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When Microsoft launched Windows Vista, it became clear fairly quickly that it wasn't going to unseat Windows XP as the dominate OS. Over two years later, that's still the case, and nothing's going to change. Because of how things have played out, Microsoft has extended Windows XP's life multiple times, and it looks like things aren't going to change at all with the launch of Windows 7.
Despite the hype that Windows 7 is receiving (and for good reason), it looks like that upon launch, customers will have the option of downgrading to Windows XP, just like they are now able to with Windows Vista. Of course, this is going to be on a per-vendor basis, and not everyone has to agree to this policy (from what I understand). The fact that these vendors could charge you for a downgrade remains a real possibility as well, since the same thing is currently happening with Vista.
I find it a little odd that this is still in their policy, however, because it should be assumed that Windows 7 is going to deliver the goods that people are looking for. If people know in advance that the option to downgrade to a nine-year-old OS is an option, it can make some a little skeptical. Either way, I guess it is good to have an option, no matter how strange it may be.
The plan, according to the spokesperson, is still to terminate all sales of Windows XP by June 2010 at the earliest. Microsoft announced this plan about a year ago. The spokesperson also declined to comment on, or reject the possibility that XP netbook customers would be given incentives to upgrade to Windows 7.
Source: DailyTech
Despite the hype that Windows 7 is receiving (and for good reason), it looks like that upon launch, customers will have the option of downgrading to Windows XP, just like they are now able to with Windows Vista. Of course, this is going to be on a per-vendor basis, and not everyone has to agree to this policy (from what I understand). The fact that these vendors could charge you for a downgrade remains a real possibility as well, since the same thing is currently happening with Vista.
I find it a little odd that this is still in their policy, however, because it should be assumed that Windows 7 is going to deliver the goods that people are looking for. If people know in advance that the option to downgrade to a nine-year-old OS is an option, it can make some a little skeptical. Either way, I guess it is good to have an option, no matter how strange it may be.
The plan, according to the spokesperson, is still to terminate all sales of Windows XP by June 2010 at the earliest. Microsoft announced this plan about a year ago. The spokesperson also declined to comment on, or reject the possibility that XP netbook customers would be given incentives to upgrade to Windows 7.
Source: DailyTech
