In an open letter to customers, Microsoft vice president Bill Veghte -- who runs the Windows group -- has dangled the possibility of continued Windows XP availability past June 30, while reiterating that Microsoft was committed to ending most licensing sales of XP on that date.
[ It's not too late! Help convince Microsoft to keep Windows XP widely available after June 30. Sign InfoWorld's petition today! ]
Most of the options Veghte described in that letter are old news: the "downgrade" option that lets Vista Business and Ultimate customers install XP over Vista using the Vista license, the ability of "white box" PC makers (usually mom-and-pop shops) to install XP until February 2009, and the capability of PC makers to install XP Home on sub-$600 PCs designed for poor countries (but also available in the United States) until January 2010.
But he also wrote what seemed to be an escape hatch for major PC makers such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard to offer XP preinstalled on new computers without doing the "downgrade" dance: "Additionally, System Builders (sometimes referred to as 'local OEMs'), may continue to purchase Windows XP through Authorized Distributors through January 31, 2009. All OEMs, including major OEMs, have this option."
Dell, HP, Lenovo, and others have all said they will not sell new PCs with XP preinstalled after this week, though each will offer the "downgrade" option, usually as an extra cost option, on select models until at least February 2009.
This whitepaper explains the terminology and concepts behind Data Replication technologies and establishes some sizing rules through worked examples. Learn the new paradigm in disaster tolerance—protect data anywhere.
Download now »
Server virtualization is a popular option for dealing with mounting datacenter costs. Another equally promising approach is the use of an Application Delivery Controller. Citrix NetScaler provides a low-cost way for organizations to reduce their server count and accrue cost savings from a reduction in space, cooling, power and personnel.
Download now »
The emergence of WLANs has created a new breed of security threats to enterprise networks.
Included in HP ProCurve WLAN solutions is security technology that alleviates threats from WLANs through:
* Monitoring wireless activity inside and out of the enterprise
* Classifying WLAN transmissions into harmful and harmless
* Preventing transmissions that pose a security threat to the enterprise network
* Locating participating devices for physical remediation
Effectively address data protection challenges, implementing solutions that help store and protect business–critical data while cutting costs and improving efficiency and reliability.
Download now »
Sign up to receive Platforms Resource Alerts
Recommend This
