I just finished a presentation to a group of nontechnical executives, and I'm even more angry about Microsoft's plan to end shipments of Windows XP this summer. I'd been making my list of reasons Microsoft shouldn't get rid of XP. Now I've got one more biggie--it's going to set back the hard-earned progress CIOs have been making in getting IT viewed as a strategic part of their organizations.

My original reasons to keep XP were based on solid technical logic: Leverage existing investment in XP equipment and skill sets; extend the timeline for custom application testing with Vista; and help reduce user retraining and frustrations. Basically, don't make life a nightmare for IT.

Today, when I was sitting with these presidents, chief financial officers, and executive directors--none of whom have technology backgrounds--the topic of XP came up. A CFO complained that his company is going to have to move to Vista because Dell and Hewlett-Packard wouldn't let them use XP after the summer.

Hold on, I corrected him--neither Dell nor HP would do something like that. They'd basically kill each other to get your business. I explained (nicely) that it was Microsoft's decision, not the hardware manufacturers', to stop offering XP. In fact, if they wanted to, their organizations could build their own images of XP and continue their existing plans--which a lot of folks are doing.

A flurry of discussion ensued, which one executive director summarized this way: "Basically, it's the IT guys telling us what to do without asking again." Huh? It's not your IT guys--it's Microsoft. Bill Gates, did you hear that? You just got the entire IT profession lumped in with you and your software plans.

CIOs and IT managers have worked for years to get a seat at the table, to become truly strategic partners, to make IT an integral part of their organizations. And it's been working. The CFO complaining about HP and Dell, he got it. He explained his company's strategy on desktop migration, and he truly understood the business rationale and the need for investment and growth in IT.

Now these executives feel like Microsoft has taken away control, hence IT has taken away control. I don't think this is a minor issue. It's clear from the blogs, postings, and petitions on the Web that IT doesn't want to be forced to go to Vista, either. But when other executives don't want to change, and can clearly articulate the business reasons behind it, you're setting back the entire profession. Those execs feel like they've lost control over something they were struggling to get their arms around for the last 15 years.

Microsoft, reconsider keeping XP flowing. I know you like Vista, and it has some truly nice features. If it's about the money, consider this: I asked the entire group of execs if they'd be willing to pay a small upgrade fee for additional updates to XP, and every one of them said yes. (Those are the money guys talking, BTW.) XP Revision 2, anyone?

P.S.: My presentation topic to the execs? "IT Nightmares: What's Keeping You Up At Night?" It was a big hit.

Michael Healey is the chief technology officer of GreenPages Technology Solutions.

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