Microsoft announced last week that it would extend the lifecycle of Windows XP, having earlier targeted January 2008 as the products end-of-life. The company now says that XP will remain available through June 30, 2008. Citing consumer feedback as the cause for reversing its EOL decision, Microsoft concedes that terminating Windows XP only a year after Vista's introduction was "ambitious." '

Major manufacturers like Dell have already reverted to shipping new PCs with Windows XP, due to high customer demand for the product. Dell also now ships new PCs with an optional Linux OS, Ubuntu, for those customers who want to opt out of the Windows product cycle altogether.

Once the June 30, 2008 deadline rolls around, customers who purchase ultra-low end PCs will still be able to get Windows XP. A limited distribution will be available until June 30, 2010.