Microsoft extends Windows XP's stay

By Ina Fried
Staff Writer, CNET News.com Published: September 27, 2007 4:56 PM PDT

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Bowing to pressure from customers and computer makers, Microsoft plans to keep Windows XP around a little longer.

Large PC manufacturers were slated to have to stop selling XP after January 31. However, they have successfully lobbied Microsoft to allow them to continue selling PCs with all flavors of Windows XP preloaded until June 30, a further five months. Microsoft also plans to keep XP on retail shelves longer and will allow computer makers in emerging markets to build machines with Windows XP Starter Edition until June 2010.

The move indicates the continued demand for the older operating system, some nine months after Windows Vista hit store shelves.

In recent weeks, several PC makers launched programs that allow new PC buyers to more easily "downgrade" their Vista Business and Vista Ultimate machines to Windows XP. Fujitsu, which was among those lobbying for the change, has started including an XP restore disc in the box with all of its laptops running Vista Business.

"This allows the installed base of Windows XP users more time to manage the transition to Vista, which is important for some smaller companies with limited resources," Paul Moore, senior director of mobile product marketing for Fujitsu, said in a statement.

Dell also said it support's Microsoft's decision.

"We believe the additional time will help some customers to prepare for the transition from XP to Vista," the company said in a statement.

Microsoft, for its part, sought to downplay the impact of the move, disagreeing with the notion that there is still strong demand for XP.

"We wouldn't term it strong," said Kevin Kutz, a director in Microsoft's Windows Client unit. "We would describe this as accommodating a certain element who needs more time."

Kutz said Microsoft had seen similar demand patterns with past releases and noted that in the past, old operating systems remained available for around 18 months after the release of a new operating system.

"While Windows Vista sales are still going strong...we recognize there are some customers that need more time," Kutz said.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 87 comments (Page 1 of 4)

Support?
by csmccoy September 27, 2007 5:29 PM PDT: How long will they support the XP lineup?; Reply to this comment View reply
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Who's Microsoft kidding?
by MaLvaDo39 September 27, 2007 5:58 PM PDT: They released an albatross of an OS and now can't easily move customers to it. So customers continue to use an archaic XP that is showing its age vs other OS such as OS X.; Reply to this comment View all 3 replies
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Windows XP Extended Stay...
by furball123A September 27, 2007 6:08 PM PDT: Am helping to get a new business off the ground by helping them get their PC/laptops setup & configured. Checking all the vendor websites to see what the cost of new boxes with XP Pro or even Home or Media Center would run. Found exactly 0!!! All I could find was Vista this...Vista that. Was not even a way to choose Vista or XP. Guess I will need to have them have me purchase an OEM copy for the two systems they need & configure them for XP as soon as I can get my hands on them. Guess will get that copy of Ghost to go with it... at least another $100 or more. Let's see...their needs are modest...so about $500 a machine...$100X2 for OEM copy of XP & 1 copy of Symantic's Ghost...to about another $100. Hope Microsoft loves that extra $200 & Steve Ballmer can buy some more chairs to throw around.; Reply to this comment View all 5 replies
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Good move!
by close5828 September 27, 2007 6:14 PM PDT: I'm glad to see that MS listened to its customers and kept XP around a bit longer--after all, they're not exactly losing money if they're still selling licenses to it, are they? Vista is a nice OS but let us be frank--we would all like to see XP around a bit longer b/c MOST of us only upgrade when buying a new PC. I don't really see the point of buying an OS upgrade b/c in another year or two, I'm probably going to buy a new PC with it pre-loaded. MS knows that the Vista Upgrade is really not going to have the impact that business customers (who buy new PCs) will have; it is the demand that businesses and corporations will put on them, not the average Wal*Mart consumer. The consumer can buy whatever they want, however they want, and need not worry about compatibility and downtime like a corporation. How long did Windows 2000 stick around for? My god, I thought it would never die... Besides, MS was never going to kill off XP but just the sale of new licenses--support is scheduled to last until 2016, I last heard. Lastly, talk about a successful product--XP really has staying power when you consider the demand for this 6yr old OS. Bugs, Viruses, and Spyware are common place, but then again you can't have 95% desktop market share and not have 95% of the bugs/viruses/spyware.; Reply to this comment View all 2 replies
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Windows XP extension
by redkitty September 27, 2007 7:09 PM PDT: It is too late, I bought a MacBook. and I love it.; Reply to this comment

Who's Microsoft trying to fool?
by MendedAxe September 27, 2007 7:10 PM PDT: This is not to allow for people to adapt for the change to Vista. It's to allow time for Microsoft to fix all the problems with Vista. To allow more time for applications to be developed that are Vista compatible. It's simple marketing and money-making strategy for Microsoft while trying to downplay the real fact.; Reply to this comment View reply
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Vista is a non-starter for health care providers
by Microsoft_Facts September 27, 2007 7:18 PM PDT: 90% of my work is providing IT services to health care providers. There are numerous reasons why this industry isn't even thinking about Vista anytime in the near future. Many are show-stoppers on their own. Privacy concerns; it is worrisome enough dealing with the new privacy regulations of HIPAA. Now Microsoft is insisting that it farm even more private data from PCs? It doesn't bode well with this industry. DRM; Many hospitals have implemented PACS systems (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picture_archiving_and_communication_system) Are doctors and technicians going to allow Microsoft to degrade CRT, XRay, MRI, etc images if they look to be pirated movies because they may not be properly digitally signed or something? No health care provider I know of is going to take the chance. Higher initial costs, higher cost of ownership, higher hardware requirements. Health care costs are high enough, why would any sane provider add to IT costs for a product that offers them nothing in return? Practice management software vendor support; not a single software vendor that I am aware of is supporting Vista. About 25% of them will say "A few customers were able to make our app run on Vista, but we won't support it." If Microsoft had a clue they would scrap Vista now, like they did with Windows ME, and start over. Maybe if they listened to what customers need and want they would have better luck. But all Microsoft cares about is jamming it to you and me, anything to maintain the monopoly via predatory practices ultimately harmful to consumers.; Reply to this comment View reply
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I use Vista but this makes good points
by Dango517 September 27, 2007 7:28 PM PDT: Sorry Microsoft. In there defence however Vista really isn't all that bad for a new OS. You'll see, once the "Ravers" settle down and SP1 comes out things will change; Reply to this comment View reply
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It is going to take more then 5 months
by The_Decider September 27, 2007 7:51 PM PDT: To get Vista ready for home use, and double whatever that takes to get it acceptable to business. MS needs to stop selling Vista.; Reply to this comment View reply
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Microsoft extends Windows XP's stay
by AppleRocks1963 September 27, 2007 10:43 PM PDT: Is anyone surprised? Vista is a chrome plated turd.; Reply to this comment

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