Users of Windows 7 Professional have until 2020 to decide that they want to downgrade to Windows XP. Windows 7 Ultimate users will have until 2015 to make the same decision.

In a statement, Microsoft said that the long, long downgrade period was decided upon for “consistency” and to help out companies who do wholesale upgrades to the new platforms. I wonder how many people will take them up on their offer in 10 years time when we all live in transparent bubbles and are transported in floating cars ? (I can’t be the only person who believed those stories on Tomorrow’s World, can I?)