Dell to Lower Axe on XP June 26: Downgrade Options Are Pricey

There are only days left for two giants of the Microsoft world: Bill Gates and Windows XP.

While few seem to be protesting Gates' departure, XP's retirement set for June 30 is being met with a bit more concern. To quell the XP separation fear anxiety and seething Vista haters Microsoft has agreed to offer Windows XP updates and security patches for an extended period until April 2014. However PC retailers such as Dell say they will stop regular sales of computer systems with XP as soon as this week.

If you are looking to get a Dell with XP you only have until 5:59 AM on Thursday, June 26 to get your order in. After that Dell PCs will come with Vista unless you're a business customer and choose to pay extra to have your Vista system downgraded to XP.

Dell states on its site:
"After June 26th you have the option to purchase Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate with a downgrade service to Windows XP Professional."

I called Dell sales and spoke to salesperson who explained it like this to me.

After the XP deadline if you're interested in buying an XP system you still can, but you'll be paying considerably more for it. I was told the downgrade to XP will only be available on Dell "high-end" Windows Vista Business and Ultimate PCs with prices starting at around $1400. Dell will install XP on your system for you. Your choice of either Windows Vista Business or Ultimate will ship on a CD should you decide to upgrade the machine in the future.

By my estimates you'll be paying a lot more for the privilege of running XP. Right now you can pick up a Dell Inspiron 530 running XP Home Edition for around $550. According to Dell the lowest priced system it will sell you with XP pre-installed on Friday will be $1400.

Of course, XP won't leave us completely. If you are buying a low-cost PC like Asus' EEE PC, or perhaps the rumored and anticipated Mini-Inspiron from Dell, XP will still be available until some time in 2011. But that extension depends on how soon Microsoft can crank out the replacement for Windows Vista ? Windows 7.

There are of course other ways to get XP after Microsoft abandons the OS, but those options all seem to come with extra XP charges.

(PC World's Tom Spring contributed to this post)