Dell Offers Windows XP to Home Users

Dell has announced that it will begin offering Windows XP on some of their consumer systems due to significant customer demand. The company said many customers have been asking for XP as part of the Dell IdeaStorm project, which asks customers to help the company come up with product ideas.

"We heard you loud and clear on bringing the Windows XP option back to our Dell consumer PC offerings," Dell said on its Ideas in Action page. Users vote on various suggestions. Bringing Windows XP back received over 10,000 votes. Interestingly, adding Linux received over 123,000 votes.

Starting immediately, Dell will be adding Windows XP Home and Windows Professional as options on four Inspiron laptop models and two Dimension desktop models. Last month Dell added Windows XP as an option for small business customers but not for home users.

Analysts say Dell's move is not a good sign for Windows Vista. "[The fact] that there is remaining demand from some segment of [the] consumer market points to the inability of Vista to resonate with consumers," IDC analyst Richard Shim said.

Shim said there was an initial bump in Vista sales right after its launch, but that some of that may have been from consumers who waited to purchase a PC until it was available. Sales in the later part of the first quarter were less strong and that the overall response to Vista will become clearer throughout the year.

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