Microsoft: No reprive for XP

With the impending June 30 cutoff date for Windows XP sales looming, many IT departments are hoping for a last-minute stay of execution from Microsoft. Don't hold your breath: the Redmond company has officially announced that the June 30 date is final. What does this mean for you? Well, it means that OEMs will only be allowed to pre-load machines with XP through June 30 of this year and that consumers will be allowed to buy those machines through January 31, 2009. Vista Business and Vista Ultimate customers can still use XP thanks to "downgrade rights" but must own an equivalent Vista license and will have to supply their own XP installation media. Microsoft will officially support Windows XP through April 2009 and will offer Extended support through 2014.

For more on the death of XP:
- see this ZDnet article