XP is based on the NT kernel. so the line went from NT->2000->XP. Makes sense that it is gone once XP is released. Microsoft doesn't want to sell it or support it once XP is released. It is a direct replacement.

98 on the other hand is based on the DOS/Win 95 kernel. So it goes DOS->Win 3.1->WFW 3.11->95->95a->95b->98->98SE->ME and then to XP which is a compelete change to the kernel.

You still see 98 around because of what a mess ME was. Once people move to XP, that is all you will see. This is Microsoft's mid-range plan.

XP was beta tested pretty well. Yes there are lots of security holes but this is not what the beta testing does. Beta testing makes sure that customers can install and run the operating system and that it doesn't corrupt the data on a variety of hardware and with different software. Microsoft cannot test this on all the different combinations that people have.

As for the security holes, have you read some of the information? Its pretty bizarre what they have to go through to make this happen. These are alluded to in the technical details section of the security bulletins that Microsoft publishes.

Today for example, there was a critical Update released from Microsoft on Windows 2000 (which has been out since 1999). This involves tricking explorer into downloading and executing a file on your local machine.

Should it have been caught during alpha testing, maybe. Should it have been caught during beta testing, maybe. Should it have been caught in the 1 1/2 years that Internet Explorer 5.x and 6.x are out - maybe.

BTW - for those of you who use MS products such as 98,ME,2000,XP or Explorer, make sure you visit the Windows Update site regularly as well. Anti-Virus is only half the battle.