Free Support for Windows XP Home and Mainstream Support for Office 2003 is OVER!

From Microsoft to Windows XP Home Users: You're on Your Own
Sorry to come a little late with this one, but we all knew it was coming. Now don't fret, as I know this can sound a little misleading. There will still be security updates. They are still "secure" solid products. They've not been completely abandoned. Simply put, there will be no new technology released for XP Home and whatever free support you could squeeze out of Microsoft will no longer be free. I don't see this as much of an issue for myself as I have never used any "real" Microsoft support. Simply Googling, or searching through Microsoft's TechNet site results in the actual fix being in the top five of search results. Also a little secret: when you call Microsoft they will be looking through the TechNet for the answer to your problem. So before you shell out a reported $195 per incident do a quick search because that's what will happen at the other end of that phone line. Similar situation with Office 2003 just not so dire. Office 2003 is leaving Mainstream support and entering its new 5-year extended support phase. What this means to those who don't work for Microsoft is: security updates remain free, you will have to pay the outrageous support fee for any calls to Microsoft. The big shaft is, if you want any of the hotfixes, so any actual product updates, something not working but Microsoft has a security patch to fix it whatever, you will need to enter a Microsoft Extended Hotfix Support Agreement within 90 days of the Mainstream support ending. ( By "enter" read "buy" ) Outlook Junk Email Filter will still receive regular updates, however. The second Microsoft stops creating security updates GET AWAY!! Those products will be targeted by spyware and virus authors quicker than Kirk can say, "Come Here Baby." My recommendation: If you are totally in love with the way things look in Office 2003 but don;t want the hassle of no updates just get OpenOffice.org. It looks the same and, in my opinion, functions much better than Office 2003 while continuing to receive constant FREE security and product updates. And oh yeah, it's 100% FREE

Image via Microsoft Turkey
Office 2003 Info via Redmond Developer Network
XP Home Info via Redmond Developer Network
OpenOffice.Org
Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