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Posted : Monday, June 30, 2008
Microsoft Corp is scheduled
to stop selling its Windows XP operating system to retailers and major computer
makers today, despite protests from a slice of PC users who don't want to be
forced into using XP's successor, Vista.
Once computers loaded with
XP have been cleared from the inventory of PC makers such as Dell Inc and
Hewlett-Packard Co, consumers who can't live without the old operating system on
their new machine will have to buy Vista Ultimate or Vista Business and then
legally "downgrade" to XP.
Microsoft will still allow smaller
mom-and-pop PC builder shops to buy XP for resale through the end of January. A
version of XP will also remain available for ultra-low-cost PCs such as the Asus
Eee PC.
A group of vocal computer users who rallied around a "Save
XP" petition posted on the industry news site InfoWorld had been clamoring for
Microsoft to keep selling XP until its next operating system, Windows 7, is
available. The software maker has said it expects to release Windows 7 sometime
in 2009.
Last week, Microsoft said it would provide full technical
support for six-year-old Windows XP through 2009, and limited support through
2014.
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