No reprieve for XP; Dell to keep selling it anyway

Last week, we reported on a rumor that Microsoft would offer a last minute reprieve for Windows XP, in light of the aging OS's quickly-approaching June cutoff date. Well, it looks like that isn't going to happen: A Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed that the June 30 cutoff date is, in fact, correct. So, what now? Well, it's time to find loopholes in Microsoft's licensing agreement, of course. Enter Dell. The company has become the first to confirm that it will keep shipping XP systems even after the cutoff date, thanks to the "downgrade rights" included in Vista's license. "Dell will take advantage of a licensing option in Vista Business and Vista Ultimate that lets PC makers provide XP under the Vista license, which Microsoft calls a 'downgrade' license," PC World reports. "In essence, the user is buying a Vista license that it can apply to XP, and Microsoft can still claim a Vista sale." While that's all well and good, Dell won't be able to ship you any XP media, so hang on to those installation CDs--they could become collector's items sooner than you think.

For more on XP's imminent "demise":
- see this PC World article on Microsoft's stance
- and this article on Dell