Almost eight months have passed since the launch of Windows Vista, but
Microsoft is going to great lengths to keep Windows XP alive. Large PC
manufacturers were slated to have to stop selling XP after January 31. However,
they have successfully lobbied
Microsoft to allow them to continue selling PCs with all flavors of Windows XP
preloaded until June 30, a further five months. Microsoft also plans to keep
XP on retail shelves longer and will allow computer makers in emerging markets
to build machines with Windows XP Starter Edition until June 2010. The move
indicates the continued demand for the older operating system, some nine months
after Windows Vista hit store shelves.
