"No support would mean no more software programs = no virus protection."

I don't know about that part - I think there will always be virus protection available from other sources.

I found more info on the subject.
my parents are still using Win 98 and it is just fine
there's always Linux OS's too !

[Windows XP: Going, going....gone?
According to Microsoft's timeline, XP is on its way to becoming an ex-operating system The result of all this tweaking is that Microsoft will stop selling XP long before it stops supporting it. You may be able to run XP for as long as you want, but before too long you may not be able to buy a legitimate copy of XP to run.

So will there be any way to get a copy of XP after June 30? If you want to continue using XP, what problems will you face? If you buy a PC with Vista installed and decide you want XP instead, what are your options?

But even before that, XP faces a major event in an entirely different lifecycle, one that Microsoft has said very little about: the sales lifecycle.

The key dates for sales come much sooner than 2009 or 2014. In fact, in only a few weeks, on June 30, 2008, Microsoft will stop selling XP through its retail and OEM channels (the OEMs are big manufacturers like Dell and HP that sell PCs with Windows pre-installed).

System builders, the "white box" retailers who build PCs to order, will be given another seven months, but on January 31, 2009, a couple of months before XP exits mainstream support, Microsoft will stop selling XP altogether (except for a version sold in some less-developed countries and a special arrangement for XP Home in China).

At least that's the current information. It could change. It has before. ]
http://www.computerworld.com.au/inde...fp;;fpid;;pf;1

[QUOTE=Av8rgirl;267589]

I use WordPerfect and will not use Word at all. I never have and feel I should not have to change word processing programs just because MS has something new and better!
QUOTE]

I prefer WordPerfect, too, but find that mine is NOT compatible with Vista unless I want to shell out the $$$$ to upgrade.

another thing to mention,,,

There are open source programs not only made for Linux now there are versions made for MS Windows also.
FREE -
Open Office is like MS Office
http://www.openoffice.org/

more here- you can filter the results by operating system -
games, educational,word processing
look thru the list on the right side of the page
http://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/t...p?form_cat=131

so you can still have windows but use free & comparable programs to the MS stuff
I use the Open Office & have some of the card games too.