Has anyone seen this article about MS ending free security updates in
2007?

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

I bought box/cd of Home Edition 3 weeks ago. I just installed the OS
two days ago.

Does this mean that after Jan 1 my system will be unable to do any kind
of automatic updating of Windows XP Home?

If true, I am outraged. None of the marketing information mentioned
anything about the fact that you wouldn't be eligible for security
updates after a year.


Robert Nagle
http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/

The mainstream support ends December 31, 2006. Extended support ends
December 31, 2011. During extended support, you still get security updates.
Visit the MS site for details of product lifecycle.

Tom
"idiotprogrammer" <idiotprogrammer@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1136407021.118854.274710@g47g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
| Has anyone seen this article about MS ending free security updates in
| 2007?
|
| http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060103-5891.html
|
| I bought box/cd of Home Edition 3 weeks ago. I just installed the OS
| two days ago.
|
| Does this mean that after Jan 1 my system will be unable to do any kind
| of automatic updating of Windows XP Home?
|
| If true, I am outraged. None of the marketing information mentioned
| anything about the fact that you wouldn't be eligible for security
| updates after a year.
|
|
| Robert Nagle
| http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/
|

By extended support, I assume you mean paid support for security
updates.

However, because Home edition is a consumer edition (instead of a
professional edition), it does not include a period for extended
support.

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

It is unclear whether that saves MS the trouble of deliver security
updates. I don't care about new features or stability. I just want
patches against the multitude of Windows exploits that are out there.
Because I just bought the Home Edition, it seems I am only going to
have that for a year.

The real issue is labelling. MS sold a product without disclosing an
important bit of consumer information. It shouldn't have done this.

I'm sorry if I sound angry. But I'm facing the prospect of having to
buy a second license just because MS never revealed when it would stop
including security updates.

(On a positive note, though, my hardware is all Vista friendly so far).


Robert Nagle
Houston, Texas
http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/

Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2
17-Sep-2004
[[Support ends either 12 months after the next service pack releases or at
the end of the product's support lifecycle, whichever comes first.]]

Windows XP Home Edition
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3221

Windows XP Professional
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3223

Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:1136407021.118854.274710@g47g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com,
idiotprogrammer <idiotprogrammer@gmail.com> hunted and pecked:
> Has anyone seen this article about MS ending free security updates in
> 2007?
>
> http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060103-5891.html
>
> I bought box/cd of Home Edition 3 weeks ago. I just installed the OS
> two days ago.
>
> Does this mean that after Jan 1 my system will be unable to do any kind
> of automatic updating of Windows XP Home?
>
> If true, I am outraged. None of the marketing information mentioned
> anything about the fact that you wouldn't be eligible for security
> updates after a year.
>
>
> Robert Nagle
> http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/

as far as I can tell, the links you provided all seem to confirm what
the original article said.

MS documentation is unusually vague. What is support? Paid? UNpaid?
Automatic updates? Hotfix downloads? Will anybody from MS even be
working in the XP Home user space.

If consumer editions don't have "extended support", does that mean that
MS will not be providing security fixes to anybody? Does it mean that
XP professional hotfixes would generally work on Home Editions? Does it
mean that consumers will have to rely on 3rd parties for
security/hotfixes? How would a consumer install these third party
security fixes?

This ambiguity helps MS indirectly because it causes people like me to
pay for an additional OS.

The information here http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3221 is
important information, yet nowhere to be found on its promotional
pages.

I hate to sound like an anti-MS dweeb, but MS has definitely not been
straightforward here. If they don't want to extend free access to their
Security Updates, then no computer store should be selling Home Edition
to ANYBODY. That includes HP, Dell, Comp USA, Walmart. Doing so would
be absolutely irresponsible.

Robert Nagle
Houston, Texas
http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/

"idiotprogrammer" <idiotprogrammer@gmail.com> wrote:

>Has anyone seen this article about MS ending free security updates in
>2007?
>
>http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060103-5891.html
>
>I bought box/cd of Home Edition 3 weeks ago. I just installed the OS
>two days ago.
>
>Does this mean that after Jan 1 my system will be unable to do any kind
>of automatic updating of Windows XP Home?
>
>If true, I am outraged. None of the marketing information mentioned
>anything about the fact that you wouldn't be eligible for security
>updates after a year.
>
>
>Robert Nagle
>http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/


This is pure speculation with no real substance behind it.

