In Memoriam: Microsoft Windows XP (2001-2008)

After more than a year of cheating death, Windows XP has inevitably been taken to its final resting place on June 30th to give way to its harshly disputed successor, Vista.

Possibly Microsoft’s most venerable OS as of date,  XP has been peddled as the longest shipping and most widely-accepted operating system, and has received the most number of public outcry from end-users who proposed its temporary pardon from being laid to rest alongside Windows 95, 98, NT, and 2000.

So how about those who can’t let go of XP? Fortunately, some Dell and HP customers can still buy new machines loaded with preinstalled XP Professional with a Vista license. This lets users upgrade to the Vista platform when they’re ready. Consequently, Microsoft will also provide downgrade program to XP Professional, which makes those who want XP Home or XP Media Center Edition out of luck.

With all these hulabaloo about XP reaching its end-of-life stage, here’s to hoping that Microsoft will drop Vista’s enhancements in  favor of  XP’s acceptance for the next Windows incarnate, Windows 7.