There is no denying that the Asus EEE PC has changed the scenery in computer land.

But to actually make Microsoft change its mind on killing off Windows XP? That’s quite impressive!

XP was meant to be "EOL" as of June 2008, but has been granted a 2 year stay of execution, just so computers like the EEE PC and the upcoming Intel Classmate can get something other than Linux.

Of course, it could all just be slick marketing by Microsoft and a disguise to prevent them from admitting that Vista isn’t doing what they hoped it would…

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. said Thursday it will keep selling a version of Windows XP for use on a new breed of low-cost computers for at least two years longer than the system will be available for mainstream PCs.

The software maker said Windows XP Home will be available at least through June 2010 for computers like Intel Corp.’s Classmate PC and ASUSTek Computer Inc.’s Eee PC. But Microsoft also vowed to keep XP on the market for those machines for a year after the next version of Windows is released, which could mean 2011 or later.

The low-cost machines have smaller hard drives, less memory and slower processors than most Windows computers sold today, and most would have a hard time running the bulkier Windows Vista.

 

Source: AP