Microsoft has quietly informed system makers that, if they place their orders before January 31, 2009, they can get through the end of May. It's what they call a "flexible inventory program," according to ChannelWeb. I call it Microsoft desperately trying to cover its assets with both hands.

I planned to write this in my year-end 2009 predictions post, which I presciently composed last week (it will appear on New Years Eve) but not-so-presciently forgot. So here it is now: XP will stay undead -- more or less -- until Windows 7 launches and takes hold. Current rumors place that occurring some time in October 2009.

Vista, what Vista? Was there ever an ? Or was it all just a bad dream?

One big reason is the unexpected popularity of netbooks. Sure, some of them run Linux. Some may try to run Vista, god help them. But XP runs quite nicely on the ones I've seen. Microsoft has for these low-ball systems through 2010. Unless netbooks do a beautiful job of running Windows 7 -- and what are the odds of that happening? -- look for XP to have an even longer shelf life.

And yes, I do think Infoworld's brilliantly executed " had something to do with it, at least in terms of raising consciousness -- and with it, consumer demand. (Lest it appear I'm tooting my own horn, I had nothing to do with that. Thank executive editor Galen Grumman for that brainswarm.)