As I’ve mentioned to you several times recently, Microsoft will end most sales of Windows XP on June 30. But you will still be able to get it as a downgrade from Vista. For an extra charge, of course. This may sound a bit confusing, but here’s the deal.

You buy a computer, say a Dell, equipped with the Business or Ultimate operating system. For an extra $20 - $50, will install Windows XP Professional on the machine. Note that Vista remains on the computer, in case you want to “re-upgrade” later.

Generally speaking, only Vista Business and Vista Ultimate can be downgraded in this manner, and only to XP Professional. You cannot get XP Home in this way, for instance.

Windows is now seven years old, but still going strong. It has many fans, devotees and petitions to keep it going. has extended its availability to June 2010 for certain cases, such as the One Laptop Per Child XO computer, and the small, low-cost computers called nettops.

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