4 signs Windows XP is here to stay longer despite Vista
The idea of Windows Vista was that it was supposed to replace Windows XP. Three months after the release of Vista, Microsoft announced that XP would be retired in January 2008. However, this retirement date has already been extended to the middle of next year, and it may be extended again.
Here are the four signs that indicate Microsoft will continue to support Windows XP for the foreseeable future.
1. Microsoft offers XP downgrade options for Vista users
Offering a downgrade option is a move seen very rarely in the software industry. In most cases, this means a product has not lived up to expectations.
With this move, Microsoft seems to acknowledge that Vista is not yet ready to replace XP, and as a result consumers and companies have more time before they need to go with Vista..
2. Microsoft extends XP sales due to demand
The passage of time is not working favorably for Windows Vista. In response to consumer demand and feedback from manufacturers, Microsoft has extended the time frame during which Windows XP will be available.
While Microsoft has set the new retirement date of Windows XP to June 2008, it’s possible that demand for XP will continue beyond that date, which means there could be yet another extension.
3. Microsoft offers new licenses for illegitimate Windows XP copies
The idea here is to convince companies using illegitimate copies of Windows XP to avail themselves of this new license package. Obviously, Microsoft has a better chance of convincing offending companies to take advantage of the new licensing aarrangement if XP is around for a bit longer. I mean, nobody would want to avail themselves of this new license package if XP is going to get the bullet in the middle of next year.
4. Microsoft updates IE 7 and drops WGA validation requirement for Window XP
This move makes Windows XP more attractive. But why would Microsoft makes Windows XP attractive if the OS is about to be retire? The company could have made the same offer to Vista, but it did not.
All indicators point to Windows XP staying with us for a little longer. Well, at least longer than Microsoft intended.
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October 11th, 2008
XP is great, only thing that slows it down are updates… a nudge by microsoft to move on to vista perhaps.