Windows XP Gets Another Life Extension

... For the third time since Vista's release in January 2007, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has pushed out XP's availability by granting system builders a "flexible" delivery date beyond the official phase-out deadline of January 31, 2009.

The end of January remains the cut-off date for PC vendors to purchase licenses, but they can take delivery of those licenses through May 30, 2009. So customers may purchase Windows XP machines right up through June.

That would coincide with the rumored release date of Windows 7, the successor to Windows Vista. While Microsoft has publicly said Windows 7 will ship in early 2010, other indicators have pointed to Windows 7 shipping in early June of 2009....