Dell says 'L8R' to Windows XP (sort of)

Better get on board the XP train soon...

The moment you've all been dreading has finally come. Dell says that June 18 is going to be the last day that you can order a desktop or laptop with an OEM version of (almost) everyone's favorite operating system, Windows XP. According to details posted on the Dell Web site:

Per the Microsoft Windows life-cycle policy, direct OEM and retail license availability for Windows XP will end-of-life (EOL) on June 30, 2008. To meet Microsoft's June 30 last-day-to-ship OEM Windows XP deadline, June 18 is the last time to purchase a Dell laptop, desktop, or workstation with an OEM Windows XP license (or while supplies last).
 
After June 18, you have the option to purchase Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate with a downgrade service to Windows XP Professional.
 
This option will be available on XPS 630, 720 H2C, and M1730 systems. After June 18, Windows XP will no longer be offered on currently available Inspiron desktops.

This "downgrade" option hasn't been fully sketched out yet, but presumably, it involves eating the cost of a more expensive Vista license, and this being Dell, paying some kind of modest fee.

XP isn't totally dead, however--Microsoft will still offer it to individual system builders until January 31, 2009, and a suddenly popular stripped-down version will continue to be available for Netbook-style laptops, such as the Asus Eee PC and Dell's own (still not officially announced) E series.

News.com has more on the XP end-of-life plans plans of different PC makers here.

[kingrah1]

"the moment weve been dreading"?!?!?! I have accually been looking forward to this moment, I love vista and i think that windows XP is very inefficient. My vista was screwing up like most of yours probably, but then i updated all of my drivers(the cause of my bluescreens was the fact that my graphics driver was out of date). Good luck Vista users, Goodbye XP!!!

[hunttw]

I almost agree, Yes it is a fine OS, have been using it since the begining. The main problem is drivers mainly video, Nvidia and ATI have been producing second rate code for Vista. My last machine from Dell (XPS 420) is a wounderful box, came with Vista Premium, it Blue Screened eveery six hours till I formatted Cand installed the OS and drivers correctly, most users would blame Vista. I think MS needs to read the riot act to both manufactueres and hardware producers, Vista's problems are not from the OS but OEM..

[8eagle]

Be aware of the alternatives. These days, you are not forced into purchasing Vista, with options from Apple and Ubuntu. Try out these new operating systems before you get pressed into a corner and you feel forced to purchase a software lock-in. Ubuntu is costs nothing to download and run on the computer you have now, and trying it requires no modifications of your existing operating system.