Windows XP Home Is Now Obsolete

[eric_darling]

I guess supporting XP Home is too expensive. Microsoft announced that they'll stop mainstream support for Windows XP Home at the end of this year.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060103-5891.html

A quote within from an unnamed Microsoft representative:

For Windows XP Home Edition, there will be no security updates after 12/31/06.

Is it just me or is Microsoft making more bad moves than at which one might shake a stick lately? I remain greatly unimpressed, and eagerly await news on Intel based Macs from the MWSF conference this week.

[AXXESS]

One Home is patched to SP2, is it still considered Home? It drops the "Home" logo on the boot screen once SP2 is installed...

[eric_darling]

Unless you actually upgraded to XP Pro, it's still XP Home according to how your OS is classified by Microsoft.

[AXXESS]

If they're going to stop supporting it, they need to stop selling it...

The support should only stop "X" number of months or years after the product becomes available. Forced upgrades. Ugh.

[AGRO]

....I remain greatly unimpressed, and eagerly await news on Intel based Macs from the MWSF conference this week.

I am counting down the days, weeks, hours.


Perfect timing to get me all excited. Just finished formating my Windows boat anchor...I mean machine.

[AGRO]

http://www.maconintel.com/

[AXXESS]

he support should only stop "X" number of months or years after the product becomes available

I meant UNavailable....

[Corey]

I agree about MS. On the other hand, objectively speaking, Apple makes just as many bad moves, so I hardly see being handcuffed by them instead as a solution. Neither of them is satisfactory in how they treat consumers. I'm saving up for Vista.

[AGRO]

I would love to have a intel mac with dual monitors with mac OS on one screen, and vista on the other screen. Sweetttttttt!!!!!

[Corey]

I imagine someday something similar will occur. It probably won't be cheap at first but inevitably the divisions between platforms will become mostly a formality. I'm all for that.

[Eagle]

this site will give you an idea of official product 'support' lifecycles:

http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=lifecycle

Vista 32 x86 - has been brought forward for RTM release - August 2006(in theory)
--64 bit version ..later ??

Longhorn (server 2K4) .. out in 2009(in theory)

[Eagle]

XPHOME ? extended support has not been given an end date..

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3221

[eric_darling]

Right. However, extended support doesn't include new security patches, which, as we all know by now, are a regular phenomenon.

[Eagle]

have a look here: bit confusing , however updates-specially security patches will continue for XP Home Edition for a few years yet...

just like they do for Windows 2000, p[ost SP4 only which has been around
a lot longer than XP as we know..XPSp2 installed will be the conditional for
XP Home and Pro , I believe..this may allay any doubts, basically MS just can't drop XP home off the security updates extended timeline...

Additionally OEM licensing end dates are a more accurate picture.
You can still download security patches-hotfixes are still available for Win2ksp2 and later.
'Windows Update' - Security bulletin downloads will continue for XP Home....

Home Edition is still being sold OEM style out of the Box.

I think confusion can be the difference between 'hotfix support-new ones' and security updates.
the timelines-support for security updates is a lot longer.

FWIW a security update for XP PRo will be the same for XP Home (post service pack 2 -pretty soon)
for both XP versions.

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy

[Corey]

Vista will do well out of the gate, if only by virtue of what a patch-pourri XP has become. XP is ancient. Antique software.