So many people are still using windows XP that Microsoft has confirmed that it will continue to allow folks who purchase a Windows 7 computer to get a downgrade to Windows XP for the duration of Window 7 Professional’s support lifecycle, which ends in January 2020.

Windows 7 Ultimate users can get a downgrade until 2015. Windows Vista will still be available as a stand-alone box set until October 22nd 2010, while system builders can continue to preload it until 2011.

Looks like a bad McAfee update for Windows XP has shut down thousands, maybe even millions of computers around the world. Uh oh. The news is all over Twitter and apparently California sent an email to state workers a warning them of the problem.

Engadget says that “DAT update 5958 deletes the svchost.exe file, which then triggers a false-positive in McAfee itself and sets off a chain of uncontrolled restarts and loss of networking functionality.”

If you love Microsoft’s browser, here’s some good news. The next version of Internet Explorer adds a bunch of features. Internet Explorer 9 will add support for HTML5, which is one of the new standards on the net, and allow the browser to run more complicated video and graphics.

IE9 is also getting hardware acceleration, allowing more resources to work with for a speedier browser. There’s also a new JavaScript engine which will make sitesl more responsive.

The ITG xpPhone is an unusual handset that runs Windows XP. We’ve been following this one for awhile and now we have word on its official pricing. The handset will retail from $439 to $659, depending on which operator you go with.

Yes, those are absurd prices, but then we are guessing that this isn’t aimed at those of us who like our gadgets to be cutting edge. Having said that, there’s some real interest in this thing. Go figure. Those prices are after conversion from Chinese, so if it hits the states, pricing may be different.

Remember the BenQ MID S6 that we told you about last year? The Mobile Internet Device is now available for purchase. The device features a 4.8-inch high-resolution touchscreen display, built-in 3.5G and Wi-Fi connectivity, and has embedded VoIP functionality.

The BenQ MID S6 is the first MID equipped with built-in Windows XP Home Edition and embedded VoIP in Taiwan. In addition to letting you browse the internet at any time, it can also function as a digital photo frame to share all of your pics with family and friends.

Acer is all set to launch what could be the world’s first Android-based netbook in August. At least that’s the deal according to DigiTimes.

It isn’t fact just yet, but Acer is already on record with plans for an Android netbook in Q3 in dual-boot XP configurations. So it isn’t that much of a stretch. Sadly that’s all of the info that we have. You’ll know more when we do.

Windows Vista isn’t well liked by many computer users. The operating system has a reputation for consuming more resources than Windows XP did. The need for more resources to run Vista than many netbook computers offer led Microsoft to continue offering Windows XP alongside Vista.

Microsoft has announced today that it is extending the previous deadline for computer makers to move away from Windows XP that was set to retire on January 31, 2009. Microsoft has previously extended this deadline as well.

After much speculation and concern Microsoft has put out official word that the OLPC XO laptop will be made available with the Windows XP operation system. Nicholas Negroponte has been trying to work with Bill Gates and Microsoft for years to get the Windows OS for the laptop, but Microsoft had been reluctant due to the rival Linux OS running on the machine.

The writing was on the wall when Microsoft announced that they were going to keep the XP operating system around a little longer for use with Ultra Low Cost PC’s. Microsoft made a custom version of the OS for use with the XO laptop to work with its hardware. The laptop is expected to start shipping in late summer or early fall with the ability to dual boot with both Linux and Windows XP, letting the owner decide.

Gateway recently unveiled some new desktop PCs – some of which are new models and the rest of which are revamps of existing PC line ups. These new computers are mostly available now, with prices ranging from around $550 to $3,500.

Gateway specifically updated or added new FX, GT and DX Series models. The one pictured above, for example, is the FX7026. All of these computers offer either Intel or AMD processors and at least one available at retail still has Windows XP. For more details, check out the full press release after the jump.

Our monthly check of new Microsoft updates revealed today the long awaited Windows XP Service Pack 3. We are in the middle of downloading the update right now so we can’t speak to performance, but we wanted to give you a heads up it is now available.

If you’ve been eagerly watching your Windows Update on XP waiting for SP3 to show up your wait is over; it’s not coming, or at least not quite yet. At what seemed like a very last minute decision, Microsoft on Tuesday delayed the launch of Windows XP Service Pack 3 due to a compatibility glitch with Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System software. The release was scheduled to be available through Windows Update on Tuesday and has already been released to manufacturing and volume customers last week.

“In the last few days, we have uncovered a compatibility issue between Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) and both Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1),” said the firm.“In order to make sure customers have the best possible experience, we have decided to delay releasing Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to the web.”

Chris Keroack, release manager for Windows XP Service Pack 3, has announced that the new service pack has been released to manufacturing (RTM) and is working its way to the OEM’s right now. For the rest of us, Microsoft is planning on getting XP SP3 online and available through Windows Update on April 29, along with its associated documentation.

This release is the first of its kind for XP since Microsoft released SP2 back in 2004, and is a welcome site to users of XP anywhere and especially to those that have battled with Windows Vista and lost, or at least came out slightly injured. Included in the update is a cumulative security update along with some performance and stability enhancements. They’ve also included some features to help integrated new Windows Vista OS’s along with existing XP machines on a network.

Microsoft has announced that the plan for the general end of shipping Windows XP has been extended a couple of years, at least for the Windows XP Home edition. The latest plan for the end of most sales of XP was dated on June 30, 2008 but the advent of a new market of ultra low cost PCs (ULCPCs) has made Microsoft change there tune on forcing everyone onto the new Vista system.

Microsoft has just released Windows Vista SP1 which is usually a good milestone for those looking at upgrading to the next version of Windows, and is a point at which Microsoft helps push them along, but in the case of these UPCPCs, the Vista OS is just to big and expensive. The OLPC (supposed $100) XO laptop is one such machine that could still take advantage of the XP OS but would be forced to stick with Linux or look elsewhere if XP were phased out.