Note to readers: I haven't had to keep a post on hold for as long as I"ve kept this one, contemplating whether I should post it or not. After much thought, I've decided to post this, because it is important to know the facts about downgrade rights, and to clarify my position on this debate.
InfoWorld responded to my previous post (read
InfoWorld's campaign to "Save Windows XP").
In a blog post titled
Exchangepedia Blog Author calls "Save XP Campaign" Childish!, InfoWorld columnist J. Peter Bruzzese writes:
However, in the overall scheme of things will it budge the folks at Redmond to reconsider its plans? Not if Bharat Suneja, an MVP for Exchange and tech guru who publishes the popular Exchangepedia Blog site has anything to say about it. He has done his own research on the matter and his opinion should be heard!
Thanks for the kind words Peter - much appreciated.
To put it on record, I am not for or against Microsoft extending the deadline for Windows XP OEM and retail sales. I called Peter the saner voice (of InfoWorld) - he gets the gist of what I wanted to convey in the post:
The point Bharat is trying to make: Windows XP is an operating system that has lived past its prime, and Microsoft isn't about to pull the plug on it any time soon. (Users can move to Vista on their own timeline).
In my post, I pointed out Microsoft's Product Lifecycle Policy for Windows XP, including the facts that Windows XP mainstream support won't end till
April 2009, extended support will be available till
April 2014, and Volume License customers can use their downgrade rights if Windows XP licenses are no longer available from retail or OEM channels.
(As it turns out, downgrade rights are not restricted to Volume License customers.)In fact, Microsoft will soon release a new service pack— Service Pack 3, for Windows XP. You can download Release Candidate 2 of the service pack
here.
InfoWorld Editor Galen Gruman commentsInfoWorld Editor Galen Gruman left a comment on the post
here. What she has to say
(relevant portions highlighted and bolded for emphasis):
For the record, as the InfoWorld editor who's responsible for the "Save XP" story and related content, there's one big error in this well-reasoned post: XP will not be generally available after June 30 if you are *adding* computers or people. We never said this was an issue of support. It is true that if you have a site license to Vista, you have downgrade rights to XP. But most small businesses and no individual buyers have these rights. They cannot get XP after June 30. And unless they bought new of two specific types of Vista -- the full, not OEM, versions of Vista Business and Vista Ultimate -- they do not have downgrade rights. GIven that practically everyone who buys a computer has just an OEM copy of Windows, they do not in fact have downgrade rights to XP and cannot add new XP licenses to their mix of XP systems. This forces them to have a mix of XP and Vista, whether or not they are ready for Vista. It was this concern that we heard repeatedly in the last year and led to this story. And why we advocated that XP be available for sale indefinitely -- meaning not forever but until the market as a whole is much more ready to move.
Thanks for commenting Galen. Having read your follow-up article "
The "Save XP" manifesto: Time to get past the distractions", I agree with some of the arguments presented
(and greatly disagree with others), and the underlying reasons for the "Save XP" campaign. However, your basic premise that setting a date for end of availability of OEM and retail licenses for Windows XP is like Microsoft giving users an eviction notice is simply not true!
I understand that the main issue Galen has is not about existing Windows XP users or computers, but about availability of Windows XP for new computers or users. Carrying the analogy further, that's more like Microsoft saying we aren't accepting new lease applications for this old, run-down apartment that is scheduled to be torn down. You can, however, lease a unit in this brand new complex we built across the street.... It is far from an eviction notice for existing tenants.
The facts about downgrade rightsAs far as the downgrade rights Galen referred to (highlighted) in the above comment and in her follow-up article are concerned— she deserves the benefit of the doubt. There's clearly some misunderstanding on her part, and it probably isn't her fault. (
Update: Based on our email exchange, I know she has tried to get a definitive answer to this.) Navigating Microsoft's web of licensing options and agreements can be be challenging, even for MVPs. However, to be fair to Microsoft, I was able to get the answer by
searching the web, and a single follow-up call to Microsoft Pre-Sales and Licensing. The response was clear and unambiguous.
Downgrade rights are not limited to large enterprises. This Microsoft Volume Licensing Brief [
download]
(dated January 2007) titled
Microsoft Select License, Open License, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) License, and Full Packaged Product (FPP) License Downgrade Rights says:
Can I downgrade my OEM version of Windows Vista Business to Windows XP Professional?
Yes. OEM downgrade rights for desktop PC operating systems apply to Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate as stated in the License Terms. Please note, OEM downgrade versions of Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate are limited to Windows XP Professional (including Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP x64 Edition). End users can use the following media for their downgrade: Volume Licensing media (provided the end user has a Volume Licensing agreement), retail (FPP), or system builder hologram CD (provided the software is acquired in accordance with the Microsoft OEM System Builder License). Use of the downgraded operating system is governed by the Windows Vista Business License Terms, and the end user cannot use both the downgrade operating system and Windows Vista Business. There are no downgrade rights granted for Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium.
Translation: If you buy a computer and it ships with Windows Vista Business or Ultimate preinstalled by the manufacturer, also known as an OEM license, you can downgrade to Windows XP Professional. You do not need a Volume License of any kind to do that - end users, small businesses with or without an Open License, and larger businesses - again, with or without a Select or Enterprise License, can downgrade to Windows XP Professional, and use it for as long as they wish.
Microsoft confirmsA quick call to Microsoft Sales/Licensing confirmed that. You are welcome to do so yourself, by calling 800.426.9400. Select option 5, then option 3. In a follow-up call, Microsoft also explicitly and unambiguosly stated that users can use the OEM media (CD) or the one that came with a prior purchase of a FPP (retail) version to downgrade. Organizations with a volume license can also use their volume license media to downgrade. "The media is not important here, the license is", added the Microsoft rep.
If you're having trouble finding your Windows XP CD or need to order a replacement copy, you can do so by calling 800.360.7561 if you bought the retail (FPP) version. The cost is $23, or $29 with taxes and shipping. Volume License customers can order CDs by calling Volume License Fulfillment at 800.248.0655. When asked how long the replacement CDs will be available, and whether these will still be available after Windows XP is no longer sold, the rep responded: "They will be available for quite a while. No plans for discontinuing that yet."
Though well-intentioned, some of the arguments presented by Galen are not as valid. Once again, I am neither for or against Microsoft continuing to sell Windows XP, nor profess that users move to Vista whether they're ready or not. However, the implication that Microsoft is forcing users to move to Windows Vista, and terms like
eviction notice used in such articles, do not present the issues in the right perspective.
Given the facts about Microsoft's product lifecycle, support policies and downgrade rights, is Microsoft's stance wrong here? Or does InfoWorld's Save XP campaign amount to unfairly criticizing Microsoft, as InfoWorld's own columnist J. Peter Bruzzese states in "Save XP? Why bother?"?
Labels: Microsoft, Newsbytes, Vista, Windows