XP Will Stay Around Even Longer

Microsoft has granted XP, the OS that wouldn't die, another six months of life to be allowed with new systems.

Is it that Windows XP is such a good operating system? Or is it that people can’t bear the alternative, the much-lambasted Vista? Whatever the reason, XP won’t go away.

Now Microsoft has given it another six-month lease of life to be offered as an option with new systems.

It was earlier this year that the company shut off new sales of XP, but it continued allowing vendors to preinstall XP as a downgrade from Vista. However, that option had been set to terminate at the end of January next year, meaning users would have to exercise their downgrade rights (which never expire) on their own.

Now Microsoft has pushed that date back to the end of July, according to Vnunet. With Windows 7 due in early 2010, is it possible that XP could last until then?