Common consumer versions of XP and Vista are listed down the side, and the three (out of a total of six) planned versions of Windows 7 likeliest to be used by average consumers on existing PCs are listed across the top. 

Note that ONLY those combinations that intersect in a green box saying “In-Place Upgrade” can be upgraded in a simple way that, in Microsoft’s words, “Keeps your files, settings, and programs intact from your current version of Windows.” 

All of the others, denoted by blue boxes, will require what Microsoft calls a “Custom Install,” also known as a “clean install”–a procedure Microsoft doesn’t even refer to as an “upgrade.” For most average, nontechie consumers whose PCs have a single hard disk, that will require a tedious, painful process with the following steps: Temporarily relocating your personal files to an external drive or other computer, wiping your hard drive clean, then installing Windows 7, then moving your personal files back, then re-installing all of your programs from their original disks or download files, then reinstalling all of their updates and patches that may have been issued since the original installation files were released.

Microsoft will provide a free “Easy Transfer” program to assist in this process, but this software won’t transfer your programs, only your personal files and settings.

“iTunes 8.2.1 disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.”

– Apple, July 15, 2009

“Oh, and one more thing: Palm webOS 1.1 re-enables Palm media sync. That’s right–you once again can have seamless access to your music, photos and videos from the current version of iTunes (8.2.1).”

– Palm, July 23, 2009

Devices “falsely pretending to be iPods” can once again sync with iTunes, whether Apple (AAPL) likes it or not.

Palm (PALM) this evening released an update to the Pre’s webOS operating system that restores the iTunes syncing ability disabled by its Cupertino rival only last week.

“Palm has released webOS 1.1, which, along with offering more robust EAS support for business users, re-enables Palm media sync,” said company spokesperson Lynn Fox. “Palm believes that openness and interoperability offer better experiences for users by allowing them the freedom to use the content they own without interference across devices and services, so on behalf of consumers, we have notified the USB Implementers Forum of what we believe is improper use of the Vendor ID number by another member.”

The “oh, and one more thing” was a nice touch. But let’s face it, nothing can come of this but ugliness….

“iTunes 8.2.1 disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.”

– Apple, July 15, 2009

“Oh, and one more thing: Palm webOS 1.1 re-enables Palm media sync. That’s right–you once again can have seamless access to your music, photos and videos from the current version of iTunes (8.2.1).”

– Palm, July 23, 2009

Devices “falsely pretending to be iPods” can once again sync with iTunes, whether Apple (AAPL) likes it or not.

Palm (PALM) this evening released an update to the Pre’s webOS operating system that restores the iTunes syncing ability disabled by its Cupertino rival only last week.

“Palm has released webOS 1.1, which, along with offering more robust EAS support for business users, re-enables Palm media sync,” said company spokesperson Lynn Fox. “Palm believes that openness and interoperability offer better experiences for users by allowing them the freedom to use the content they own without interference across devices and services, so on behalf of consumers, we have notified the USB Implementers Forum of what we believe is improper use of the Vendor ID number by another member.”

The “oh, and one more thing” was a nice touch. But let’s face it, nothing can come of this but ugliness….

Now that the marketplace has abandoned Vista, is Microsoft making preparations to abandon it as well? Earlier today, a Microsoft executive suggested that might be the case, hinting that the company could be planning to ditch Vista soon after Windows 7 ships. “We are still not sure if [computer makers] will be able to ship Vista once Windows 7 is made available,” Richard Francis, general manager and Windows Client Business Group lead at Microsoft Asia-Pacific, told IDG, adding that support for all versions of Vista will end in April of 2012.

An interesting disclosure given that Microsoft (MSFT) hasn’t yet detailed official plans for Vista, post-Windows 7. With the poor reception the OS has received in the market and Microsoft’s efforts to redeem itself with Windows 7, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising if the company wanted to remove Vista from the shelves as soon as Windows 7 arrives. Then again, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Microsoft left the Vista packages there for a while–tucked away behind some copies of Windows XP, of course.

UPDATE: Responding to my request for comment, Microsoft said that there is no hard and fast date end-of-sale date for Vista. The company noted, however, that OEMs will have the option to pre-install and retailers will be able to sell whatever versions of Windows they choose until that date is reached. Microsoft’s statement in full, below:

We have not made any final end of sale decisions for Windows Vista.

Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy provides a minimum of 10 years of support for Business and Developer products. Mainstream support for these business and enterprise versions of Windows Vista will be provided for five years, or for two years after the successor product is released, whichever is longer. Currently, Mainstream Support for these products is scheduled to end on April 10, 2012.

For Consumer products, including consumer versions of Windows Vista Ultimate, Home Basic and Home Premium, Microsoft will offer Mainstream Support for either a minimum of five years from the date of a product’s general availability, or for two years after the successor product is released, whichever is longer. Extended Support is not available for Consumer, Hardware, and Multimedia products. Most of these products will also receive at least eight years of online self-help support.

During Mainstream Support, customers have access to no charge and paid support, security updates and non-security hotfixes. Extended Support for business and developer products will be available until April 11, 2017. During Extended Support at a supported service pack level, customers can access paid support, security updates and online self-help. Non-security hotfixes are available to customers who enroll in the Extended Hotfix Support program within 90 days of the product entering Extended Support.

Now that the marketplace has abandoned Vista, is Microsoft making preparations to abandon it as well? Earlier today, a Microsoft executive suggested that might be the case, hinting that the company could be planning to ditch Vista soon after Windows 7 ships. “We are still not sure if [computer makers] will be able to ship Vista once Windows 7 is made available,” Richard Francis, general manager and Windows Client Business Group lead at Microsoft Asia-Pacific, told IDG, adding that support for all versions of Vista will end in April of 2012.

An interesting disclosure given that Microsoft (MSFT) hasn’t yet detailed official plans for Vista, post-Windows 7. With the poor reception the OS has received in the market and Microsoft’s efforts to redeem itself with Windows 7, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising if the company wanted to remove Vista from the shelves as soon as Windows 7 arrives. Then again, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Microsoft left the Vista packages there for a while–tucked away behind some copies of Windows XP, of course.

UPDATE: Responding to my request for comment, Microsoft said that there is no hard and fast date end-of-sale date for Vista. The company noted, however, that OEMs will have the option to pre-install and retailers will be able to sell whatever versions of Windows they choose until that date is reached. Microsoft’s statement in full, below:

We have not made any final end of sale decisions for Windows Vista.

Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy provides a minimum of 10 years of support for Business and Developer products. Mainstream support for these business and enterprise versions of Windows Vista will be provided for five years, or for two years after the successor product is released, whichever is longer. Currently, Mainstream Support for these products is scheduled to end on April 10, 2012.

For Consumer products, including consumer versions of Windows Vista Ultimate, Home Basic and Home Premium, Microsoft will offer Mainstream Support for either a minimum of five years from the date of a product’s general availability, or for two years after the successor product is released, whichever is longer. Extended Support is not available for Consumer, Hardware, and Multimedia products. Most of these products will also receive at least eight years of online self-help support.

During Mainstream Support, customers have access to no charge and paid support, security updates and non-security hotfixes. Extended Support for business and developer products will be available until April 11, 2017. During Extended Support at a supported service pack level, customers can access paid support, security updates and online self-help. Non-security hotfixes are available to customers who enroll in the Extended Hotfix Support program within 90 days of the product entering Extended Support.