XP may be on the way out but that doesn't mean you have to settle for less.  It also doesn't mean you have to go to Vista or wait for Windows 7.  Linux has come a long way.  I've given Ubuntu to my grandparents on old pc's and they just love it.  It can be arcanely intricate to set up on specialized hardware, but there are very very helpful forums for just about everything you might encounter.  Did I mention it's free. You can intall it inside windows, or set apart a portion of your computers internal storage.
http://www.ubuntu.com/
Ubuntu cuts down on the time each year I spend cleaning their computers of viruses, malware, and files left over which are no longer needed. Here's why Linux is not targeted much, there's just not much bang for your buck, as far as time invested see below
http://nnucomputerwhiz.com/linux-virus.html
I currently have 2 operating systems on the laptop from which I'm posting. Vista and the Ubuntu Version:Hardy Heron, I use FireFox to surf the web, Thunderbird to get my mail, I share these applications between the operating sytems so that my bookmarks, plugins, calendar are contiguous between the two. While it is not as easy to install Ubuntu separately as it should be if you can follow directions you can probably do it with this
http://lifehacker.com/348858/use-a-single-data-store-when-dual-booting
http://lifehacker.com/software/ubuntu/hack-attack-how-to-triple+boot-windows-xp-vista-and-ubuntu-193474.php
I keep windows around for school, and gaming....
Ubuntu is free but what is an operating sytem without programs right?  Well the Ubuntu Add/Remove Programs item gives you an interface so simple anyone can use it.  It connects you to a worldwide network of free open source programs with an interface that allows you to search for keywords for what it is you want to do. So you find it-> checkmark it ->install it and thats it. It does everything else for you. If you later want to remove it you just do the same thing in reverse find it->uncheck it->uninstall, it removes all traces of the program from your computer(except for a cache of the install file).  There are programs for anything you could ever want to do. I'd guess hundreds of thousands for free. Everything you currently do with paid for software there's a good chance that there is an open source free alternative.

True..the PC can be used in a versatile way..but I have found that the best in solutions is two desktops..useing a KVM Switch..having a Projects PC and a Internet PC..looking at Windows in a attempt to value some other resource for projects or internet is not really a wise deal on productivity..its can be considered experimentation..I use Windows..the Microsoft website has a LIST for SUPPORT and states that my FULL Version of XP(Pro)SP2 is running for 5-more years..I'll settle for that and move should I need to/..I like my nice quiet PC-environment...its taken years to get there...changing from Microsoft Products would be very difficut.

Yeah I like Suse linux , the older 299 distros are ok on a good used system .

Ya , what we can do to finish waynes world is find a garth fer wayne if Johnny is in . Johnny is like $ 250 000 every six months as an actor and Rick Emmit of Triumph if he is sane would be $ 100 000 a year fer CSE as the civilian head of the KBN . Mr Emmit did KBN as his CSE couse in training and he was harassed fer it after he became famous when they replayed his work fer the KBN . Mr Emmit and his people reported the ACTUAL rez lines in south Ontario , liketeh ACTUAL North Coastal main rez inbetween the secondary in the south of Ontario Province . That open land with squatters is going to be built a little and no rentals just owners native and not and a small part of the farmland will be rented to local canadian indians so they can grow food on it . The North Delta secondary of the North Coastal is fer growing food and Bute , 2 point the secondary of the north coastal is where the half breed eskimoe and indians live , there and small in cleavland in our north coastal secondary . They CANNOT emmigta eto Canaad they are stuck forever in Bute and Cleaveland the Amerikans like them there they are local hill folk Amerikan and no status as Eskimoes or canadians .

 

So our potential wayne and garth fer waynes world Kanata 2009 , Johhny Deep the Minister and Rick Emmit the civilian head of KBN south Ontario territory . Rick has no powers like Johhny but I bet if you ask Mr Deep he will say " NO PSYCHE PENS " . Thats his call if he does , we keep security there new uniforms are green panst with liners , green jackets with liners and green parkas with liners with wool inside and a little fur around . They were wearing the uniforms in Colwood last winter . Thats the new uniform for Security $ 20 an hour with CDU weapons 45's and AR - 15 's . The old black van coastal jail uniforms look sorta silly but new  green warm uniforms now and new cars later . No development of newfoundland by South Siberian interests . North Coastal will trade Gold small with North Mongolia after we pay for autos and parts and platnum small with Siberia after we pay for carz and parts . That's ALL and we can return many the BMW's to Netherlands and order carz and parts HE BUILDS and OK's . Possibly more plane bodies like F -25 fer sale to Indiands thru eastern , next years budget . That's it 2008-2009 fall .