Microsoft will evolve the downgrade process from Windows Vista to Windows XP. Via the downgrade rights associated with Vista, the Redmond company is allowing users to acquire the latest Windows platform available on the market, but use a previous version of XP instead. Choosing to use the Vista downgrade option is largely a decision related to timing, the migration process and compatibility and support issues.

Initially, the downgrade model set up by Microsoft to move from Vista to XP, involved complex and unit by unit licensing for the downgraded machines. This will no longer be the case, as the company informed that it will extensively streamline the downgrade process. John Ball, general manager of Microsoft's U.S. Systems Group, revealed, as cited by Mary Jo Foley, that the company's Gold Certified OEM partners will be the first to implement the simplified downgrade process from Windows Vista to Windows XP.

Ball added that the evolution of the Vista to XP downgrades will continue to the remaining original equipment manufacturer channel to cover both policies and procedures. The move comes following customer input. The feedback on Vista to XP downgrades was illustrative of the users' discontent with the existing model. Each computer that had to be downgraded from Vista to XP was treated as an individual item in terms of licensing, causing customers unnecessary pains. By simplifying the process, Microsoft will enable OEM partners to manage larger volumes of downgrades on groups of computers while licensing details will be handled online.

In the beginning, only the top 170 Microsoft OEM partners will offer customers the simplified Vista to XP downgrade model; however, Ball promised that the company is hammering away at the details which will permit it to generalize the process. Microsoft of course does not see the high demand for downgrades as a negative vote against Windows Vista, but merely as a stage in the migration to the latest Windows operating system.

"The OEM vesions of Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate include downgrade rights to Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, and Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. Customers may not downgrade to Windows 2000 Professional from Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate. No downgrade rights are included in other Windows Vista products in the OEM channel," Microsoft informed.