HP: Sales of XP outstrips Vista

One of the top PC makers, Hewlett-Packard, has revealed that the number of machines loaded with Windows XP that it is selling outstrips that of Windows Vista. On the surface, this appears to fly counter to persistent claims by Microsoft that Windows Vista has sold tens of millions of copies. The explanation is really much simpler. First, one must understand that PC makers can no longer ship a PC with an XP license. However, because business PC buyers are still "overwhelming" opting for Windows XP, companies like HP have resorted to shipping PCs with a Vista Business license, but with Windows XP pre-loaded. According to a HP spokesperson, "[t]hat is still the majority of business computers we are selling today." This will probably change eventually. In the meantime though, negotiations are already ongoing with Microsoft to push back a January 2009 deadline for doing this.

For more on this debacle:
- check out this APC article