NEC helps businesses downgrade to XP
Posted on 4 Feb 2008 at 12:19
NEC will effectively continue to offer Windows XP to customers after Microsoft's sales cut-off in the summer, thanks to new "downgrade" software.
Many business customers are reluctant to upgrade to Vista because of training costs and compatibility issues, but Microsoft has announced that it will stop selling XP by the end of June 2008.
NEC's FlexLoad uses Microsoft's downgrade option to revert from Vista to XP, without the need to purchase any additional licenses.
"It means that we can provide customers with XP after the cut-off date in summer. It's about giving customers what they want. This summer's deadline will accelerate the uptake of Vista, but a lot of companies want to remain using XP," says David Newbould of NEC.
Many manufacturers have taken advantage of Microsoft's downgrade option and bundled XP restoration discs with new machines, but FlexLoad claims to automate and speed-up the task.
The tool allows administrators "without any specific technical skills" to change from a Vista installation to XP within 15 minutes, claims NEC.
"It's standard on notebooks that we're shipping now, but on desktops it's an option," says Newbould.
To buy the product alone costs just £10, while it's a £7 option on new desktop sales.
Author: Matthew Sparkes
advertisement
- Microsoft shows courage at Tech-Ed 09
- PowerPoint and Silverlight: a perfect match?
- Why all the fuss over Windows Explorer?
- Your iPhone has a virus? Well it's your fault
- Motorola pays Lucas for its Droid
- Where are the killer apps for Windows?
- Will you hit the Orange iPhone "unlimited" cap?
- USB 3 first benchmark - it's here, and it's fast
- Why Windows 7 has forced me to worry about security
- How Dixons is (under)selling Windows 7
- The bulletproof Dell that costs an arm and a leg
- Microsoft Office 2010 Technical Preview: Q&A
- Lawnmowers, the TyTN II and one odd insurance request
- There'll never be a bulletproof OS
- How far can we trust apps?
- Five nice touches in Outlook 2010
- Building a better Google
- Beware HP's horrendous printer-driver glitch
- Microsoft debuts free Morro antivirus package
- Getting started with Search Server 2008 Express
advertisement

Printed from www.pcpro.co.uk