Microsoft is still providing critical security updates for Windows 98
and Windows Me but if you check back through previously published
support guidelines you will quickly discover that this support was
supposed to have ended years ago. But it didn't.

Secondly, Windows XP Home and Windows XP Pro (also Media Center and
Tablet versions) are all compiled from the same source code base. So
it is difficult for me to envisage that Microsoft would go to the
extra work and expense necessary so as to prevent a security update
from being installed on XP Home while still allowing it to be
installed on Pro and Tablet (and Media Center?) versions.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

On 01/04/2006 "idiotprogrammer" <idiotprogrammer@gmail.com> wrote:
>By extended support, I assume you mean paid support for security
>updates.
>
>However, because Home edition is a consumer edition (instead of a
>professional edition), it does not include a period for extended
>support.
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy
>http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3221
>
>It is unclear whether that saves MS the trouble of deliver security
>updates. I don't care about new features or stability. I just want
>patches against the multitude of Windows exploits that are out there.
>Because I just bought the Home Edition, it seems I am only going to
>have that for a year.
>
>The real issue is labelling. MS sold a product without disclosing an
>important bit of consumer information. It shouldn't have done this.
>
>I'm sorry if I sound angry. But I'm facing the prospect of having to
>buy a second license just because MS never revealed when it would stop
>including security updates.
>
>(On a positive note, though, my hardware is all Vista friendly so far).
>
>
>Robert Nagle
>Houston, Texas
> http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/
>

As with "other" versions of Windows, it seems that 'extended" support seems to
mean technical support with a Microsoft agent and or download updates way pass
"End of Life" of the problems. As with Windows 98SE, you can still get
"updates" but you can not contact Tech support for help, unless you are on
extended support contract.


If you expect MS to support any version of Windows for every, you are
dreaming. How else will MS get us to "move" to the next version (level) of
Windows??

--
---

Y.

idiotprogrammer wrote:

> Has anyone seen this article about MS ending free security updates in
> 2007?
>
> http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060103-5891.html
>
> I bought box/cd of Home Edition 3 weeks ago. I just installed the OS
> two days ago.
>
> Does this mean that after Jan 1 my system will be unable to do any kind
> of automatic updating of Windows XP Home?
>
> If true, I am outraged. None of the marketing information mentioned
> anything about the fact that you wouldn't be eligible for security
> updates after a year.
>
>
> Robert Nagle
> http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/
>

You will get security updates. You might have to buy Vista to get
Windows Media 11 or the new version of Outlook Express. Me and 98 still
get security updates. If MS didn't do that, the net would fall apart and
that would not be in MS' interests.

--
Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature of your news reader program to email me.
Utiliza Responder al Remitente para mandarme un mail.

Yves Leclerc wrote:
>
>
> If you expect MS to support any version of Windows for every, you are
> dreaming. How else will MS get us to "move" to the next version (level) of
> Windows??
>
> --
> ---
>
> Y.
>

By writing a better program? At this point, I see little reason to
upgrade to Vista. And, if I do, it will a year or so after it comes out.

--
Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature of your news reader program to email me.
Utiliza Responder al Remitente para mandarme un mail.

I agree with your attitude and am equally upset as I just bought XP Home last
week. Thanks, Microsoft, for so valiantly bringing this to my attention
anywhere mass quantities of your software are sold. If this is true, then I
have a whopping 11 months of updates before I and others are hung out to dry.

Strange how the Pro price has risen a bit in the last month, while home has
gone down a bit where I look...

I seriously hope they reconsider since we've only been waiting for Longhorn
since who knows when.

"idiotprogrammer" wrote:

> By extended support, I assume you mean paid support for security
> updates.
>
> However, because Home edition is a consumer edition (instead of a
> professional edition), it does not include a period for extended
> support.
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy
> http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3221
>
> It is unclear whether that saves MS the trouble of deliver security
> updates. I don't care about new features or stability. I just want
> patches against the multitude of Windows exploits that are out there.
> Because I just bought the Home Edition, it seems I am only going to
> have that for a year.
>
> The real issue is labelling. MS sold a product without disclosing an
> important bit of consumer information. It shouldn't have done this.
>
> I'm sorry if I sound angry. But I'm facing the prospect of having to
> buy a second license just because MS never revealed when it would stop
> including security updates.
>
> (On a positive note, though, my hardware is all Vista friendly so far).
>
>
> Robert Nagle
> Houston, Texas
> http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/
>
>

Nobody expects support for forever. We would, however, like some feeling of
Longhorn being released in the near future for the majority of the
intelligent public (IT included) who dabble their feet in the water before
forced into a new OS if you want to be protected against security threats
that they have to release patches for on a regular basis.

