According to Microsoft’s support Windows XP home support will end on the 1st of January 2007 unless changes are made to the support plan.
ArsTechnica contacted a Microsoft spokesman and here’s what he said about it:
“For consumer products, security updates will be available through the end of the mainstream phase. For Windows XP Home Edition, there will be no security updates after
12/31/06.” Regarding paid support for problems unrelated to security patches, I was told that “Users who want to continue to receive support after the Microsoft assisted and
paid support offerings have ended may visit the Retired Product Support Options Web site.”
I know that Microsoft is struggling a bit to invent reasons for people to want to upgrade but to “force” such a great percentage of their customers to upgrade in order to have a more secure and updated Operative System gives me a more negative opinion about their upcoming Windows Vista.
This is completely unnecessary. Not only will Microsoft be having Vista installed on all new machines sold after it’s release, there will also be plenty of people upgrading. But like you say, forcing people by denying them security updates is completely ridiculous, and seems quite harsh.
I’d say for many people (like myself) who are teetering on the brink of upgrading to Linux this could be the final straw.
Every time Microsoft makes a bad decision it’s the final straw for someone.
to Griffith
LOL, Yeah very true.