'Historically, classic customer deployment behavior for new Windows client operating systems was to wait for the first service pack to arrive,' Gillen said in a research note published yesterday. 'So the clock is ticking down on that offer, after which time the only option for non-Software Assurance customers to deploy Windows XP is to use Windows XP Mode,' said Al Gillen, an analyst with IDC, referring to Windows 7 Professional's built-in virtualized version of Windows XP.Ĭorporations that subscribe to Software Assurance (SA) - MIcrosoft's annuity-like upgrade guarantee program - or purchase Windows through volume licensing plans have downgrade rights from any edition, including Windows 7, to any previous version going as far back as Windows 95.Ĭalling SP1 an 'important milestone for customers' because of the impending end of downgrade-to-XP rights, Gillen noted that the service pack will have relatively little impact on enterprise plans to deploy the new operating system.
