Win XP Death Delayed Again

[JustaGeek]

...distributors can purchase XP licenses until January 31, 2009, the original date in which XP was supposed to turn to dust, but take delivery against those orders through May 30.

http://www.pcworld.com/article...icle.html?tk=nl_dnxnws

 

[SickBeast]

I wonder what they'll do for the netbooks.

This may give Linux more marketshare, as I doubt the netbook makers would try to cram Vista onto their machines. That said, people seem to want Microsoft just out of familiarity.

I don't understand why MS would stop selling a product of theirs when there is still a high enough demand for it. The ROI must be huge for them on a product like XP.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
I don't understand why MS would stop selling a product of theirs when there is still a high enough demand for it. The ROI must be huge for them on a product like XP.

People don't want to take the few minutes to learn the differences between Vista and XP. Vista is different, therefore bad. MS waited too long to release Vista and people got stuck in a rut with XP and now MS is trying to pry them out kicking and screaming.

As for netbooks, with the restrictions that MS imposes for the XP license, they should be running Linux anyway. They'll grow in power and capability while maintaining the same size and thermals and be able to run Vista just fine next year.

 

[lxskllr]

I got a netbook specifically to run Linux. I wanted a hardware package that I knew was completely compatible with Linux. It works great for me. I don't see Linux being permanent on my desktop machine, but for portables, it does everything I need.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
...distributors can purchase XP licenses until January 31, 2009, the original date in which XP was supposed to turn to dust, but take delivery against those orders through May 30.

Its not really an extension of sales but an extension of when distributors can take title to the final orders they are still required to place before January 31. A distributor who places a "final order" would normally not get to decide how much of that order they will receive and when. A big truck would pull up with the entire order and they would need to legally take title or break the PO terms, which are legally binding. This way, the distributor can place a final order, but only take title to smaller installments until May 30th. Ultimately, they're still on the hook for the entire order, though.

I wonder what they'll do for the netbooks.

Royalty OEMs (direct Microsoft customers) will be able to ship Windows XP Home on netbooks and nettops (ULCPC program) until 2010. Royalty OEMs already have the software images and source their own installation media from authorized Microsoft replicators, so they don't actually receive "shipments" of Windows XP.