The cut off date for PC makers to obtain licenses for the software was 31 January 2009.
But now Microsoft has put in place a scheme that will allow the hardware firms to get hold of XP licences until 30 May 2009.
Previously Microsoft extended XP's life until 2010 - provided it was installed on netbooks and low-cost laptops.
Windows XP was originally due to disappear off shop shelves on 30 January 2008. It was to be removed so as to make way for Windows Vista which went on sale to consumers early in 2007.
Despite Microsoft's claims that Vista has sold well, consumers have reacted badly to its release.
Microsoft granted the reprieve largely because of customer's preference for XP.
Many PC makers also got around the restrictions by exploiting a clause in Microsoft's licensing terms that allowed them to offer a "downgrade" licence. Issued with a new PC running Vista it allowed customers to replace it with XP.
The latest reprieve affects PC makers and resellers who were working to a 31 January 2009 deadline to order licences for XP.
Many feared they would have to stockpile licences before the cut-off and hope they could sell them in the coming months.
Now, Microsoft has changed the terms allowing the resellers to order before 31 January but take delivery at any time up to 30 May.
The change in policy is another indication of the general resistance to Windows Vista.
Early versions of Windows 7, the replacement for Vista, are due to appear in late 2009.
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- justright
- added this
- added December 22, 2008
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I have seen Vista before. And really I don't see much difference. But then again, I don't use my computer for extremely in depth processes. For people who use for things like that I have nothing to say.
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It looks like microsoft is admitting their failure finally.
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I am not willing to give up my XP! And to think Microsoft was able to sell it without trying the Mojave experiment. Lame stuff! Long live XP!
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- SHAWN_RITTIMAN
- 7 months ago
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Yeah they were in denial for a wile. And why do they spend so much money on advertising Vista? Why not spend that money on fixing it?
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Yea!!!!
Vista mostly sucks. It's convoluted and getting around in it is difficult. It is unstable when working with large files.
I have yet to figure out how to disable or figure out a way to get around all of the security features that drive me nuts!But my XP is very stable and I have had no trouble iwth it.
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I originally acquired Windows XP in 2001. I will say this out of all of the MS operating systems that I have used it is definitely the most stable. My first install went for about 4 years without any problems.
Currently I've had Vista on my laptop for about a year now, and I am on my third install. Granted one of the reinstalls was due to a bad hard-drive, if I was given the choice today as to which OS I want on my laptop I'd have to go with XP.
It's simply a better product.
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- OptimisticLogic
- 7 months ago
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I bought a used notebook this summer that had 2000 on it and am glad I chose to install XP and not Vista!
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- SHAWN_RITTIMAN
- 7 months ago
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I'm a mac girl, and for a good reason, there are a few too many problems with their software.
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- ash_theory
- 7 months ago
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one word MAC BABY!! thats two uhoh. never go back to microsoft. its lame
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- bertomanfred
- 7 months ago
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I use XP, which seems to work. Whenever I'm on someone's Vista machine however, the darn thing reboots while I'm in the middle of something, usually mid-sentence. There's probably a setting somewhere.....!?
Kinda like this guys experience from link.
"Vista: you’ve got to be kidding??"
:( ;(
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- covelogibbs
- 7 months ago
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I hate how everyone just assumes vista sucks because the internet says so...as a computing student I've tried most operating systems and Vista's perfectly fine. I'm using it right now and loving it!
(p.s. you mac lovers are silly, be quiet)
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- ruthevans89
- 7 months ago
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I use Vista, and I have for a whole year. I see no problem with it - I think it's great.
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- FallenMorgan
- 7 months ago
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I have been using Vista since it came out, overall it has been fine. Vista was terrible for the first few months, but so was XP.
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Wonder what windows 7 will be like?
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ppl have no sense of history, it took xp along time to get that stable (sp2).
vista is perfectly fine for 90% of all users, I've used it myself for over a year and have had no serious issues.
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I've reacted to VIsta's release by saying "hmm, I'm going to get a Mac."
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I used XP for a long time and it was good. I bought a new laptop a couple of years ago and it had VISTA already loaded. It works great and I have been happy.
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- unimatrix0
- 7 months ago
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I have and used Vista, its irritating, I am planning to use a different software with a different hardware....this link seems much more satisfying for me for the notebooks and desktop computers......
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- metalcookiesxy70
- 7 months ago
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I have been working with computers going back to the old days of Apple II and the old Digital mainframe systems, and all during this time I have observed something interesting.
Whatever the newest operating system is, it instantly SUCKS. It's buggy, it's flawed, don't bother using it, it's the worst ever created, why are people even bothering using it, you had might as well use your computer as a boat anchor...
But as soon as there is a NEW operating system, the one that they have spent all of their time, effort, and energy complaining about is suddenly stable and reliable. It suddenly WORKS! Why upgrade now? We have it EXACTLY the way we want it to be!
I saw this with the change from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95. I saw this again from Windows 98 to XP. (Win ME was the only exception - it just sucked, even after XP came out.) And now it's from XP to Vista.
I'll go ahead and make a prediction... Win 7 will come out and suddenly some of the people that complain about Vista will be its defenders, and Win 7 will be the new big buggy monster that people need to run away from at all costs.
I have a laptop with Vista on it and two desktops running XP and XP Media Center. Vista is something of a learning curve, but I have not had a problem with the programs that I have installed on it, and in fact some of the applications work better under Vista than under XP.
I don't agree with Microsoft's policy of forced obsolescence, but constantly making the new OS the eternal monster doesn't help resolve that problem.
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I own a couple of XP licenses and was more than happy to pay cash for them...Vista seems very stable on the machines I've used at client sites. No complaints about the OS
BUT...The new Vista version of Office is a navigation nightmare. What in God's name were they thinking?
They have rearranged most of the menus in the most unintelligible and thoughtless way I have ever seen...and the pastel color sceme forced on Excel is just goofy $@**!
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I think it might also be due to user how well a user adapts to new tech. I used the Quadra 800+ series for graphics until Windows 98 came out. Then I had both a Quadra & a PC. Eventually the PC got more beefy and was more affordable and also carried more games. So instead of upgrading the mac, I upgraded the PC.
I have had an XP computer forever here at home, but and this one I am using today is on Vista. I guess you do have to think differently to troubleshoot or do anything advanced with each. (same as when the mac/PC thing)
I didn't go out of my way to go Vista, but I haven't reformatted the computer and put XP on it either. (she smiles) It's all good.
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- arcticspirit
- 7 months ago
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I'll be pirating XP well into 2010
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vista is perfectly fine
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I found a work-around when I went shopping for a new laptop with XP. I got a MAC! You can run a whole separate operating system with their Boot Camp application. Had to buy XP software separately. I haven't even loaded it because the MacBook is great the way it is!
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Personally I have not had any problems with Vista. They fixed a lot of bugs a lot faster than they did with XP. I had one weird problem with windows media player, but they fixed it in one of their updates.
It can be annoying sometimes with the warnings, and the constant updates, and the computer wanting to restart after the update.
All in all i think it could have been more useful for the price, but I am happy with it. I do hope that they really do something good with the next version of windows. I understand they have almost a monopoly on the market but it would be refreshing for some really useful upgrades.









