Microsoft To Retire Windows XP in 2008

April 13, 2007 By Geoff Duncan

Microsoft is sticking to its plans to stop selling Windows XP to OEMs in January 2008, despite continuing issues with Windows Vista.

Microsoft Corporation has announced it plans to stick to its timetable to stop selling Windwos XP to computer makers in January, 2008—meaning any Windows PC offered for sale after that date is going to have Windows Vista installed, like it or not. The decision applies to all versions of Windows XP, including tablet through media center editions, and means computer makers like HP, Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, and others will no longer be able to offer new systems with versions of Windows XP as pre-installed options.

The confirmation comes as customer surveys show an overall lukewarm response to Windows Vista, with a Harris Interactive survey finding only 10 percent of respondents were planning to upgrade their systems to Windows Vista in the near future.

The move may also rankle even Windows enthusiasts: although Microsoft is likely to introduce a service pack upgrade for Windows Vista before the licensing cutoff for Windows XP, the operating system is beset with lingering driver issues and many Windows users have balked at Vista’s higher system requirements (especially for much-touted features like the Aero interface), meaning they may only move to Vista when they junk their current PC.

Showing 4 comments

benjamin at 12:41pm 14th April 2008 Linux sounds like a good alternative. Look at features such as XGL 3D user interface, it looks a lot better than Windows Vista Aero. Check it out on YouTube.

But, I'm not sure how secure Linux is for the corporate world.
bmwwaterman at 4:41am 3rd December 2007 The monopoly theory always amazes me. You can always get a MAC or Linux. It is what it is. I do hope you feel better getting it off your chest. However, you probably don't.

While Microsoft has done some "questionable" tactics in the past, the bottom line is they are driving right now. Someday that will probably change. We'll look back then and say, "Hey remember that company called... What's its name.... oh yea, Microsoft?"

In my opinion, Microsoft has made it easy to upgrade the OS and still be backwards compatible with most software. However, as badly as they have been beaten up about security in the past, well you have it now. Is it perfect? NO. But a step in the right direction. So they cut off the backwards compatiblity to most of the older programs. OK, then fix it and move on.

As to "bloatware", I remember this argument when 98 came out and then when XP appeared on the scene.
Colin at 6:22pm 17th April 2007 The future of the Windows OS and even MS itself now lies in the improvement of Vista. If a service pack does not do the job, the Get a Mac ads will have a lot more to gloat about. Personally, I do not want to get a Mac. I use Macs at school when I have to, and I can never get over the fact that you can't maximize the windows. If worst comes to worst, I'll just get Linux and support the open-source cause.
Kumar Bhardwaj at 7:37am 14th April 2007 This is exactly what one can expect from a corporation that enjoys a monopoly position: they dictate to the market instead of the market (i.e. customers) dictating to them. Customers are balking at adopting VISTA because of the following reasons: (1) Microsoft's consistent track record of releasing unstable and defective Operating Systems leading to huge IT manpower costs during implementation (2) Imposed indirect and direct costs from the HW requirements of their bloatware (3) No real compelling/Earth-Shattering capabilities in VISTA over XP or other OSs (4) rip-off licensing fees of VISTA. Is the Justice Department's anti-trust division still asleep?