Sunbeltblog comments
How can it be true? The XP OEM life cycle ends in June, right? Except for low-end systems that can't run Vista, which hardly describes Optiplex and Latitude.
Alex
I did a "Hack search" and came up with leading back to you.
All rumors from "Sunbelt..
I Really think they will extend old fathful.........
OEM Vista Business or OEM Vista Ultimate licenses (and presumably Vista Enterprise) automatically come with WinXP downgrade rights anyway, so it would seem to be a non-issue in the first place for Optiplex/Latitude customers. Maybe I'm missing something. 
In full disclosure, I am an employee at Dell. The program you are referring to is the Windows Vista Downgrade Service, which enables a factory-installed downgrade to XP Professional. It is only available with the purchase of either Windows Vista Business or Vista Ultimate. The program will be around at least through January 2009, though nothing further has been confirmed. For more information on XP Availability please see: www.dell.com/dellhasanswers.
Another aspect of downgrade rights, as the blog already alluded to, is that the licensee can still go back to Vista whenever they want to. Further info on downgrade rights, and the actual "how to," can be found in this PDF:
http://download.microsoft.com/
do...erencesheet.pdf
So as long as OEM Vista is available, WinXP is available too, basically.
MVP, Windows Shell/User
Ballmer: Since You Don't Want XP, It's Done
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/
0,...,2286936,00.asp
04.24.08
by Reuters
LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, Belgium (Reuters ) - Microsoft could re-think plans to phase out its Windows XP operating system by June 30 if customers show they want to keep it but so far they have not, Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said.
"XP will hit an end-of-life. We have announced one. If customer feedback varies we can always wake up smarter but right now we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments", Ballmer told reporters at a news conference on Thursday.
Microsoft has announced that it will stop licensing Windows XP to computer makers and end retail sales by June 30.
Ballmer said that most retailers sell computers with Vista, the latest version of its Windows operating system, and most consumers are choosing to buy Vista.
"In the business environment, we still have customers who are buying PCs with XP" because information technology departments often have to work with old machines, he said.
Vista requires high-speed central processing units (CPUs) that are only installed in newer machines.
The news conference was to announce the opening of a regional Microsoft office and an agreement with the Belgian railway company.
i just bought dell vostro 1014, and it is a little bit confusing when installing XP with all driver 
Commenting by HaloScan
