Here is an important news for Windows XP and Office 2003 users. On April 14, 2009, Microsoft plans to cut off mainstream support for Windows XP and Office 2003. As a consequence, both products will move in the Extended support phase, which will last for the next five years. Both products will continue to be supported until 2014, although the updates provided to customers running the two products will be less diversified.
This applies to the following Windows XP editions:
- Windows XP Home
- Windows XP Pro 32-bit and 64-bit
- Windows XP Media Center Edition
- Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
However, for ultra-low cost PCs like netbooks, Microsoft has set June 30, 2010 as the End-of-Sales date even though the general End-of-Sales date for Windows XP was February 28, 2009.
As per the Microsoft Support Lifecycle, Mainstream support delivers free fixes for security patches and other bug fixes to everyone. Extended support delivers security updates to all users, but non-security hot fixes are to be provided only to companies that have signed support contracts (purchase of Extended Hotfix Support Agreement and per-fix fees) with Microsoft. Self-help online support will continue to be available for a minimum of 12 months after the product reaches the end of its support lifecycle.
Thanks to Neowin & Softpedia for the news...
Complete list of AskVG articlesThis article was posted in Microsoft Office, Windows XP.
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MMG
who cares if they stop 'supporting' the XP?
as long as we have your blog, we don't need Microsoft's support!
Hom3r
vandit
such steps are necessary else we will still be stuck with XP and office 2003 in yr 2020. Same was the case with win 98. An aggressive policy to clear out old products from the mainstream market is essential.
good going microsoft !!
Mark
Lol if only they replaced our XPs with a free version of Windows 7... Haha I wish
Regine
Whats wrong with being stuck with XP and office 2oo3, if it works. Personally I do not need the newest, fastest, best ect. Especially I do not care for being almost forced to use the newest.
informale
it's a pity they have never really brought XP x64 to home users - that was the most stable windows on my PC, ever.
Riza
I still use Office 2003 and never I use 2007. But never I needed support for it.
informale
Riza,
support isn't just support. It's also regular updates and bugfixes. From now on, literally anything, that hasn't been fixed to date will never be fixed (in XP and office 2003 of course)
vandit
personally I dont see the point in investing your company's resources into solving bugs of a 8 yr old OS from the company's perspective.
People are asking for a better OS and microsoft is rolling out win7 , not that VISTA was utterly crappy. lets see what comes off it .
Mark
VG, can you rell me how much Windows 7 with the home version, I guess Win 7 Home Premium, will cost? I wasn't sure where to find out. My dad asked me and I couldn't tell him. Thanks