Microsoft Extends Windows XP Availability/Support, Again [MS Bows To OEM Pressure, XP Gets 6 Months Further Stay of Execution]

One could be forgiven for coming to the understandable conclusion that
Microsoft is positively sanctioning PC users skipping their much
maligned Vista operating system altogether - thus potentially moving
directly from XP to Microsoft's seventh incarnation of the Windows OS
whilst missing out Vista completely - if a leaked email from an un-named
PC OEM is to be believed which purportedly advises that Microsoft has
officially extended the operating (and supported) lifetime of its XP OS
up until the end of July 2009 (thus adding a further six months to the
previously touted XP obsolescence date of the end of January 09).

The result, further 6 months whereby OEMs can supply end users with
Vista powered computers with accompanying recovery disks allowing end
users to downgrade to XP, is sure to be welcomed not least by OEMs who
are conscious that prospective customers have been particularly slow on
the uptake as far as Vista is concerned. However, even with the extended
stay of execution, its reported that certainly one OEM is pushing still
further to have the new July deadline pushed even further back to ensure
that end users can be certain of by-passing Vista with view to jumping
straight to Windows 7 from XP - though Microsoft remain wholly
tight-lipped concerning not only this new extension but any possible
further increases in XP's continued availability.