XP’s death postponed… again…

Robert Hallock (Thrax)

December 22, 2008 2:08 PM ET in News, , ,

windows-logoA Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed that delivery of OEM orders for Windows XP will now be filled through May 30.

In an e-mail to ChannelWeb, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the existence of a flexible inventory program that will allow distributors to place their final orders for Windows XP OEM licenses by Jan. 31, 2009, and take delivery against those orders through May 30.

Previously, distributors had planned to purchase as many XP licenses as they could afford before Jan. 31, 2009, and sell them after the deadline. But once that inventory was gone, they’d have no choice but to turn away XP-seeking customers.

Copies of Windows XP continue to play a pivotal role in the sensational Netbook market. It can be believe that these diminutive doodads are to thank for XP’s prolonged life support.

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14 Comments:

  1. Leonardo
    22 Dec '08, 2:29 pm

    Looks like Microsoft will keep XP channels open to the OEMs until Windows 7 is released to them. It is my impression that XP's availability will be open as long as it takes to develop 7.

  2. jared
    22 Dec '08, 3:23 pm
    Quoting Leonardo

    Looks like Microsoft will keep XP channels open to the OEMs until Windows 7 is released to them. It is my impression that XP's availability will be open as long as it takes to develop 7.

    Completely agree. I think that is the right road to take.

    With so many people and businesses still snatching up XP I see no reason to kill it yet. Plus Ballmer basically publicly said they screwed the pooch with Vista. Although Snark would tell you otherwise.

  3. Leonardo
    22 Dec '08, 5:23 pm
    Completely agree. I think that is the right road to take.

    If by "right," you mean financially sound for Microsoft, then yes. They have surmised that forced migration to Vista will upset more users than than it will please. They'd rather continue to lose money on Vista than alienate more of their customer base. I think they've fairly well written off Vista as a money maker, but rather consider it to be a technology test bed. If that is the definition, I'd say it's accurate. You know, when you look at that way, Vista hasn't been all that bad for Micorsoft: an unprecedented, world-scale beta software package that the testers actually paid good money for. No, I'm not anti-Vista at all. I'd probably be running it happily if someone had given me a copy. I'm just content enough with XP that I haven't been looking for an OS replacement/upgrade.

  4. QCH
    22 Dec '08, 9:07 pm

    This makes my day.... I can now argue with support to avoid Vista migration. We are still seeing too many problems with enterprise level applications (CAD software, Business software).

  5. Leonardo
    22 Dec '08, 9:23 pm

    I have not been one to jump on the bashwagon against Vista. I've had nothing against Vista (except cost) - I'm just satisfied for the most part with XP, but this:

    We are still seeing too many problems with enterprise level applications

    Still? That's well over a year since Vista was released. To me, that seems more of a software sellers' problem rather than Microsoft's. No? Yes?

  6. QCH
    22 Dec '08, 9:31 pm

    Yes and no.... when we went from Win2000 to WinXP, it took a bit over a year for CAD software to be available and certified. We have no time table for a Vista version let alone certified to work with our projects. Just a guess.... 18 month minimum.

    As for our Business level software, it's all in house. It will take years to rework the stuff to make it 99.999% stable.

  7. Leonardo
    22 Dec '08, 9:38 pm
    Business level software, it's all in house

    Well, that will be a royal hash no matter what OS comes to market! Believe me, I know about in-house enterprise software. LOL We still use a lot of DOS stuff. Don't know the command? Well, you're screwed. Type "Off," hit return, and start over! Yeah, go Leo.

    OK, to be fair, I don't know if the legacy stuff is DOS, but it is black screen with huge text and requires commands to navigate. Looks like a duck, walks like duck, quacks... But we have less of it each year. Our new stuff is actually very good. The higher ups at HQ may take their time in procuring/developing new software, but when they do, it's usually very good.

  8. QCH
    22 Dec '08, 10:10 pm

    The base is Oracle and PeopleSoft but we just certified Internet Explorer 7 a few months ago.... Oracle and PeopleSoft need to release a Vista version then our Business Database folks have to modify the database.... The WinXP process was not too bad.

  9. Crazy Joe
    23 Dec '08, 9:46 am

    We are wiping Vista off all new computers ordered in our school district and putting XP back on them.

  10. MiracleManS
    23 Dec '08, 9:58 am

    I maybe one of the few people who has had a decent experience so far with Vista. There have been some quirky things like the "sleep mode" for the Ethernet card causing me to reboot to get it working, but it has been pretty stable as a development machine.

  11. DrLiam
    23 Dec '08, 1:17 pm

    I'm sorry but does this mean the support for XP will be extended as well?

  12. QCH
    23 Dec '08, 3:51 pm

    Support was already extended to at least 2013....

  13. Leonardo
    23 Dec '08, 4:44 pm

    DrLiam, you have all the support you need, with us. Just don't push it by asking for Windows 95 help!

  14. DrLiam
    23 Dec '08, 7:29 pm
    Quoting Leonardo

    DrLiam, you have all the support you need, with us. Just don't push it by asking for Windows 95 help!

    hehe :P

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