Dell: Windows XP Deadline? FogetAboutIt!

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

A little more than a year since it was brave enough to backtrack on its Vista-only policy on consumer PCs, Dell is again breaking ground.

We know that Microsoft has set June 30th as the drop-dead date for Windows XP (despite their statements yesterday). Despite the fact that after June 30th, manufacturers such as Dell are not allowed to ship PCs with XP pre-installed, Dell has come up with an “escape clause.”

Consumers who buy either Windows Vista Business or Ultimate also entitled to get Windows XP Professional (the so-called “Downgrade Rights”). Each computer manufacturer decides whether, or how, to implement this, but generally they ship a CD with an image of Windows XP with the computer. This was how it was handled on my wife’s recently purchased VAIO.

What Dell’s going to do is implement this policy their way.

Their way means installing Windows XP on the PC themselves, rather than supplying you the CD. Thus, the PC leaves the factory with XP preinstalled.

On a special site Dell’s put up addressing this, they say:

Is there any way to get Windows XP after June 30th?

Customers may continue to get Windows XP Professional by exercising Downgrade Rights that come with Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate licenses. Dell has the ability to exercise “Windows Vista downgrade rights” on your behalf in the factory if your business is still reliant upon Windows XP and you’d prefer to have Windows XP Professional preinstalled on your PCs.

What does it mean for Dell to exercise “Downgrade Rights” for me? Where can I find this option?

When you are configuring your system online or through the help of one of our sales experts, you will have the opportunity to select which operating system you would like on your PC. When selecting your operating system, you will see an option called “Genuine Windows^® Vista Business BONUS” and “Genuine Windows^® Vista Ultimate BONUS.” With these options, you may purchase the licensed rights to Windows Vista but have Dell factory install Windows XP Professional. You will also receive a backup media disc for Windows XP Professional as well as the media for Windows Vista so you can upgrade when you’re ready. Furthermore, with these options Dell will provide technical support for the factory-installed Windows XP Professional image and your licensed version of Windows Vista.

Dell will normally only provide tech support for the factory-installed OS, but with this option, if you have XP preinstalled and then switch to Vista, they’ll support it as well.

According to a contact at Dell, the “downgrade” program will be available as an option on some Dell Latitude, OptiPlex, and Dell Precision systems at no charge, and as an option on some Vostro and Dell XPS gaming systems for a small fee.

I have to applaud Dell for this. While this is obviously good PR for a company that desperately wants to get out of the doldrums, it’s a great move and I hope other OEMs follow suit.