This what Microsoft Says:

"Last year you told us you weren't quite ready to say goodbye to Windows XP. We listened. That's why we delayed our plan to stop selling it until June 30, 2008.

We love that you love Windows XP. We've seen it on our website, in e-mails, and through independent online petition drives. Our engineers work hard to build innovative software that empowers our customers. It's nice when you tell us we've made a difference.

But our commitment to innovation sometimes means making tough choices. This is one of them.

After careful consultation with our customers and industry partners, we've decided to proceed with our plan to phase out Windows XP in June. It'll be a long goodbye. We plan to provide support for Windows XP until 2014.

We know there have been lots of questions—and some confusion—about our plans. Some key things you should know:

Top questions we hear about Windows XP

Why do you have to stop selling Windows XP?

Microsoft was founded on a commitment to innovate and to provide our customers with the best software. That's part of our corporate DNA, and occasionally it means tough decisions.

We don't make them lightly.

The lifespan of every Microsoft product is carefully mapped from launch to retirement. Windows XP is no exception. We do this to ensure you always get the most out of your PC experience. (Read about Windows lifecycle policy.)

We've spent more than a year consulting with our customers and industry partners to ensure that we're doing the right thing. We understand that not everyone may agree with our decision—just as not everyone was happy to see Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows ME retire (OK, perhaps not ME).

But we think the time is right.

We also want to underscore that we're not, as some people have asserted, "pulling the plug" on our popular operating system. Let us be clear: Although Windows XP won't be sold in stores, Microsoft and its partners will continue to offer technical support for Windows XP for months and years to come. In fact, Microsoft plans to support Windows XP until 2014.

We're proud of Windows XP, a product that has empowered and entertained hundreds of millions of people in the last eight years. But technology doesn't stand still. And neither can we.
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What'll happen to Windows XP after June 30? I'm confused.

In industry speak, this is called "end-of-sales." On June 30, Microsoft will stop distributing Windows XP as a stand-alone product that you can buy shrink-wrapped in the store. We'll also stop sending it to Dell, HP, Lenovo and all the other major PC manufacturers to sell on their PCs.

That said, Windows XP isn't going to disappear overnight.

You may still see copies of the software—or computers pre-loaded with it—for months, as stores and PC makers work through their inventory. Also, smaller local PC makers—known in the industry as "system builders"—can continue to sell PCs with Windows XP until January 2009.

Finally, Microsoft recently announced that computers with limited hardware capabilities—devices sometimes called Netbooks or ultra-low cost PCs (ULCPC)—can carry Windows XP Home until June 2010. (Read about the ULCPC program on Microsoft Presspass.)
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I've heard I can get Windows XP for my small business past the June 30th deadline through something called "downgrade rights." What are those exactly?

If your business relies on Windows XP, there's still a way to get it.

When you buy the Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate, you're automatically entitled to move back to Windows XP Professional via what we call "downgrade rights."

We've been working closely with our industry partners to develop new programs for small business customers interested in exercising these rights.

If you're interested in learning more about downgrade rights, contact your favorite PC maker.
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My business relies on Windows XP. What'll happen after June 30 if I have technical problems?

We understand some of our customers aren't ready to upgrade their PCs to Windows Vista.

Although Windows XP will disappear from stores, we'll continue to offer Extended Support for the operating system for six more years, until April 2014.

Your PC maker can also provide technical support for your PC. Please contact them for more information.

For more details, see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle.

I've heard about two types of Windows XP support—"mainstream" and "extended." What's the difference?

Mainstream support delivers complimentary as well as paid support, free security updates and bug fixes to all Windows customers who purchase a retail copy of Windows XP (i.e. a shrink-wrapped, not pre-installed, copy). Mainstream support for Windows XP will continue through April 2009.

Extended support delivers free security updates to all Windows customers. Customers can also pay for support on a per-incident basis. Extended support for Windows XP will continue until April 2014. New bug fixes require the Extended Hotfix Support program."

That's Microsoft - A bloody Ripper

good info thanks bhaizaan

thank you much for the news update on msft....truely horrible what they're doin with XP...wish it would stay forever...i personally think that XP is and will be the best OS out there for time to come, unless old Bill gets his head out of his ass...just my opinion though, thanx again~!~

ive forgotten about xp already. ive had vista for so long it would be like a new os to me almost.

Great Info, but they should never phase out xp

Xp cant die it's very good and stable
vista isnt stable

XP 4 Ever

well I would like to see XP going for a long time. reason that is more stable and most of the software was made for XP
I do think that vista will die out.and 7 will take over.
but of course Money is the name of the game for Microsoft

well thanks for the headsup

but xp is the most stable os to be made by microsoft. sicne change is the essence of life, well i think xp will die after 2 years from now. xp could support much of the tecs invented days to come

I don't know if most of you are as old as I am, but I can remember not wanting to give up Windows 98 for the "New" kid on the block Windows XP. Now I am not a proponent of Windows Vista (can't stand it in fact), but I am sure that something will eventually come down the pike that will convince us to give up XP. So keep the faith........

Of course I keep trying Linux and am playing with the osx86 project...: