Microsoft's Security Response Center Blog has confirmed the answer I gave a week ago (June 1) with regard to Windows 98, 98SE and Me, the DOS-based versions of Windows. On the blog, Christopher Budd says:
First, support for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition (Me) ends on July 11, 2006, which is the July 2006 Monthly Bulletin Release date. This means Microsoft will end public and technical support on July 11, 2006. This also includes security updates.
These versions have too many vulnerabilities that can't be fixed without significant, and expensive, re-engineering.
Budd adds: As an advance reminder, Windows XP SP1 will also reach a similar end of support date on October 10, 2006.
We've become used to having two completely different Windows architectures with around eight or nine (if you count NT4) variations. From next year, that should rapidly reduce to two: XP SP2 and Vista.
