The OEM's CAN'T sell me a computer with Vista until July (or maybe even later), and then Microsoft won't support the Windows XP Operating system for even 6 months?Maybe when John Ashcroft rewards you for being a criminal monopolist, you get to do these things. As MS switches their recruitment of programmers to other countries, such as India, instead of refusing to hire in the USA (there ARE plenty of skilled programmers here, but not at the wages MS wants to pay them) it is an affront to decency that they sell under these terms.They're the biggest software company in the world... they've got Billions of $$$ of profits (largely made from us) sitting in their bank accounts, they don't need to be GREEDY TO THE VERY LAST DIME. If true, this plan is simply... unbelievable rude, nasty, and unfair.

Microsoft’s decision to terminate Windows XP Home Edition at the end of 2006 is definitely another “Microsoft Marketing By Blackmail” (MMBB) tactic. Microsoft has already started using the MMBB tactic with SQL Server 2005. Want to use BizTalk 2004 with SQL Server 2005? MMBB requires you to upgrade to BizTalk 2006. Want to bring BizTalk 2006 into your organization? MMBB requires you to upgrade to SQL Server 2005. There are other situations where Microsoft uses MMBB, and they always provide an excuse as to why this benefit is good for the consumer rather than for Microsoft.It’s sort of like being in the Ministry of Love in 1984 and getting taken to room 101, because ultimately it will be good for you, and of course Microsoft knows what’s best.One might pose the question “Why have two versions of Windows? (Still!) Is there literally $100 worth of better features in Windows XP Professional? If so, why deny those additional features to Windows XP Home users? Why not just have ONE version of Windows?In the early to mid 90s, Microsoft was sort of like bringing home a kitten, feisty, fun and playful. In 2006 it is obvious that the kitten has grown into a lion, sullen, moody and ravenous. The termination of support for Windows XP Home is nothing more than an MMBB to feed the lion’s hunger for revenue. From what has been observed in the Windows Vista betas to date, Windows Vista does not bring enough to the table to compel Windows XP Home users to upgrade within six months of its release.Don’t forget that every previous release of Windows did not include support for “older” devices. So in addition to succumbing to MMBB to purchase Windows Vista, consumers can plan on the additional expense of upgrading many of their system peripherals like printers and digital cameras.The decision by Microsoft to terminate Windows XP Home support at the end of 2006 is an anti-consumer move that only benefits Microsoft.One might wonder what to do to get the lion out of their home.

According to Microsoft Support Lifecycle (if I am reading this correctly): "Mainstream support will end two years after the next version of this product is released. Extended support will end five years after mainstream support ends."Windows XP Mainstream Support should end in the latter half of 2008 (if Windows Vista is on schedule still). Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Sorry, missed the Home part. My previous post was about XP Professional.

I find this incredible,too hard to take in.Actually doing away with support for XP/XP Pro??.Gawd,me thinks Microsoft has become a little touched in the head,greed taking over brain.Guess we'll have to wait and see but trust in a more rational mood,will change their minds.Thx

i am disapointed at microsoft's decision on the xp.i have been using mine since 2004 i'm sorry i can get no support after a certain time.i hope microsoft will reconsider their discision!