If they still have to provide bug fixes and security patches for a 12 years product why I should be more confident in their more recent products? At this moment it should have been the most clean product on the market. And I see no reason to use a gargantuan 20+ GB Win 7,8 for web surfing, small office jobs and infrequently playing. It's like using a SUV to go to the next corner grocery shop. I'll stick with XP as far as device drivers will be available.

A last-ditch sell-out by Microsoft. Too bad customers prefer the 'Old and infirm XP needing constant updates'. Welcome a new and experimental wonder extraction of money from the remaining loyal fans.
The diminishing loyal fan base is the problem. Extraction does not encourage new loyal fans.

Quick! How many people do you know that have ever actually had to Microsoft for support? How many have had virus/malware issues that would not have happened if they had been actually doing their OS updates?
I've been involved in PC Tech for 27 years, and for me the answer to both questions is zero. My standard response to those concerned is; keep your anti-virus software updated, don't click on links inside e-mail or on website ads, and get a router if your modem doesn't provide NAT (even if you only have one computer).
The only reason to upgrade your OS is if you really want some new piece of hardware/software that won't run on your old one.

What a silly article. Change the last point to simply don't worry about it because nothing important is changing and make that the first point and you've got something more sensible.
Consider that there's every likelihood that any computer still running Windows XP is barely going to meet the minimum system requirements to run Windows 7 or 8. In the case of my laptop, a switch to either operating system would use up all the available system RAM. As to the Linux option, I have better things to do than replace a decade of software which is working perfectly fine.
I've never counted on Microsoft to keep me safe (and I respectfully suggest anyone who does so is naive) so I don't see as their dropping support is any kind of incentive to make changes.
In order to stick with Windows (the option I presume Microsoft favours) it would require (in my case) buying an entirely new computer, but considering that laptop manufacturers have abandoned the requirements of those of us who prefer the more productive matte 4x3 display, my choice to do ignore the end of support deadline is an easy one.

You could install linux in addition to your XP and have a dual boot. Using linux for the net. Or you could install linux on a USB stick and boot to that I'm still happily using Word 2000....

I got fed up with endless anti-virus updates that ate up 25 minutes every second or third day; the fact that most of my peripherals and apps would not work with 8.1; endless, buggering about to get new software to work properly; useful help suggestions like re-installing my OS; no win blamefests between hardware vendors; software vendors, and Microsoft "support"; I gave up and switched to Mac. Please considering adding this to your suite of alternatives.

The next major malware outbreak for XP is going to be a huge PR nightmare for Microsoft. The hackers now know that all of the flaws THEY know about won't be patched and can begin using more of them. Estimates vary, of course, but upwards to 30% of computers across the planet are running Windows XP. That is a very, very large number of computers, unpatched, accessing the internet and just ready to become the world largest botnet.
And Microsoft will be the Bad Guys (tm), justly or not.

Microsoft chose to change the UI on Win 8 to usher in touchscreen tech which few are interested in (ie. nobody but Kiosk makers).
And they changed the UI in MS Office for no discernible reason whatever, generating a vast number of support/training requirements for NO reason and offering no value.
As such, Microsoft is just stroking their megalomaniac view that they are the arbiter of "what-is" on PCs.
I am now taking my 20 PCs and Laptops and converting them all to Linux/LibreOffice.

I ran XP all through the VISTA debacle. but when win 7 came out I switched. it is a great OS. however I do use office 03. which still works beautifully and I dont have hunt for hidden icons. I havent needed support for office for years, and win 7 is almost perfect. its a good combination. Who needs further support?

My disdain for the windows operating system transcends beyond the boundaries of time and space. Their 'support' for all of their systems only applies to those who purchased windows directly, not through Dell, HP Asus, etc, 90% of the machines out there. As far as I am concerned, office is overpriced and overly complicated for a spreadsheet and a typewriter emulator. Of all the software that has crashed on my system, office, a native of Windows and an integral part of Microsoft's cash cow, seems to be the least robust.
I have been using XP for years, and would have stuck with 98 if I had a choice. Not that they are perfect systems, its just after all these years they are somewhat stable. Office 2003 is fine for 100% of what I need to do, there is no reason to upgrade and plenty of reasons not to. The basic faults of the operating system have not been addressed with Win 7 or 8 such as : excruciatingly long start up times, Bloatware, Winrot, viruses, malware, changes in program controls for no reason, poorly designed interfaces with unintuitive controls, really annoying EULA's that attach software to a specific computer. Ughhhh.