Microsoft Watch - Operating Systems - Windows XP SP3 is When?

RobertSeattle :

Anyone install XP SP2 "out of the box" recently? After it is done, you "only" have 90+ updates (and updates to those updates) to install on your system. (Thus taking hours) I can't wait for SP3 - just for the aforemention reason alone.

Posted by RobertSeattle | April 15, 2008 1:30 PM

Tangerine :

Thats why there are WinXP releases from ETH0 group with all the updates integrated. So you just install their release and don't worry about hundreds of updates. Yes and of course you can use your own serial key, so it's still gonna be legitimate.

Posted by Tangerine | April 15, 2008 3:13 PM

Bob Maine :

Of course Microsoft isn't touting the release of Windows XP SP3. This service pack will make XP all the more better than Vista. Windows XP SP3 will be a fully updated, more secure, modern OS that will make it nonsense to even consider "downgrading" to Vista.

Posted by Bob Maine | April 15, 2008 4:23 PM

Tony :

With the release of XP SP3 this is going to be great for all who use it, so why cant Microsoft keep XP going for all the people who love it,and all the people who love and use Vista as well.Best of both worlds for all & Microsoft too.

Posted by Tony | April 15, 2008 6:13 PM

Jason :

The secrecy around the XP sp3 release is the one thing that leads me to believe that Mircosoft is going to be reintroducing XP as a flagship operating system in the OEM and retail channels, essentially "new cokeing" Vista, or at the very least not forcing the Vista upgrade path if someone needs to buy a new computer. They would keep quiet about it until it actually happens so as to give the OEM and retail channel time to adjust their inventory and marketing.

I just think that Ballmer is bluffing right now by ingnoring XP/Vista controversy. He may fold as soon as the Yahoo deal closes, because from the investment community's perspective critical mass in web would offset problems with the OS upgrade revenue story.

Posted by Jason | April 15, 2008 7:02 PM

Ralph :

Jason :wrote

The secrecy around the XP sp3 release is the one thing that leads me to believe that Mircosoft is going to be reintroducing XP as a flagship operating system in the OEM and retail channels, essentially "new cokeing" Vista, or at the very least not forcing the Vista upgrade path if someone needs to buy a new computer. They would keep quiet about it until it actually happens so as to give the OEM and retail channel time to adjust their inventory and marketing.
-------------------------------------------------

I hope that is the case, while I am a Linux fan I am also a XP fan and really don't want to see MSFT take a good reliable OS the market. I for one still want the option of buying a new full featured laptop with XP sometime later this year, not before June 30.

I did try the XP SP3 beta and didn't notice any increase or decrease in speed. The computer was one of the first E-Machines with the max allowed 256MB RAM and 400 MHZ Pentium II chip.

Posted by Ralph | April 16, 2008 7:49 AM

Bob Maine :

@Jason

I truly truly hope you are right. My take on it is that Microsoft is keeping XP XP3 quiet so as not to detract from Vista. I think Microsoft is too arrogant to go back and admit defeat with Vista.

IF you are correct, that would be great for everyone. They could just tweak XP little more, add a some technologies and some features (direct X10 for example) and just s*** can Vista. As I keep saying, Vista has been an excellent OS for me, just not as excellent as XP, so it is just a step backwards.

Posted by Bob Maine | April 17, 2008 8:27 AM

Jack Jones :

I hope you all know that Micro$oft has just written off most of its XP customers. If you bought Windows XP Gold, you cannot install XP SP3 on it. You have to first download SP1, although M$ prefers SP2, install that for one hour, and then take another hour to install SP3.

P.S.: Interestingly, M$ will let you slipstream XP Gold and SP3 in one without having to go through SP1 or SP2. Talk about s***ting on their own customers !

Posted by Jack Jones | April 17, 2008 10:00 PM

Limulus :

Jason wrote:

"The secrecy around the XP sp3 release is the one thing that leads me to believe that Mircosoft is going to be reintroducing XP as a flagship operating system in the OEM and retail channels"

Most people believe that the secrecy around XP SP3 is to try and maintain the focus on Vista SP1. In fact I would be SERIOUSLY surprised if MS does anything else with XP other than what they've done: offer it on EeePC-type devices to try and siphon away some of the momentum Linux is getting. XPSP3 basically brings no new revenue to MS, since its a free upgrade, while a LOT of businesses were waiting for Vista SP1 before considering upgrading from XP or 2K; new Vista sales DO bring in the cash.

Posted by Limulus | April 18, 2008 1:16 AM

Anne4 :

Jack Jones,

I noticed that too. I downloaded the near-final release of XP SP3 and one my virtual machine, I tried to install it right on top of Windows XP Gold. I had to repair my system for a total of 5 times these past 4 years. It's completely ridiculous that M$ would LIE about SP3 being cumulative and then force you to take an hour to install SP1 (they recommend SP2) first and then another hour to install SP3. M$ only cares about the business sector. They don't give a flying f**k about regular customers such as you and me. I cannot f**king believe that no one is nailing M$ for writing off its Windows XP customers like this. Even if I had to download only SP1, it takes time and we can't assume that everyone updates. In fact, a lot of businesses that use Windows XP still stick with the Gold edition from my actual experience and witnessing despite the big SP2 ! Moreover, a lot of businesses that have been sticking with Windows 2000 have bought Windows XP Gold to keep ready once M$ gets the last service pack out. And a lot of home users are still stuck with dialup or slow cable/dsl so if their system crashed or they just had to reinstall XP, then we're talking about downloading 134-266 MB + 315 MB = 449 - 581MB ! If this is how badly M$ wants to go, the Linux community should get its s**t together and quit condescending newcomers.

P.S.: I guess it's just a slipstreaming option that'll have to do. At least I can save hours from reinstalling service packs ! Thanks.

Posted by Anne4 | April 18, 2008 8:31 AM

Bearzerker :

WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=114F3599-12AF-42B2-AAB1-B969A62C68A7&displaylang=en
released on 12 Feb 08...

I have had this on my system since it first came out, this SP3 RC2 version is deployed on my workstations and is "very" nice lean and very clean!

I'm beginning to wonder if this a true beta release?
anyways this SP3 RC2 sure makes installations of new XP stations simple...
haven't slipstreamed it yet but plan to do it soon!

XP will no longer be supported after jun 08...
but I wonder... will this decision include sp3 releases purchased this year?... or,are they waiting to release sp3 to coincide with the XP expiration they've planned on as a final wrap to this OS?

i don't have nor will i ever deploy vista...
its just not hardware friendly enough for me!
The M$ forced obsolescence program they say doesn't exist to me must exist,[ala Vista]...
maybe its that M$ refuses to recognize certain AMD chipset and other hardware configurations...
[and yet I still wonder... is/if this on purpose?]

the only reason I'm still using windows is because a certain online game I play requires it...
soon i will evolve my online time to other gaming experiences that doesn't lend itself solely to proprietary software and hardware...
I'm trying to find that perfect virtual desktop experience

There [M$] refusal to support XP surely will be a huge market swinger for many consumers decisions to move onto other computer hardware OS and tech...

The Apple line is looking so much better, safer and cost effective these days!

and Linux just keeps improving...
soon the open source people will develop a completely unique GUI that will compete directly
with Apple,
now wouldn't that be a novelty
[M$ is so outta the loop these days... how they're managing to compete is beyond me]

Posted by Bearzerker | April 18, 2008 4:03 PM