I'm not saying that all these patches equal shame on Microsoft for not
seeing it in development, people always take punk shots at who's on top, but
this would be like everybody being expected to give up Win2K or WinME and go
to XP without knowing much about XP and its requirements.

Also consider the driver writing community, which needs time to write new
code for new OS's. This doesn't happen overnight. I'd be infuriated if I
was forced to upgrade (spending who knows - $150, 200? OEM) to something my
peripherals quit working on...

> If you expect MS to support any version of Windows for every, you are
> dreaming. How else will MS get us to "move" to the next version (level) of
> Windows??
>
> --
> ---
>
> Y.
>
>

It has already been considered and acted upon. Two more years to go. The
same as XP Professional.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

"devryoctane" <devryoctane@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C16FB1BA-ADAC-4411-9821-52C42FE7AFC1@microsoft.com...
>I agree with your attitude and am equally upset as I just bought XP Home
>last
> week. Thanks, Microsoft, for so valiantly bringing this to my attention
> anywhere mass quantities of your software are sold. If this is true, then
> I
> have a whopping 11 months of updates before I and others are hung out to
> dry.
>
> Strange how the Pro price has risen a bit in the last month, while home
> has
> gone down a bit where I look...
>
> I seriously hope they reconsider since we've only been waiting for
> Longhorn
> since who knows when.
>
> "idiotprogrammer" wrote:
>
>> By extended support, I assume you mean paid support for security
>> updates.
>>
>> However, because Home edition is a consumer edition (instead of a
>> professional edition), it does not include a period for extended
>> support.
>>
>> http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy
>> http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3221
>>
>> It is unclear whether that saves MS the trouble of deliver security
>> updates. I don't care about new features or stability. I just want
>> patches against the multitude of Windows exploits that are out there.
>> Because I just bought the Home Edition, it seems I am only going to
>> have that for a year.
>>
>> The real issue is labelling. MS sold a product without disclosing an
>> important bit of consumer information. It shouldn't have done this.
>>
>> I'm sorry if I sound angry. But I'm facing the prospect of having to
>> buy a second license just because MS never revealed when it would stop
>> including security updates.
>>
>> (On a positive note, though, my hardware is all Vista friendly so far).
>>
>>
>> Robert Nagle
>> Houston, Texas
>> http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/
>>
>>

Thank you for replying. Hope to see a press release formalizing the
commitment. Regards,

"Richard Urban" wrote:

