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Microsoft to Stop Selling Windows XP Today |
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Written by Array
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Tuesday, 01 July 2008 |
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Microsoft Corp. is scheduled to stop selling its Windows XP operating
system to retailers and major computer makers today, despite protests
from a slice of PC users who don't want to be forced into using XP's
successor, Vista.
Once computers loaded with XP have been cleared from the inventory of
PC makers such as Dell Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co., consumers who
can't live without the old operating system on their new machine will
have to buy Vista Ultimate or Vista Business and then legally
"downgrade" to XP.
Microsoft will still allow smaller
mom-and-pop PC builder shops to buy XP for resale through the end of
January. A version of XP will also remain available for ultra-low-cost
PCs such as the Asus Eee PC.
A group of vocal computer users who
rallied around a "Save XP" petition posted on the industry news site
InfoWorld had been clamoring for Microsoft to keep selling XP until its
next operating system, Windows 7, is available. The software maker has
said it expects to release Windows 7 sometime in 2009.
Last
week, Microsoft said it would provide full technical support for
six-year-old Windows XP through 2009, and limited support through 2014.
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