Windows Vista Ultimate is not the only version of Vista that Microsoft is going to kill early. According to the Lifecycle information for Windows client products, Microsoft will cut support for Windows Vista Ultimate in just five years. The Redmond Company has informed that Mainstream Support for Windows Vista Ultimate will end on April 10, 2012. In this context, Windows XP will outlive Vista due to the fact that Microsoft has extended support for Vista's predecessor throughout 2014.

And as I have said above, Windows Vista is the sole edition in this situation. The fact of the matter is that while Extended Support will not be available for 32-bit or 64-bit editions of Vista Ultimate, Vista Home Basic is in the same tight spot.

Microsoft revealed that Mainstream Support for Windows Vista Home Basic, both 32-bit and 64-bit editions will also run out on April 10, 2012. This is also the case for x86 and x64 Windows Vista Home Basic N, the version designed for the European market.

Microsoft has revealed the limitations of Extended Support: "The Extended Support phase follows Mainstream Support for Business and Developer products. At the supported service pack level, Extended Support includes: Paid support, Security update support at no additional cost, Non-security related hotfix support requires a separate Extended Hotfix Support Agreement to be purchased (per-fix fees also apply). Microsoft will not accept requests for warranty support, design changes, or new features during the Extended Support phase. Extended Support is not available for Consumer, Hardware, Multimedia, and Microsoft Dynamics products."

Only Windows Vista Home Premium, Business and Enterprise will enter into the Extended Support phase. In this regard, support will only be retired on April 11, 2017.