Today marks a symbolic milestone in the life span of Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system: June 30 marks the last official day Microsoft is offering Windows XP for sale. In theory, once computers with XP pre-installed on their hard drives clear out of inventory, it will no longer be possible to buy a new PC with Windows XP as the default operating system. Instead, users will have to buy a PC with some flavor of Windows Vista pre-installed…although this doesn’t actually mean the end of the six year-old Windows XP.
Not by a long shot.
Microsoft is still permitting small PC builders to bundle XP with their systems through the end of January 2009; Microsoft will also continue offering a version of Windows XP for low-end, ultra low-cost PCs like the Asus Eee and the OLPC XO. And, folks who want a spiffy new computer running Windows XP, users will be able to legally downgrade a license for Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate to Windows XP…although some manufacturers are likely to tack an additional fee onto the price if users want the system pre-installed.
And Windows XP will be on Microsoft’s product radar for many years to come: last week, Microsoft announced it will continue support Windows XP through 2014.
Windows Vista hasn’t been a fabulous success with Microsoft: although many concede the operating system has a number of useful new features and a lot of glitz, persistent driver and compatibility problems combined with high system requirements have slowed adoption in many sectors of the Windows market—so much so, that petitions to "save" Windows XP have been going around for many months, pleading with Microsoft to continue selling Windows XP until its next Windows operating system, currently dubbed "Windows 7," is available.
Microsoft says it plans to release Windows 7 sometime in 2009.
