Arstechnica reports that “Windows XP Home will leave Mainstream Support and enter online support on January 1, 2007?in less than a year.”

Microsoft. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot. Think of all the folks who just this Christmas bought Windows XP Home operating systems with new computers for their school-aged children. What will you tell them when they find that, less than one year after they bought it, their Microsoft operating system has been relegated to the world of MS “online support.” For many users, “online support” means, “pay us more money to upgrade your product now!”

I’ve read that Microsoft’s blogging policy is something like “Blog Smart.” Well, it’s time for Microsoft to “Be Smart.” Nip this problem now. Say it ain’t so.