Microsoft says it will simplify the update process for older versions of Windows by switching to once-a-month "rollup" bundles.

Redmond says that all PCs running Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1, and servers running Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, and Windows Server 2012 will begin getting the monthly updates.

[theregister.co.uk...]
MS gave better news as well. For new Win7 installs (and those are still happening!) there is now a Cumulative update which will avoid hours (days!) of updates and can be downloaded as an ISO.

The take away is they will not be abandoning existing installs for a while and that (for us Win7 Luddites) is a good thing to know.