XP downgrades after Windows 7 ships? Business as usual – Ars Technica

Microsoft is in a sticky situation. They plan to release Windows 7 this year, an upgrade to Windows Vista. Everyone claims it is much better than Vista, and even though the reviews are glowing, XP is going nowhere. There is no reason for businesses, schools or government to upgrade to Vista or 7. Unless the new operating system offers advantages that XP does not offer, it will have as little penetration as Vista. You have to give people a compelling reason to switch (i.e. the new games don’t work on XP, the Internet runs faster on 7, etc.) Otherwise, you will offer a new brand of Windows that requires employees and users to relearn. I would not be surprised if we see XP for five to ten years? to come. XP is easy to use and does the basic work that most people need. The shiny transparent windows and the taskbar are not enough to make anyone make a move. I think Microsoft out did itself with XP.