XP dodges another death sentence

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 22 Dec 2008 at 14:57

Windows XP has been granted yet another reprieve by Microsoft.

The software maker had originally planned to put the ageing operating system to pasture on 31 January 2009, but a "flexible inventory program" means system builders will now have until 30 May 2009 to get hold of their copies.

OEMs had been planning to stockpile copies of XP in order to sell them after the deadline was up. However, the new scheme means they'll be able to order their Windows XP licenses before the deadline, but take delivery of them any time up to 30 May.

XP is increasingly looking to be the operating system that won't die. It was originally scheduled to be retired in January 2008, a deadline that was swiftly put back to the end of June, and then again to January 2009.

These constant extensions have been seen as a damning indictment of Vista, with many consumers and businesses now thought to be waiting for the release of Windows 7 next year.

Even beyond the 30 May cut off, XP will still be available to manufacturers of ultra low cost laptops such as the Eee PC. That deadline is 2010.