Good news I guess...................

On the eve of the consumer launch of its new Windows Vista OPERATING system, Microsoft Corp. is extending the period in which it will offer support for the previous version, Windows XP.

Consumers who own Windows XP machines already were entitled to get customer service on the software up until April 2009. That date reflects Microsoft's policy of curtailing its support for an edition of Windows two years after a new version hits the market.

On Wednesday, however, Microsoft said consumers who still have Windows XP running [HIGHLIGHT]after April 2009 will be entitled to five more years [/highlight]of "extended support." In the extended plan, consumers will still get security fixes, but instead of free service from the Microsoft help desk, they will have to PAY for most assistance.

Microsoft said the move was meant to bring the support policies for consumers in line with what businesses already have.
honvetops, can you cite the source of that info or post a link to it?The associated press is reporting this, I guess Microsoft released the info from their headquarters on todays [highlight]Vista release to the public[/highlight] ?

Msnbc had it *

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16805062/

I'm amazed to see them extend it for such a long TIME. Think of it, that five year extension beyond April 2009 means XP will get "extended" support until April 2014. So, XP owners who bought XP right after it's release in October 2001 could use XP, continuing to get updates, for 12 1/2 years. I believe that's unprecedented in the PC software industry.That's a long time.
Good for people planning to stay with XP though, like me.If the people who say they won't adopt VISTA STICK to their guns, then VISTA will go over about like a fart in church. Haha.
Quite right too.
Although I suspect most of the people who say they won't go with Vista will convert at some point.
I don't see myself going over, but I suppose I wouldn't.
I may do, but I don't want to at this point.
I may change my mind, I may not . . . depends if I can see a point to "upgrade".