Microsoft allows PC vendors to sell PCs with Vista licenses, but with Windows XP installed (the famous “downgrade” right granted by MS through December 2009). Now HP has told APC that that’s how they sell most of their business PCs (in Australia, at least):

“From the 30th of June, we have no longer been able to ship a PC with a XP licence,” said Jane Bradburn, Market Development Manager, Commercial Notebooks for HP Australia.

“However, what we have been able to do with Microsoft is ship PCs with a Vista Business licence but with XP pre-loaded. That is still the majority of business computers we are selling today.”

Of course, Microsoft gets credit for a Vista sale, even when XP is shipped on the PC.

My own experience with Vista has been more positive than many (with most of my exposure coming after SP1), but I don’t see any compelling reason to update, considering the steep hardware requirements. In fact, my last laptop came with a free upgrade certificate that I never used. Apparently, a lot of people agree.