From April 14, 2009, onwards, Microsoft is retiring the Mainstream Support for Windows XP, covering all editions. Afterward, only critical bugs in Windows XP will be fixed.
Many private people as well as companies love Windows XP so much that they don’t even think about changing to Windows Vista. However, the pressure for upgrading increases as Microsoft decreases support for Windows XP on April 14, 2009, like planned in the Support Lifecycle Guidelines. Hotfixes will only be provided for critical holes.
Important: This applies also to buyers of new netbooks with Windows XP Home Edition, regardless of the buyment date.
Customers with support contracts will continue to receive updates for non-critical problems. This phase will last for some another five years, until the support is closed completely in 2014. An alternative for the sometimes hated Windows Vista is already being prepared, which is Windows 7.