Microsoft's XP is on its way out

Microsoft's much acclaimed and most successful operating system Windows XP will not be available in new PCs from 30 June. Microsoft's website clearly said "After careful consultation with our customers and industry partners, we've decided to proceed with our plan to phase out Windows XP in June." 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.
Microsoft has decided to provide two type of support for XP - mainstream and extended.

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.