Microsoft has confirmed that anyone buying a
desktop or
laptop PC with
Windows 7 pre-installed will be able to downgrade. Following mixed reviews of Windows
Vista, such problems have been anticipated with Windows 7, as the licence conditions under which the
software is sold safeguards people’s right to downgrade to either
Windows XP or Vista.
Microsoft is still to set a specific date for the release of Windows 7, though the option to downgrade will apply to both consumers and businesses.
Microsoft rejects claims that Vista has been a failure, pointing to figures which allegedly show it has outsold XP over a similar time period. Whether that provides a show of support for Vista, or a reflection of the increased
computer sales is up for debate, though the fact that Microsoft has been forced to expand and extend their licensing terms and conditions for Windows XP points to a user preference for the older
operating system .
Windows XP’s lifespan has been boosted recently with the news that it will be available for use on
netbooks, which have proved extremely popular in recent times, satisfying demand for portability and affordability. The news arrives as the free mainstream support for
PCs operating on Windows XP expires.