Windows XP Gets to Live Another Day
Is it a sign that Vista doesn’t cut it or that Windows XP is such a adaptable OS but Microsoft has decided, again, not to stop distributing Windows XP.
Microsoft instructed retailers to stop selling copies of the operating system to consumers this summer. But there’s a loophole that lets customers purchasing new computers running certain versions of Windows Vista request a free downgrade to Windows XP. That option was set to expire on January 31st, 2009. Now Microsoft has extended that date through July 31st, 2009.
That means you may not be able to pick up a standalone copy of Windows XP from your local computer store, but you will be able to get Windows XP with a new computer until the middle of next year. Unless, of course, you pick up a low cost ultraportable machine like the Asus Eee PC, Dell Inspiron Mini, or Acer Aspire One. Microsoft has made an exception for that class of laptop and will support Windows XP through 2010. [via]
For those keeping count, that makes Windows seven years old with support until 2010 that would make the OS almost 10 years old. That says SOMETHING about XP.
