Microsoft extends Windows XP's stay

From c!net News.com

Large PC manufacturers were slated to have to stop selling XP after January 31. However, they have successfully lobbied Microsoft to allow them to continue selling PCs with all flavors of Windows XP preloaded until June 30, a further five months. Microsoft also plans to keep XP on retail shelves longer and will allow computer makers in emerging markets to build machines with Windows XP Starter Edition until June 2010.

This is good news for our field as the majority of accessible software packages are geared towards Windows XP. Certainly, more and more programs are being upgraded or re-worked for Vista but that is not as important as the fact that far too many users of access technologies simply cannot afford to replace their hardware and software. One must also consider the cost of training and the time factor of lost productivity while workers or students learn a new OS.

It is difficult enough for unimpaired computer users to deal with major changes to how things work, and anecdotal evidence suggests that computer users with disabilities tend to stay with their older equipment instead of upgrading. I wonder -- has anyone done research into how and when computers with disabilities upgrade their operating systems and software? This could be an interesting study...