Downgrade Windows 7 to Windows XP, courtesy Microsoft

Windows 7 users will be able to downgrade to Windows Vista and Windows XP, Microsoft confirmed. The confirmation of “downgrade rights” is an
implicit admission that the Vista has failed and customers are still fond of Windows XP.

To be fair, Windows Vista already offers “downgrade rights” to bulk purchases of its operating system.

Businesses which don’t need Vista features or problems can downgrade Windows Vista at their end to Windows XP and use the leaner, though older operating system. In fact, some PC makers had even started selling pre-downgraded Vista (essentially Windows XP) on many of the machines they sell. The Microsoft statement that Windows 7 users will be allowed to use XP for much longer is as much an admission of Windows XP’s popularity as much as owning up that Vista is not as popular as Microsoft would like it to be.

It is expected that Microsoft will continue to support Windows XP at least until 2010. A leaked HP memo, though unconfirmed, has been floating around, which says that HP will support XP till 2010. Windows 7 is expected to be launched in October this year.

Downgrading Windows 7 to Windows XP will generate some interesting trends. If too many users prefer to go back to good old Windows XP, it will be yet another slap in the face for Microsoft. However, if users stick with Windows 7, expect Microsoft to slowly pull the plug on Windows XP in some time.

If Windows XP lives to 2010, it will complete 9 years – the longest lifespan of any Windows operating system yet.

As much as a concession to consumer demands, the downgrade-to-XP offer is also a Microsoft concession to channel partners’ demands. Loading
PCs and laptops with Vista has turned customers against computer manufacturers, who have now put their foot down and demanded that buyers be allowed to choose what they want. As of last month, Windows XP has a market share of 62.85% among all operating systems, while Windows Vista comes second with 23.42%.