Microsoft says Windows XP may stick around longer

If enough customers complain about the end-of-life cycle on June 30th.  Steve Ballmer announced at a news conference in Belguim today, “XP will hit an end-of-life. We have announced one. If customer feedback varies we can always wake up smarter but right now we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments”.  Of course he also announced that Windows Vista sales are pumping right along and that customers are transitioning over slowly.  Consumers are still buying PC’s preloaded with Windows XP but that trend will soon stop as of June 30th as OEM’s will no longer be able to get new XP licenses.  If enough customers complain, this date could be extended further.  Windows XP Service Pack 3 has been released which may convince current XP users to stay longer and even hold out until Windows 7 is released in 2009 or 2010.  If that’s the case then the backlash from the consumer community may burst soon.  The Reg reports.