Due to Vista's poor reception and continued demand for Windows XP, Microsoft was forced to extend Windows XP support and allow continued sales of the older OS.[94][95] An unorthodox number of Vista users have downgraded their operating systems, with many having reverted their own Vista installs or even installing XP (or some cases, Linux) onto computers which were preloaded with Vista (a point which became the target of some Get a Mac ads), and many computer manufacturers have even begun shipping XP restore disks along with new computers,[96] as well as new computers with Linux pre-installed. There is also a relative market decrease in consumers intending to purchase PCs: according to studies conducted by ChangeWave in January 2008, among potential buyers within the next three months, only 69% of consumers intend to buy PCs (33% Dell, 22% HP, 14% other PC, with 31% favoring Macs), a number down from approximately 87% in October 2005. The study also shows that the percentage of customers who are "very satisfied" with Vista is dramatically lower than other operating systems, with Vista Home Basic at 15% and Vista Home Premium 27%, compared to the approximately 52% who say they are "very satisfied" with Windows XP and the 81% for Mac OS X Leopard.[97] ChangeWave also reported that 83% of those intending to purchase Macs said that they "are choosing Macs because of Leopard and their distaste for Vista".[98]
The above ChangeWave study also showed a decrease in the percentage of businesses intending to buy Windows-based PC, down from 96% to 93% between November 2005 and November 2007, partly due to Vista's reception, as well. Business adoption of Vista has been slower than anticipated, with the vast majority still favoring Windows XP and even waiting for Windows 7, Microsoft's next version of Windows scheduled for release in 2010.[99] According to InformationWeek, in December 2006, 6% of business enterprises were expected to employ Vista within the first year, yet as of October 2007, only about 1% of enterprise PCs were actually using Vista.[100] Furthermore, while a large number of businesses have bought licenses to run Windows Vista, many of these companies are holding off deployment.[101]
Some organizations have denounced Vista due to its problems. For example, in October 2007, The Dutch Consumers Association called for a boycott of Windows Vista after the software giant refused to offer free copies of Windows XP to users who had problems with Vista.[102]
