Windows XP to be retired in 2008

[Sash]

Windows XP will stop being available on new PCs from the end of January 2008.

Microsoft is keeping to a plan to stop selling the operating system even though surveys show a lukewarm response to Windows Vista among consumers.

A poll by US market research firm Harris Interactive found that only 10% of those questioned were planning to upgrade to Vista in the near future.

All versions of XP, including those made for media centre or tablet PCs, are affected by the decision.

Microsoft has confirmed that from 31 January 2008 large PC makers, such as Dell, HP and Toshiba, will no longer be able to buy licences for the software so they can install it on new machines.

Windows XP is being retired to make way for Windows Vista, the consumer editions of which were launched in Europe on 30 January.

However, a poll released in early April suggests that Vista has yet to win over significant numbers of potential customers.

The study of 2,223 web-using Americans found that although 87% had heard of the operating system only 12% of those who knew of it were planning to install it.

While the survey did find that some people waited for Vista before buying a PC, 60% said its appearance had no effect on their spending plans.

It also found that 79% of those questioned were using Windows XP on their home PC.

Robert Epstein, Microsoft's European spokesman on Windows licencing, said: "There's no significant change with XP compared with how we have done it with other operating systems."

He added that PC makers could get hold of licences until 2009 if they bought them from third-party suppliers rather than Microsoft.

Mr Epstein said withdrawing XP licences had no implications for long-term technical support for the product.

"This is purely about availability of brand new licences for brand new machines," he said. "We'll continue to support XP for some considerable time."

Microsoft has a well-established programme that governs the lifecycle of its products and how long they have before licences stop being offered or support is withdrawn.

In related news, the software firm has reminded those who tested early versions of Windows Vista that the software will stop working on 1 June.

Millions of people downloaded and installed pre-release versions of Vista to see what the software was like and to help Microsoft fine tune the finished product.

However, these early "release candidate" editions of Vista had a limited life.

"So customers need to decide if they want to move to Windows Vista or back to Windows XP if they have test versions of Windows Vista on their PCs," said Cori Hartje, director of Microsoft's genuine software initiative, in a statement.

The pre-released versions of Vista do not allow users to rollback to earlier versions of Windows installed on a PC which means that people will must re-install either their old operating system or upgrade to a full version of Vista.

In a further complication, if users choose to upgrade to Vista from a release candidate they must use a full and final version of the Ultimate edition of the software rather than a cheaper "upgrade" edition.

Vista is available in six separate versions - three for home users, two for businesses and one for emerging markets.

[lister]

Charming wont catch me using windows vista yet stilled buged last i heard so if i ever brought a lapy or pc with vista on it
i would format and stick xp on

[Mars]

i really don't like vista, it's way too slow and bloated
wish there was a nicely trimmed version for gamers and overclockers etc, with
an emphasis on all out performance.

[Dripster]

you think its just preinstalled machines that are being stopped making. would the xp cd still be available?

[teflon]

Vista works totally fine now all the drivers are out. If you have a decent pc.

[Arutha]

and what would you say makes a 'decent' pc? I got a athlon xp 64 3500, 2GB RAM, 1650Pro ATI Radeon and I noticed the diffrence playing games in Vista. It dont supprise me that Microsoft is making this move, they gotta get as much money for Vista as they can and what with manufaters like Dell ditching Vista on there machines for XP Micorsoft cant be making that much cash from thier new OS

[Harv]

The windows xp cd will be around untill all the manufactured licences are sold off the shelves ( dont forget some companies will have 100's of thousands of copies ready to go onto new pc's.

They will be available to install on volume licencing for some time to come yet also. We still have windows 98 licences we could use if we wanted to, be a bit daft but they are still their just wouldnt be supported.

Microsoft follow a product lifecycle that is never ending and windows 2000 has already gone to final support where they will only do bug support for the desktop version and will be phased out completley soon. In fact XP is only fully supported if it is on service pack 2 anything less only has security updates.

I think Microsoft went a bit nuts with the spec for Vista and they have alienated a huge part of the consumer market as you can no longer buy "bog standard" PC to run office and your accounts package anymore it has to be a super computer by current standards just to be able to run the operating system and then of course you hit the different versions......

[Froogles]

Originally Posted by Arutha

and what would you say makes a 'decent' pc? I got a athlon xp 64 3500, 2GB RAM, 1650Pro ATI Radeon and I noticed the diffrence playing games in Vista. It dont supprise me that Microsoft is making this move, they gotta get as much money for Vista as they can and what with manufaters like Dell ditching Vista on there machines for XP Micorsoft cant be making that much cash from thier new OS

For the most part,Vista relies heavily on the RAM,idling at around 500mb on just the desktop,and it went to around 700 with a few internet explorers up (if I remember correctly ). So if you're gonna game,to be realistic you're gonna need at least 2gb really,otherwise you will have trouble.

I can see that you have a decent pc,and that should run Vista easily.