ZDNet Australia Ina Fried, CNET News.com
17 June 2008. After a long-announced transition, 30 June marks the end of an era at Microsoft — that of Windows XP. As of 30 June, large PC makers will no longer be able to sell Windows XP-based PCs on mainstream notebooks and desktops. Retailers will also have only until their current supply is exhausted to sell boxed copies of the operating system.
Despite a brief "Save XP" movement (and continued criticism of Windows Vista from many corners), Microsoft is not going to change the deadline, which is now just two weeks away.
Although XP will disappear as an option for most computer buyers, the operating system will live on in several key ways.
XP will be available on PCs from smaller computer makers known as "system builders" until 31 January, 2009.
XP will be available for so-called ultra-low-cost-PCs until 30 June, 2010.
The low-end Windows XP Starter Edition will continue to be available in emerging markets until 30 June, 2010.
Windows Vista Ultimate and Windows Vista Business come with downgrade rights. Some computer makers are using this option to offer machines that appear as Windows XP products but are "factory downgraded" to XP. The downside is that only pricier versions of Vista qualify, but the benefit is that the machines come with the option to eventually move to Vista for no added fee. Microsoft says it will continue to make XP discs available to computer makers to enable downgrade rights through at least 31 January, 2009.
Microsoft is not ending support for Windows XP. Mainstream support continues until 2009, while extended support is not due to end until April 2014.
