Microsoft Dropping Windows 98/Me Support

I'm sure I'd already read this long ago, but I got a refresher after being denied installation of a ZoneAlarm update on the old computer.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/support/endofsupport.mspx

"July 11, 2006 will bring a close to Extended Support for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Me as part of the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy. Microsoft will retire public and technical support, including security updates, by this date."

Not quite Y2K, but it's serious enough that I might bother to speed up the work I was figuring to do on the old beast. Microsoft is naturally recommending that people using these versions upgrade to Windows XP. But I don't think it'll run very well on a Pentium II 300 with 192MB RAM, and I'm not paying $150 to try.

I'll probably look for some good third-party sites that offer support, news or patches for any Windows 98 problems that might pop up. I may try to find a way to disable Internet traffic altogether, and use the old machine solely for offline games and file storage on the LAN. I'm considering learning how to install and use Linux in a dual-boot setup, if I can find a package (preferably free) that will run on a P2, or low-end Pentium 3 machine. I also need to find out if MS will continue to allow access to Windows Update for existing updates, in case I do a format and re-install after the cut-off date. If anyone has any advice or answers, kindly let me know.