Microsoft gives OEMs an additional six months to peddle Windows XP

In yet another extension to the long, long death of Windows XP, OEMs were given an additional six months in which they can sell new PCs bundled with an accompanying Windows XP recovery disc. This "downgrade" technique is an open secret that essentially allows OEMs to continue selling Windows XP while allowing Microsoft to count it as a sale in favor of Windows Vista. OEMs are eager to offer this option because they say Windows XP is what their customers are asking for. The most recent deadline for this to stop was originally January 31, 2009. It is understood that Microsoft's hardware partners are working to have this new deadline extended even further. Well, we will report on it again when that happens.

For more on Windows XP's long death:
- check out this The Register article