XP System Builder License Availability (end date) really Jan 31?

[XP Guy]

I could swear that I read somewhere last year that Micro$haft had
extended the end-date for the System-Builder version of XP-pro to June
2009.

But everything I can find on-line right now says it was Jan 31/2009.

Is that (was that) really the last date that Macro$oft shipped (or took
orders?) for bulk packs of XP-pro system builder licenses?

I also came across this:

---------
As of April 2008, Microsoft is extending availability of Windows XP Home
Edition for OEMs to install on Ultra Low-Cost PCs. The new OEM end date
will be the later of either June 30, 2010, or one year after the general
availability of the next version of Windows.
---------

I can't believe that they wouldn't also make XP-pro available during the
same time-frame.

Tangent:

MS sells something like a "get-legit" product for people who's XP
systems fail the WGA. I think they sell that either as a single unit,
or as a 10 pack. What exactly is that product called, what does it
cost, and what is the end-date for the availability of that product?

 

[Andrew E.]

XP has been around for 7/8 years now,think they've stood behind the
product very well.Chk any pc hardware or software mfg,after 3 years max
its obsolete,not the case with microsoft....

 

[XP Guy]

XP has been around for 7/8 years now,think they've stood behind
the product very well.Chk any pc hardware or software mfg, after
3 years max its obsolete,not the case with microsoft....

And what exactly has any of that got to do with my original question?

Where exactly did I even mention anything about support?

 

[Twayne]

XP has been around for 7/8 years now,think they've stood behind the
product very well.Chk any pc hardware or software mfg,after 3 years
max its obsolete,not the case with microsoft....

Irrelevant & misinformed.
IT's still around because customers demanded it and it made them money.
The ONLY reason MS and many businsesses do ANYTHING is for the bottom
line; nothing else. MS especially is no exception except they've shot
themselves in the foot this time. Between abandoning developers, forced
upgrades (not updates), forced obsolesence and refusal to keep up with
refusals to keep up with a changing world they've lost a huge market
share and are beginning to worry it may continue to dwindle.

 

[David B.]

You can pretty much ignore Andrew, he's pretty clueless as you'll note from
most of his replies.

 

[David B.]

Oh, and if your going to crosspost, at least pick groups that are relevant
to your question, the only one even close is setup_deployment, and you
altogether missed the most relevant one, xp.general.

 

[Anteaus]

On a related note, came across a firm selling some seriously powerful Tosh
17" laptops today for an absolute giveaway price.

I was tempted until I found there were no drivers available for anything
other than Vista.

Which I'm guessing was the reason for the giveaway price. :-/

Same thing for Dell on this site, the models certified for multiple OS's
sell for significantly higher prices than those which only have Vista drivers
for download.

-OK I guess I could probably find drivers somewhere if I tried hard enough,
but business users aren't gonna take that chance, especially if they're
placing a bulk order.

 

[XP Guy]

Oh, and if your going to crosspost, at least pick groups that are
relevant to your question, the only one even close is
setup_deployment, and you altogether missed the most relevant
one, xp.general.

Avoided xp.general on purpose.

The signal to noise ratio is too low in that group.