> It has already been considered and acted upon. Two more years to go. The
> same as XP Professional.
>
> --
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
>
> Quote from George Ankner:
> If you knew as much as you think you know,
> You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
>
> "devryoctane" <devryoctane@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:C16FB1BA-ADAC-4411-9821-52C42FE7AFC1@microsoft.com...
> >I agree with your attitude and am equally upset as I just bought XP Home
> >last
> > week. Thanks, Microsoft, for so valiantly bringing this to my attention
> > anywhere mass quantities of your software are sold. If this is true, then
> > I
> > have a whopping 11 months of updates before I and others are hung out to
> > dry.
> >
> > Strange how the Pro price has risen a bit in the last month, while home
> > has
> > gone down a bit where I look...
> >
> > I seriously hope they reconsider since we've only been waiting for
> > Longhorn
> > since who knows when.
> >
> > "idiotprogrammer" wrote:
> >
> >> By extended support, I assume you mean paid support for security
> >> updates.
> >>
> >> However, because Home edition is a consumer edition (instead of a
> >> professional edition), it does not include a period for extended
> >> support.
> >>
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3221
> >>
> >> It is unclear whether that saves MS the trouble of deliver security
> >> updates. I don't care about new features or stability. I just want
> >> patches against the multitude of Windows exploits that are out there.
> >> Because I just bought the Home Edition, it seems I am only going to
> >> have that for a year.
> >>
> >> The real issue is labelling. MS sold a product without disclosing an
> >> important bit of consumer information. It shouldn't have done this.
> >>
> >> I'm sorry if I sound angry. But I'm facing the prospect of having to
> >> buy a second license just because MS never revealed when it would stop
> >> including security updates.
> >>
> >> (On a positive note, though, my hardware is all Vista friendly so far).
> >>
> >>
> >> Robert Nagle
> >> Houston, Texas
> >> http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lif...vicepacks.mspx
"devryoctane" <devryoctane@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:59D3CD7B-874A-4A88-BCC9-9540C483698A@microsoft.com...
> Thank you for replying. Hope to see a press release formalizing the
> commitment. Regards,
>
> "Richard Urban" wrote:
>
>> It has already been considered and acted upon. Two more years to go. The
>> same as XP Professional.
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Richard Urban
>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
>>
>> Quote from George Ankner:
>> If you knew as much as you think you know,
>> You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
>>
>> "devryoctane" <devryoctane@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:C16FB1BA-ADAC-4411-9821-52C42FE7AFC1@microsoft.com...
>> >I agree with your attitude and am equally upset as I just bought XP Home
>> >last
>> > week. Thanks, Microsoft, for so valiantly bringing this to my
>> > attention
>> > anywhere mass quantities of your software are sold. If this is true,
>> > then
>> > I
>> > have a whopping 11 months of updates before I and others are hung out
>> > to
>> > dry.
>> >
>> > Strange how the Pro price has risen a bit in the last month, while home
>> > has
>> > gone down a bit where I look...
>> >
>> > I seriously hope they reconsider since we've only been waiting for
>> > Longhorn
>> > since who knows when.
>> >
>> > "idiotprogrammer" wrote:
>> >
>> >> By extended support, I assume you mean paid support for security
>> >> updates.
>> >>
>> >> However, because Home edition is a consumer edition (instead of a
>> >> professional edition), it does not include a period for extended
>> >> support.
>> >>
>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy
>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3221
>> >>
>> >> It is unclear whether that saves MS the trouble of deliver security
>> >> updates. I don't care about new features or stability. I just want
>> >> patches against the multitude of Windows exploits that are out there.
>> >> Because I just bought the Home Edition, it seems I am only going to
>> >> have that for a year.
>> >>
>> >> The real issue is labelling. MS sold a product without disclosing an
>> >> important bit of consumer information. It shouldn't have done this.
>> >>
>> >> I'm sorry if I sound angry. But I'm facing the prospect of having to
>> >> buy a second license just because MS never revealed when it would stop
>> >> including security updates.
>> >>
>> >> (On a positive note, though, my hardware is all Vista friendly so
>> >> far).
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Robert Nagle
>> >> Houston, Texas
>> >> http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

devryoctane wrote:
> I agree with your attitude and am equally upset as I just bought XP Home last
> week.


Let's see.... You just purchased a 3+ year-old OS and expected it to
last forever? That was awfully unrealistic of you, don't you think?
Remember, at the rate technology has been advancing since the '80s, 3
years is the computing equivalent of 2 generations.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

Windom wrote:
> We don't expect it to be supported forever. However, if we purchase
> the product new in 2006, it is not unreasonable to expect it to be
> supported, at least with online security updates, until 2008.

Why?

You essentially went out and bought a product manufactured in 2001/2002..
Just because you bought it today doesn't mean the company that made said
product still makes or supports it (not speaking of Windows in particular
here - but any product in general.) I mean - in four years time the
producer of the product you just purchased "new" could have actually gone
out of business, been bought out, etc.

I just don't understand the logic. You are the one who chose (for whatever
reason) not to purchase Windows XP until 4+ years after its release.
Computing and the products witin that category turn around so quickly it is
laughable. In the early 90's - a 50Mhz computer was screaming fast.. Now -
3000+Mhz is the norm. 4MB of RAM was more than sufficient - and a 200MB
hard drive - huge! Now you can hardly buy machines with less than 80GB hard
drives and if you run with less than 256MB RAM - you aren't running Windows
(or you are not happy with it. heh)

In the 4+ years between Windows XP's release and now you have seen processor
speeds more than double, prices on hardware decrease more than half and the
availability of cheap/free alternatives for everything increase many times
over (usable by the general public stuff anyway.)

Just because it is new to you doesn't mean it is *new*. *grin*

You can always check out the life cycle of any Microsoft product (that has
gone into "RTM" status) here:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeselect

Special note to you: You get your wish no matter what. You wanted support
until 2008 - well, even if some miracle happens and Vista/Longhorn is
released TODAY, you will still have support until 2008.. The product life
cycle page dutifully reports:

Windows XP Home Edition - Mainstream support will end two years after the
next version of this product is released.

