Last year Microsoft decided that it would be smart to continue offering Windows XP for sale until June 30th, 2008. That way consumers and businesses who didn’t want to be an early adopter of Vista had an alternative available. As that deadline approaches a petition was started by InfoWorld earlier this year to save XP again, and as of last week it had accumulated over 106,000 signatures. But Microsoft made it clear yesterday that in just a few months Windows XP will be cut… kind of.
Windows XP will be no longer available after June 30th, 2008 with the exception of ultra low-cost personal computers (ULCPC’s). These computers are becoming rather popular (such as the Asus Eee PC), but they don’t have enough requirements to run Vista. Here’s what Microsoft had to say about it:
Customers and partners have made it clear to us that Windows is the preferred operating system for ULCPC buyers, just as it is for mainstream PC users. That’s why we are extending direct OEM sales of Windows XP Home for ULCPCs so that they can preinstall Windows on these devices through the later of June 30, 2010 or one year after the general availability of the next version of the Windows operating system. While Windows Vista provides many benefits, including an easier and more secure user experience, Windows XP Home provides an effective solution on these devices from a performance and cost perspective.
You’ll notice that Microsoft made sure to say that Windows XP Home will be the only version offered to the OEM’s to put on their machines. This is obviously a push to keep new Windows XP machines from entering the corporate world.
So how do the requirements stack up between Windows XP and Vista? Well, there was such a huge time gap between the two operating system releases that the minimum system requirements differ quite a bit:
| Windows XP | Vista Capable | Vista Premium | |
| Processor | 233MHz | 800MHz | 1.0GHz |
| Memory | 64MB | 512MB | 1GB |
| Hard Drive Space | 1.5GB | 15GB | 15GB |
It makes sense that Windows XP will still be available on the ULCPC’s looking at the system requirements. In particular the hard drive space is drastically different when comparing XP to Vista. Most of the ULCPC’s wouldn’t have the space needed to run Vista.
Now the question is whether you buy as many retail copies of XP as you can, and then sell them on eBay after June 30th? 
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
I think it might actually be a good idea to stock up on XP Pro licenses! I’m sure there will be plenty of people left after that date who’d want them.
Ryan, Is XP SP12 is still on the cards then?
That’s what I’m thinking, and you might be able to sell them to businesses in bulk.
Possibly. Maybe there will be a boycott that will bring XP back for good! I don’t know why Microsoft felt the need to provide a new version of Windows because XP should last us at least another 40 or 50 years. Just keep the service packs coming.
I am still on Windows XP and I am not that keen on upgrading to Vista yet. I will get SP3 and probably stay with Windows XP until the end of the year at least.
That’s probably not a bad idea, and I normally recommend to people to just stay with XP unless they purchase a new computer that comes with Vista. That way they really minimize any hardware issues they’ll have.
Stick with XP Forever, It’s faster! Windows 7 Home Premium isn’t as quick on Netbooks. I’m not sure about starter but I think XP is still the most user freindly and the best for Performance.
XP is the best!