Windows XP Support Lifecycle - The Truth
Submitted by Tom on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 11:22.As this Microsoft page clearly points out, mainstream support does end April 14, 2009, but extended support (which includes security patches, the most important updates) does not end until April 8, 2014.
After 3 Service Packs, I really doubt I need more mainstream support. In fact, I'm not sure I even need Service Pack 3, as SP2 has been bery, bery good for me.
Since XP is already so stable and proven, security updates are all that anyone needs. So therefore, as far as I am concerned, XP is supported until 2014.
It is inevitable that many of us will have to go to Vista. All I am saying is that for now, Vista is at best half-baked. Furthermore, Service Pack 1 for Vista seems to have its own problems and it apparently does little to help with performance issues.
If you must get Vista, get one of the Business versions or Ultimate, and then if you want to "downgrade" to XP, you can legally do it for free.
