With the Clock Ticking, Dell Still Finding XP a 'Popular Demand'

Dell will sell certain models of its Inspiron PCs pre-loaded with Windows XP for a few days longer than it initially expected - - but after June 26 it's still going to operate under its Vista-with-downgrade-to-XP option strategy.

In an online promotion, Dell said it will sell several desktop models with XP through Thursday. Dell says the XP deals are being extended as far out as June 26 "by popular demand."

"Per the Microsoft Windows Life-Cycle policy, Direct OEM and Retail License Availability for Windows XP will End-Of-Life (EOL) on June 30, 2008. To meet Microsoft's June 30 last-day-to-ship OEM Windows XP deadline, we are able to offer the opportunity to purchase a Dell desktop with an OEM Windows XP license until June 26 at 5:59 AM CT," Dell writes.

"After June 26th you have the option to purchase Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate with a downgrade service to Windows XP Professional," says the Round Rock, Texas-based PC maker.

Dell's announcement was caught by The Boy Genius Report blog, which picks it up as "a sign that proves just how much the general public dislikes Windows Vista. . ."

Microsoft, though it's officially ending mass sales of XP as of June 30, will still allow system builders to pre-load it onto PCs through January and OEMs can still sell Vista with XP "downgrade rights," as Dell and rivals including Hewlett-Packard and Sony plan on doing.