Microsoft Windows XP: Around Until 2010

Asus Eee PC According to an Associated Press article, Microsoft Windows XP will be sticking around until at least 2010, due in large part to the rise of ultraportable laptops and notebooks, such as the Asus Eee PC.

Many of these low-cost ultraportables are lean when it comes to the hardware resources required to run Microsoft Windows Vista, and Microsoft acknowledged that yesterday:

Microsoft had planned to stop selling most versions of XP at the end of June 2008, with exceptions for small computer-building shops and PCs sold in developing countries.

But surprising demand in developed countries for what it calls ultra-low-cost personal computers prompted Redmond-based Microsoft to extend that deadline.

“There is incredibly strong demand for Windows on these devices, which is obviously great to hear,” said Michael Dix, a general manager for Microsoft’s Windows group. “The reason why they want Windows is, they think of Windows as being a real PC.”

Full article at AP.Google.com