As the countdown to the end of support for Windows XP continues, Microsoft (MSFT) is pushing tools to help organizations get ready for Windows 8.1. (Even as some organizations hold out for news on Windows 9. More on that below.) Meanwhile, whispers of Office for iPad continue as Microsoft prepares to release a consumer  or “personal” version of Office 365, its online office suite, and the company gets a new board member. Here’s what’s been going on with Microsoft in the last week.

Now, you may have heard that Windows XP is reaching its end of support in April. But with all the buzz around XP, your customers may have missed that a couple other products were headed for sunset times, too. I’m talking about Office 2003 and Exchange 2003, as Windows IT Pro reminds us here. If your customers are in need of migration on these, check out the full article here for links to migration tools.

Windows 8.1 help and incentives

And if you are wondering if a customer site is ready for Windows 8.1 and can expect a smooth transition, why not check out Microsoft’s new Windows 8.1 Readiness Toolkit, which provides “in-house evangelization, training and marketing collateral.” More information is here.

Or, to sweeten things up for those contemplating a new PC purchase as part of their migration plan, Microsoft is offering a $50 gift card, 90 days of free support, plus free data transfer to those who buy a Windows 8 PC.

Meanwhile, there are those who subscribe to the good OS, bad OS theory. That is: Windows XP was good, Windows Vista was bad, Windows 7 was good Windows 8 is bad. Following this pattern, some people may be holding out for Windows 9. Well, you know you’ll be waiting for about another year, but here are some early details of what you may find in the next Windows OS, courtesy of the All About Microsoft blog.

Office on iPad?

Microsoft has announced plans for Office 365 Personal, a single user license priced at $69.99 per year that lets users install the software on one PC and one Windows tablet for a savings of $30 per year compared to Office 365 Home Premium, reports Paul Thurrott at SuperSite for Windows.

So what does that mean to my users and me, you wonder? Computerworld reports that the release is an “obvious preface” for the Office suite on iPad, citing one analyst’s statement. And there’s more. Microsoft last week named G. Mason Morfit, President of ValueAct Capital to its board of directors. Morfit, you may remember, was an activist shareholder who won the board seat last year in a deal struck by Microsoft to avoid a proxy fight. Computerworld reports that Morfit is also an advocate of Office on iPad. (So are most of the business users I’ve run into.)

Tools, tools, tools

Looking for more management tools from Microsoft? Check out the following below.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has started a new program to improve Service Manager. Launched in February the SM Agile TAP initiative pulls together customers who are willing to test beta code for Service Manager and then give feedback. Microsoft’s intent is to release new code to test every two weeks and then based on the feedback, make Service Manager a better product. Read all about it at Windows IT Pro.

Sharepoint, Exchange News

More news from the recent SharePoint Conference. Microsoft has made limit increases in Sharepoint Online. Check out the details here.

And don’t forget about the upcoming Exchange Conference.  It’s March 31 to April 2 in Austin.