right now we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments,” Ballmer said.

Microsoft currently plans to stop selling Windows XP on June 30th; that date will also mark the end of Microsoft’s licensing Windows XP to system manufacturers. However, there’s already one exception: Microsoft plans to continue to license Windows XP Home Edition for low-powered, inexpensive notebooks through mid-2010. Dell has also begun offering a Windows XP “downgrade” option on business systems, enabling users to have Windows XP pre-installed and receive a DVD with Windows Vista Business Edition so users can upgrade to Vista on their own schedule; industry watchers have other manufacturers mulling similar options.

Although Windows Vista can’t realistically be described as a failure in the marketplace, it has received lukewarm reception in many quarters due to high systems requirements, device and software incompatibilities, and a lack of compelling features and capabilities that make it clearly superior to its predecessor.

Microsoft has indicated it plans to ship Vista’s successor, currently dubbed “Windows 7,” during 2010.