If the software and hardware for XP is being phased out,should i stock up now?

I mean like,buy 10 camera's and 8 AV programs? etc!!

etc etc!!!!

Seriously the Microsoft site will give SOME warning is something is being phased out XP is safe for now (they only zapped Windows 98 18 months ago)

WHEN they stop supporting something other manufacturers often also stop supporting their hardware (eg printers scanners etc) for that Win version

Prepare NOW to be safe:

Keep up to date with your service patches,as these are the first to be taken off.

Make sure you have all the installation CDs for your add-ons & peripherals as replacements for these will also be unavailable.

Burn all this stuff to CDs to have backups (copy the originals don't copy files from computer).. Ths incl your XP disks, if anyhting goes wrong withthe originals you'll not get replacements once the sttop supporting

In a few years cameras USB drives etc will come out that don't run with older OS. Sometimes u can be lucky I got a USB drive meant for Vista and on their web site found drivers to run on as old as Win98 but don't count on this.

Don't stockpile cameras, how many can you need? USBdrives though get as many as you need, they are very down in price now, saw a 1gb on special for $5 the other day, and will continue to work with the newer Windows

older printers ditto, if maybe they stop making ink cartridges for them you can always get the refills, bit messy but keeps the pritner working

virus checkers etc newer versions not going to run with XP once it's gone BUT older versions will stll get their updates from the company site for a good while. You won't get installation files though, so add the ones you have now to your safety CDs

Firstly, I have no idea why you would possibly want to stock up on anything that will be out of date as soon as you buy it. But on from that!

Software and hardware manufacturers will only stop releasing products for XP when the majority of the population stop using it, which isn't likely to happen until either Vista stops sucking or until a new OS replaces it.

So in either case, you win. If nothing better comes out, all the stuff you want will keep coming out for XP and if something better DOES come out, you'll just be able to upgrade to that instead. Afterall, its not like XP is that good. It just happens to be better than Vista.

XP SP3 (still in Beta stage) is due out this year,if anything Vista will go