MS drops all support for XP.
Yup, and April 9th, 2014 is the day all networked XP computers will be infected with a worm through an unpatched security hole that will create the world's biggest botnet.
Though by 2013 you probably won't be able to use new hardware with XP as driver support will be nonexistent for new hardware and XP by then. Antivirus support will also go away by 2014 making it all the more vulnerable.
Shame to see so many people planning to use Vista Basic/Premium/Ultimate after its support ends. They will be the first to be sacrificed to Cthulhu.
Using EOL Windows with any sort of interaction with external data (networked, USB drives) is like running around naked through a forest of poison ivy where the leaves are edged with razors.