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Microsoft's Minor Stimulus

Microsoft is trying to keep a few more bucks in IT pockets by holding the line on some support pricing. The company had planned a normal increase in custom support pricing, an enterprise customer option aimed at older products. That increase won't happen.

Microsoft didn't offer a reason, but I have two. First, Redmond gets that the economy is rough, and is doing the right thing. But this might -- just might -- have more to do with Vista. XP is the preferred enterprise desktop OS and it's near the end of its supported life.

How long should Microsoft support XP? Dates welcome at [email protected].

Posted by Doug Barney on February 20, 2009


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