14 DAY TRIAL // All things point out time has come to pay final tribute to Microsoft's Windows XP operating system, or at least so if you are a Dell user. The Round Rock-based computer systems vendor has recently announced that it will be rolling out its final computer systems that will come with a Windows XP operating system. According to the manufacturer, users will have only until June 18 to order the latest Windows XP Dell systems.
The Dell Inspiron 530s, 530 and the 1520 notebooks will be the last to come with a Windows XP Home Edition operating system. These models sell for $549, $799 and $799 respectively and all come with Intel processors and at least 2GB of system memory. Until June 18, the XPS 21 and XPS 630 models will also continue to be available.
According to Dell, the June 18 date has been set to meet Microsoft's June 30 last-day-to-ship OEM Windows XP deadline. After this date, buyers of certain Dell products will still be able to get Windows XP, but only if they purchase a Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate. Dell will be offering a downgrade service to Windows XP Professional for costumers purchasing the desktops XPS 630 and 720 H2C, or the notebook M1730.
For those of you who don't know already, Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition, Professional, Tablet PC Edition, Professional x64 Edition and Media Center Edition will no longer be available for direct OEM and retail channels after June 30, 2008. Until January 31, 2009, system builders will still be able to purchase a Windows XP operating system. Windows XP support will remain available until April 14, 2009.
Dell is among the first systems vendors that have announced the unavailability for Windows XP in their systems. However, since Microsoft's deadline is drawing near, we should be hearing the same news from other major systems vendors as well.