Research - it's so much fun (better if done before you jump in head first,
though!)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Windom wrote:
> We don't expect it to be supported forever. However, if we
> purchase the product new in 2006, it is not unreasonable to
> expect it to be supported, at least with online security updates,
> until 2008.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Why?
>
> You essentially went out and bought a product manufactured in
> 2001/2002.. Just because you bought it today doesn't mean the
> company that made said product still makes or supports it (not
> speaking of Windows in particular here - but any product in
> general.) I mean - in four years time the producer of the product
> you just purchased "new" could have actually gone out of business,
> been bought out, etc.
>
> I just don't understand the logic.
<snipped short of the part that proved Windom already had what Windom wanted
and did not know it.>

Windom wrote:
> Thanks for the follow-up. You are very well spoken and I appreciate
> you perspective on this issue.
>
> I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree on this,
> though. If Microsoft had discontinued the XP product two years ago,
> then I might be able view this situation differently. However, Win
> XP Home is still the most current consumer operating system that
> they offer, and they're still making plenty of money off of it. I
> happen to feel that buyers are entitled to a certain, albeit
> limited, level of support. I realize that this may not seem
> logical to you, but some situations transcend the application of
> logic.
>
> Have a nice weekend, and thanks for your input.


You cut my response off too soon.. If you read to the bottom you will see
that you have nothing to disagree with.. You wanted support through 2008 -
and no matter what now - you have that.

You got what you asked for.. Until Vista is released to manufacturing (it
is going Beta 2 this month - maybe - which means it won't be released to the
public for a while now..) you are fully supported.. And from the time -
from the DAY that Windows Vista becomes whatever new name it might be and is
sold to the public for the first time - you have another TWO YEARS of
support on your Windows XP Home edition

Let me quote you the part you snipped that made your argument null and
void - since you got exactly what you asked for anyway. =)

-----
You can always check out the life cycle of any Microsoft product (that has
gone into "RTM" status) here:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeselect

Special note to you: You get your wish no matter what. You wanted support
until 2008 - well, even if some miracle happens and Vista/Longhorn is
released TODAY, you will still have support until 2008.. The product life
cycle page dutifully reports:

'Windows XP Home Edition - Mainstream support will end two years after the
next version of this product is released.'
-----

Windows Vista is the "Next Version" mentioned there. Hasn't been released.
It's January 2006. Two years from Monday - if Vista went RTM (Gold) instead
of Beta 2 (NOT happening - let me assure you! heh) would be January 2008.
Your "until 2008" support is already there. *grin*

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

If you had read all the posts you would have seen TWO days ago that I said
you would get two more years.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

"Windom" <user@host.domain> wrote in message
news:msais1hq40d50qs3npog2n3lkq74hnnipd@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 14 Jan 2006 08:55:12 -0700, Bruce Chambers
> <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote:
>
>>devryoctane wrote:
>>> I agree with your attitude and am equally upset as I just bought XP Home
>>> last
>>> week.
>>
>>
>> Let's see.... You just purchased a 3+ year-old OS and expected it to
>>last forever? That was awfully unrealistic of you, don't you think?
>>Remember, at the rate technology has been advancing since the '80s, 3
>>years is the computing equivalent of 2 generations.
>
> We don't expect it to be supported forever. However, if we purchase
> the product new in 2006, it is not unreasonable to expect it to be
> supported, at least with online security updates, until 2008.
>
> Windom
>

Windom wrote:

>
>
> We don't expect it to be supported forever. However, if we purchase
> the product new in 2006,


The point you've missed is that, in 2006, WinXP isn't "new." It's a
3-year-old product. It doesn't magically become "new" just because you
delayed so long in purchasing it.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

Windom <user@host.domain> wrote:

>On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 17:37:43 -0800, Ron Martell
><ron.martell@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Secondly, Windows XP Home and Windows XP Pro (also Media Center and
>>Tablet versions) are all compiled from the same source code base. So
>>it is difficult for me to envisage that Microsoft would go to the
>>extra work and expense necessary so as to prevent a security update
>>from being installed on XP Home while still allowing it to be
>>installed on Pro and Tablet (and Media Center?) versions.
>
>It may be difficult for you to envision, but if they want to force
>home users to upgrade to Vista, I wouldn't put it past them to
>deny us the updates.
>

They said that support would not end until two years *after* the
replacement version has been released.

As yet there is no replacement version that is even close to being
ready for the market, so it is going to be sometime in the third
quarter of this year *at the earliest* before anything new (e.g.
Vista) reaches the market, and XP Home will be supported for an
additional two years from that date, meaning at least until the third
quarter of 2008.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."