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Microsoft has announced that it will let XP live on after demand for it surged following the popularity of UMPC’s and sub-notebooks like the EeePC from ASUS. The OS will now be licensed for nettops as well. Nettops are ultra-low cost desktops mainly used for web surfing, email, and instant messaging. As interest in such devices has grown, both manufacturers and customers have shown a strong preference for Windows XP as their OS of choice.

“Customers and partners have made it clear to us that they want Windows on their netbooks and nettops,” said Steven Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of the Original Equipment Manufacturer Division at Microsoft. “We are committed to providing Windows solutions for these devices, helping to ensure a high-quality experience for both our partners and customers.”

Microsoft is currently working with over 20 OEM manufacturers including Acer Inc, Dell, Lenovo, Quanta, and ASUSTek.

“We have seen much demand for Windows on the Eee PC,” said Jerry Sheen, CEO of ASUSTek Computer. “It is great that Microsoft is addressing this customer demand and providing a Windows solution on these devices, which will provide a familiar computing experience.”

Customer demand for XP has risen following the tepid response to Vista. Many users find it hard to use and are frustrated by its incompatibility with many software applications and peripherals.

Read [Microsoft]

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